CN113453286B

CN113453286B - Service migration in response to access device handoff

Info

Publication number: CN113453286B
Application number: CN202010213719.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 温海波; 张凯宾; 宾梵翔
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Priority date: 2020-03-24
Filing date: 2020-03-24
Publication date: 2023-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-24
Also published as: CN113453286A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, devices, and computer-readable media for communication. In a method for communication, in accordance with a determination to switch from a source access device to a target access device, a first device sends an identifier of the target access device to a second device via the source access device, the second device being a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device; the first device initiates a handover from a source access device to a target access device; in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from the third device, the first device performs communication with the fourth device via the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. Embodiments of the present disclosure may improve the quality of service of a communication network or computing network and enhance the user experience.

Description

Service migration in response to access device handoff

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to communication technology and, more particularly, to a technical solution for migrating services of a terminal device in response to an access device handoff of the terminal device.

Background

Cloud computing networks have been widely used that can provide outsourced computing and storage capabilities, etc. for terminal devices or end users. However, cloud computing networks still have some limitations. For example, the internet of things has currently been established with the aim of connecting a large number of smart objects to the internet. The large amount of data generated by these smart objects may be sent to the cloud for processing, and then these smart objects may perform appropriate actions based on the processing results of the data. However, it may not be necessary to send all data generated by the internet of things device to the cloud for processing. This approach may also result in waste of resources (e.g., network resources, storage resources, etc.). In addition, computing and storage resources in the vicinity of the terminal device may be required in some scenarios to achieve low latency data processing or storage. The remote connection between the cloud computing system and the terminal device will result in a long latency, which is not suitable for latency sensitive terminal device applications.

In order to alleviate these problems faced by cloud computing networks, fog computing networks have been proposed. Fog computing is an emerging, decentralized computing architecture for computing, storage, and networking that can distribute network-provided services along a continuum of "cloud-to-thing" to locations closer to terminal devices. Thus, fog computing enables computing and storage services at the network edge, closer to the internet of things device and/or end user device. However, in computing networks or communication networks, such as fog computing networks, there are also a number of problems that need to be solved in order to improve the quality of service and the service experience of the terminal equipment and end users.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a technical solution for migrating services of a terminal device in response to an access device handover of the terminal device.

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for communication is provided. The method comprises the following steps: at the first device, in accordance with a determination to switch from the source access device to the target access device, an identifier of the target access device is transmitted via the source access device to a second device, which is a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: a handoff is initiated from the source access device to the target access device. The method further comprises the steps of: in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from the third device, communication with the fourth device is performed via the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as the target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for communication is provided. The method comprises the following steps: at the second device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from the first device, the identifier of the target access device is transmitted to the third device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device for the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as the target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: in accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from a third device, a migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to a fourth device is initiated. The method further comprises the steps of: and sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device according to the determination of the completion of the migration of the service.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for communication is provided. The method comprises the following steps: at the third device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from a second device, which is a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device of the first device, a fourth device is selected as the target service device of the first device based on the target access device to be the access device of the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: a configuration message is sent to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: a migration indication is sent to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device. The method further comprises the steps of: in accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of migration of a service is received from a second device, an indication of service readiness is sent to a first device.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a method for communication is provided. The method comprises the following steps: at the fourth device, resources for serving the first device are allocated in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from the third device, the first device is to be handed over from the source access device to the target access device, the third device selects the fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: in accordance with a determination that the second device initiates migration of services of the first device from the second device to the fourth device, the migration is performed in cooperation with the second device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device. The method further comprises the steps of: in accordance with determining that migration of the service is complete, communication with the first device is performed via the target access device.

In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a first apparatus is provided. The first device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program instructions. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to: in accordance with a determination to switch from a source access device to a target access device, an identifier of the target access device is transmitted via the source access device to a second device, which is a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to: a handoff is initiated from the source access device to the target access device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to: in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from the third device, communication with the fourth device is performed via the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as the target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device.

In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a second apparatus is provided. The second device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program instructions. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to: in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from the first device, the identifier of the target access device is transmitted to a third device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device for the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as the target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to: in accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from a third device, a migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to a fourth device is initiated. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to: and sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device according to the determination of the completion of the migration of the service.

In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a third apparatus is provided. The third device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program instructions. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the third device to: in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from a second device, which is a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device of the first device, a fourth device is selected as the target service device of the first device based on the access device to be the access device of the first device by the target access device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the third device to: a configuration message is sent to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the third device to: a migration indication is sent to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the third device to: in accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of migration of a service is received from a second device, an indication of service readiness is sent to a first device.

