Terminal Device SFE Migration Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current M2M communication systems lack the ability to migrate terminal devices between different service function entities (SFEs), limiting flexibility and efficiency in resource management and service provisioning.
Innovation Solution
A resource migration method and apparatus that allows a terminal device to determine the need for SFE change, acquire information about resource location, and transfer resources from one SFE to another, enabling seamless SFE switching by sending identifiers and location information to facilitate resource transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If terminal devices are bound to a specific service function entity (SFE), then service stability is maintained, but system flexibility and resource management efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic binding between terminal devices and SFEs by introducing a binding relationship management mechanism. The system allows terminal devices to establish, modify, and terminate binding relationships with SFEs dynamically, transitioning from static binding to dynamic binding. This enables the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining service continuity through proper resource migration protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resource migration mechanism as an intermediary process between the terminal device and SFE binding relationship. When a terminal device needs to change its serving SFE, the resource migration mechanism acts as a mediator to transfer associated resources (context information, session data, etc.) from the old SFE to the new SFE, ensuring seamless transition and maintaining service stability during the migration process.
2Productivity
If terminal devices can migrate between different SFEs, then system flexibility and resource management efficiency improve, but migration complexity and potential service disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by establishing a binding relationship between the terminal device and the target SFE before actually migrating resources. The terminal device first sends a binding relationship establishment request to the target SFE, and only after the binding is confirmed does the system proceed with resource migration. This preliminary binding establishment simplifies the migration process by pre-coordinating the target SFE's readiness to receive and process migrated resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms at multiple stages of the migration process. The terminal device receives feedback from the target SFE regarding binding relationship establishment status and resource migration progress. This feedback loop allows the terminal device to monitor the migration process, handle potential issues, and ensure successful completion, thereby reducing migration complexity through informed decision-making at each step.
3Reliability
If resource migration between SFEs is implemented, then service continuity is improved, but migration time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transfers only the necessary resources associated with the terminal device during migration, rather than migrating all possible data. By identifying and extracting only the essential binding relationship information and active session data, the system minimizes migration time and processing overhead while maintaining service continuity. This selective extraction approach reduces the migration burden on both source and target SFEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the terminal device's service access during the migration process. The binding relationship establishment and resource migration are performed in a way that does not interrupt the terminal device's ongoing services. The target SFE is prepared in advance to continue serving the terminal device seamlessly, ensuring that the migration process itself becomes part of the continuous service rather than a disruptive event.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of communications, and discloses a resource migration method and apparatus, so that a terminal device can change, according to a specific condition, an SFE serving the terminal device. The method includes: determining, by a terminal device, that a service function entity SFE serving the terminal device needs to be changed to a first SFE; acquiring information about a location of a resource/subresource corresponding to the terminal device in a second SFE, where the second SFE saves the resource/subresource corresponding to the terminal device; and sending, to the first SFE, a first identifier and the information about the location of the resource/subresource corresponding to the terminal device in the second SFE, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the terminal device needs to change the SFE serving the terminal device, so that the first SFE transfers, after receiving the first identifier, the resource/subresource corresponding to the terminal device from the second SFE to the first SFE.