Roaming Edge Server Discovery via ECS Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of determining an edge enabler server (EES) corresponding to a visited public land mobile network (PLMN) during terminal device roaming is unresolved, leading to complex edge service access authorization and authentication requirements for the terminal device.
Innovation Solution
A first edge configuration server (ECS) interacts with a second ECS to obtain information about the second EES, simplifying the process by reducing the need for the terminal device to sense multiple network ECSs, and providing security credentials for secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal device directly senses information about second ECSs of multiple networks during roaming, then the terminal device can obtain EES information, but the requirement on the terminal device becomes high, authorization and authentication become complex, and control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The first ECS acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the second ECS. Instead of the terminal device directly sensing and interacting with multiple second ECSs during roaming, the first ECS receives requests from the terminal device, queries the appropriate second ECS, and returns the EES information to the terminal device. This intermediary approach simplifies the terminal device's functionality while maintaining reliable EES information acquisition.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device directly interacts with multiple second ECSs during roaming, then the terminal device can access edge services, but authorization and authentication become complex and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The first ECS serves as a centralized intermediary that manages authorization and authentication for edge service access during roaming. It handles the complex interactions with multiple second ECSs, security credential verification, and access control policies, while presenting a simplified interface to the terminal device. This maintains adaptability for accessing edge services across multiple networks while making authorization and authentication easier to control.
Solution Approach 2:
The first ECS implements universal functionality by consolidating multiple ECS interactions into a single point of contact. It can query multiple second ECSs, manage security credentials for different networks, and provide unified EES information retrieval, thereby simplifying the authorization and authentication process for the terminal device while maintaining access to diverse edge services.
3Loss of information
If the first device sends requests to multiple second ECSs during roaming, then complete EES information can be obtained, but the number of interactions increases and control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The first ECS acts as an intermediary that consolidates multiple ECS interactions into a single interaction point for the terminal device. It receives one request from the terminal device, internally queries the appropriate second ECS based on the serving network, and returns the complete EES information. This maintains information completeness while reducing interaction complexity from multiple direct requests to a single indirect request.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes receiving, by a first edge configuration server (ECS), a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of a second network from a first device, wherein the first device includes a terminal device or a first edge enabler server (EES). The communication method further includes sending, by the first ECS, first request information to a second ECS based on the PLMN identifier. The communication method further includes receiving, by the first ECS, the information of the second EES from the second ECS. The first request information is useable for requesting information of a second EES. A first network is a home network of the terminal device. The first ECS and the first EES correspond to the first network. The second network is a serving network of the terminal device. The second ECS and the second EES correspond to the second network.