In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a fourth apparatus is provided. The fourth device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program instructions. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the fourth device to: in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from a third device, allocating resources for serving the first device, the first device to be handed over from a source access device to a target access device, the third device selecting a fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the fourth device to: in accordance with a determination that the second device initiates migration of services of the first device from the second device to the fourth device, the migration is performed in cooperation with the second device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device. The at least one memory and the computer program instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the fourth device to: in accordance with determining that migration of the service is complete, communication with the first device is performed via the target access device.

In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for communication is provided. The device comprises: at the first device, in accordance with a determination to switch from the source access device to the target access device, transmitting, via the source access device, an identifier of the target access device to a second device, the second device being a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device. The apparatus further comprises: means for initiating a handoff from a source access device to a target access device. The apparatus further comprises: in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from a third device, performing communication with a fourth device via a target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device.

In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for communication is provided. The device comprises: means for, at the second device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from the first device, transmitting the identifier of the target access device to a third device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device being the access device of the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as the target service device of the first device based on the target access device to be the access device of the first device. The apparatus further comprises: in accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from a third device, initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to a fourth device. The apparatus further comprises: and means for sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device in accordance with determining that the migration of the service is complete.

In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for communication is provided. The device comprises: means for selecting, at the third device, a fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device in accordance with a determination that an identifier of the target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from the second device, the second device being the source serving device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device for the first device. The apparatus further comprises: and means for sending a configuration message to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device. The apparatus further comprises: and means for sending a migration indication to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of the service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device. The apparatus further comprises: in accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of migration of a service is received from a second device, means for sending an indication of service readiness to the first device.

In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for communication is provided. The device comprises: at the fourth device, in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from the third device, allocating resources for serving the first device, the first device to be handed over from the source access device to the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device. The apparatus further comprises: in accordance with a determination that the second device initiates migration of services of the first device from the second device to the fourth device, the second device is a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device in cooperation with the second device to perform the migration. The apparatus further comprises: means for performing communication with the first device via the target access device in accordance with determining that migration of the service is complete.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium stores machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to perform a method according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspects.

It should be understood that what is described in this summary is not intended to limit the critical or essential features of the embodiments of the disclosure nor to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description.

Drawings

The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the present disclosure are shown by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example communication process between a first device, a second device, a third device, and a fourth device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for communication, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flowchart of another example method for communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart of yet another example method for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates a flowchart of yet another example method for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an example device suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an example computer-readable medium according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The same or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like components.

Detailed Description

The principles and spirit of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to several exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. It should be understood that these specific embodiments are described merely to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and practice the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

As used herein, the term "comprising" and the like should be understood to be open-ended, i.e., including, but not limited to. The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on". The term "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment". The terms "first," "second," and the like, may refer to different or the same object. Other explicit and implicit definitions are also possible below.

As used herein, the term "determining" encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, "determining" may include computing, calculating, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Further, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and so forth. Further, "determining" may include parsing, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network that conforms to any suitable communication standard, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-a), wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), high Speed Packet Access (HSPA), narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), and the like. Furthermore, the communication between the terminal device and the network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocol, including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, future fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocol currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. In view of the rapid development of communications, there will of course also be future types of communication technologies and systems that may embody the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to only the above-described systems.

As used herein, the term "network device" refers to other entities or nodes having particular functions in a communication network or computing network. As an example, network devices may include, but are not limited to, access devices, "base stations" (BSs), node BS (NodeB or NB), evolved node BS (eNodeB or eNB), remote Radio Units (RRUs), radio Heads (RH), remote Radio Heads (RRHs), repeaters, or low power nodes such as pico base stations, femto base stations, etc., routers, gateways, switches, bridges, wireless access points, firewalls, mainframe or large servers, cloud computing devices, mobile phones, sites, units, general purpose computing devices, multimedia computers, multimedia tablets, internet nodes, communicators, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, personal Communication Systems (PCS) devices, personal navigation devices, personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), audio/video players, digital cameras/video cameras, positioning devices, television receivers, radio broadcast receivers, electronic book devices, gaming devices, or other devices that may be used for communication, or any combination of the above.

As used herein, the term "terminal device" refers to any terminal device capable of wired or wireless communication with a network device or with each other. By way of example, terminal devices may include, but are not limited to, mobile Terminals (MT), virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) devices such as AR glasses, subscriber Stations (SS), portable Subscriber Stations (PSS), mobile Stations (MS) or Access Terminals (AT), aircraft, and onboard devices as described above, and the like. The terminal device may be any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portable terminal, including a mobile handset, a site, a unit, a device, a multimedia computer, a multimedia tablet, an internet node, a communicator, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a Personal Communication System (PCS) device, a personal navigation device, a Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), an audio/video player, a digital camera/camcorder, a positioning device, a television receiver, a radio broadcast receiver, an electronic book device, a game device, an internet of things (IoT) device, or other devices available for communication, or any combination of the above.

The term "circuit" as used herein refers to one or more of the following: (a) Hardware-only circuit implementations (such as analog-only and/or digital-circuit implementations); and (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (if applicable): (i) A combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuitry and software/firmware, and (ii) any portion of a hardware processor and software (including digital signal processors, software, and memory that work together to cause an apparatus, such as an optical line terminal or other computing device, to perform various functions); and (c) hardware circuitry and/or a processor, such as a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor, that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but may not have software when software is not required for operation.

The definition of circuit applies to all scenarios in which this term is used in this application, including in any claims. As another example, the term "circuitry" as used herein also covers an implementation of only a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors), or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor, or its accompanying software or firmware. For example, if applicable to particular claim elements, the term "circuitry" also covers a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit or a similar integrated circuit in an optical line terminal or other computing device.

As mentioned above, fog computing is an emerging, decentralized computing architecture for computing, storage, and networking that can distribute services provided by service providers via a communication network or computing network along a continuum of "cloud-to-object" to locations closer to terminal devices. Fog computing enables computing and storage services at the network edge, closer to the internet of things device and/or end user device. In a cloud computing network, resources such as local computing resources and storage resources may be provided by a cloud node implemented in various network devices.

As used herein, a "service" may generally refer to any service provided by a communication network or computing network to a terminal device for achieving its function or purpose, including, but not limited to, communication services, computing services, storage services, infrastructure services, platform services, software services, and the like. In some embodiments, the service device of the terminal device may provide any suitable service associated with the terminal device, such as an application, data, control, networking, hardware environment, software environment, other service associated with the terminal device, or any combination of these services.

Thus, fog calculation can shift an operation with large energy consumption from the terminal device to the fog node, thereby extending the battery life of the terminal device (particularly a mobile terminal in an emergency situation), and can also reduce the communication delay of an application program requiring low delay. In addition, fog calculation may also enable new value added services (such as internet of things applications). The main difference between fog computing and cloud computing is that the cloud computing network is a centralized system, while the fog computing network is a distributed, decentralized infrastructure. Thus, visually, the fog is a "cloud closer to the ground".

Regarding standardization of fog computing networks, institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides a standard document "IEEE Standard for Adoption of OpenFog Reference Architecture for Fog Computing". Furthermore, in IEEE there is an active working group "fog computing and networking architecture framework" to study the standardization of fog computing networks. The reference architecture of the fog computing network is an open, interoperable, structural and functional specification of a horizontal system architecture for distributing computing, storage, control and networking functions closer to the terminal devices along a "cloud-to-object" continuum of communication, computing, sensing and incentive entities. The reference architecture is driven by a set of core principles called struts, such as security, manageability, scalability, openness, autonomy, RAS (reliability, availability and serviceability), agility, hierarchy, programmability, and so on.

In the case of introducing a fog computing architecture into an access network and/or communication network, certain communication devices, network devices, or nodes (e.g., routers, switches, access nodes, and even end user devices) in the communication network may act as fog nodes to provide computing resources, storage resources, other resources, or a combination of these resources in the fog computing network.

In addition, there may also be a fog management device (also referred to as a fog management platform, a fog server, a fog edge computing controller, or FEC controller, etc.) in the fog computing network that may be responsible for registration of fog nodes, matching of resource requests to resources, etc. For example, the fog node may register its resources and functions with the fog management device, the terminal device may request resources or functions from the fog management device, and the fog management device may decide to instantiate these functions on the most appropriate fog node to provide the required services, such as fog applications, to the terminal device.

On the other hand, in communication networks, in particular access networks, wi-Fi technology may be used to implement the final link between the communication network and the terminal device. Wi-Fi has been widely used worldwide to connect terminal devices and is also considered an ideal connection platform for the internet of things. Wi-Fi is widely used to provide connectivity for an increasing number of mobile and nomadic users and internet of things sensors. Some embodiments will be described herein using a Wi-Fi network as an example of an access network. However, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to access networks using any particular technology by a person, but are equally applicable to other access networks or communication networks.

In a mist computing network, problems may arise if the service of a mist user equipment (e.g. a mist application) remains stationary in an initial mist node selected based on an initial access device when the mist user equipment moves within the coverage area of the access network. First, the service of the foggy user device may be interrupted, for example, when the foggy user device is connected to an access device other than the initial access device due to movement, traffic flows between the foggy user device and services (e.g., foggy applications) in the initial foggy node may not be delivered for a long time before a new forwarding path in the foggy computing network is established. This may be because the intermediate node between the new access device and the initial foggy node has not established a forwarding entry based on the network addresses (e.g., medium access control MAC addresses) of the foggy user device and the initial foggy node, and the forwarding entry along the old forwarding path takes some time to age and be deleted.

In addition, after the terminal device changes access devices, even though the initial cloud node may still provide services to the terminal device, this will introduce long delays while wasting more network resources. Further, since the fog application may be an OTT (over-the-top) application that is unaware of changes in the network connection device, one solution may be that the network may migrate a service (e.g., the fog application) to an appropriate location in the network after detecting that the service of the terminal device has suffered the above-described problem. However, this solution may lead to a prolonged service interruption of the terminal device.

It should be noted that although the problems or drawbacks of conventional communication networks are discussed above by taking a mist computing network as an example, it will be appreciated that these problems and drawbacks may also exist in any other communication network. It should therefore be noted that although some embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein using a fog computing network as an example, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to any particular technology communication network, but are equally applicable to any communication network that may provide services to terminal devices through an access device.

In view of the above-mentioned problems and other potential problems with conventional approaches, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for migrating services of a terminal device in response to an access device handoff of the terminal device. Embodiments of the present disclosure may avoid service interruption and reduce service delay for terminal devices (e.g., fog user devices) in a communication network (e.g., fog computing network), thereby providing better quality of service and service experience for the terminal devices. In addition, compared with the traditional scheme, the embodiment of the disclosure can also reduce the use of the communication network resources, thereby avoiding the waste of the network resources. In summary, embodiments of the present disclosure may improve the quality of service of a communication network or computing network and enhance the user experience.

More specifically, in embodiments in which the disclosed technical solutions are applied to a mist computing network, services (e.g., mist applications) associated with mist user equipment deployed in the communication network may migrate in the mist computing network as the mist user equipment moves. That is, as a foggy user device moves, the service (e.g., foggy application) of the foggy user device implemented in a certain foggy node may dynamically move from the current foggy node to the appropriate other foggy node.

In some embodiments, the above-described migration process of services of a foggy user device may be based on a deep fusion between access device handoff and service (e.g., foggy application) migration, which involves the following basic ideas. The service (e.g., a foggy application) of the foggy user device may be implemented as a virtual node in the foggy node and may be identified by an address (e.g., an IP address) allocated from a dedicated address space for the service (e.g., the foggy application). Access device switching and service (e.g., fog application) migration of the fog user device may be performed substantially simultaneously. The foggy user device may trigger a migration process of a service (e.g., a foggy application) upon detecting the start of a handover of the access device.

In some embodiments, migration of services of the fog user device (e.g., fog application) may be performed under control of the fog management device. Information of the target access device to which the mist user equipment is to be handed over is to be sent to the mist management device. The fog management device may select a target fog node (e.g., a preferred fog node) based on the access device that the target access device is to be the fog user device. After the mist user equipment receives the migration completion indication of the mist management device, communication between the mist user equipment and the migrated service (e.g., the mist application) on the target mist node may resume.

Further, in some embodiments, after the service (e.g., the fog application) of the fog user device migrates to the target fog node, the target fog node may send an advertisement message indicating a new binding relationship between the service (e.g., the fog application) of the fog user device and the fog node, e.g., the relationship may be represented in the form of < address (e.g., MAC address) of the target fog node, address (e.g., IP address) of the fog application >. The address (e.g., MAC address) of the target foggy node may be transmitted to the foggy user device so that communication between the foggy user device and the new foggy node may be quickly resumed. Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. As shown in fig. 1, a communication system (also referred to as a communication network) 100 may include a first device 110. In some embodiments, the first device 110 may be a terminal device or end user device that accepts the service 135 in the communication network 100, e.g., a fog user device in a fog computing network, an internet of things device, or the like. In other embodiments, the first device 110 may be any device that communicates with a serving device by accessing the communication system 100 through an access device.

As used herein, a "service 135" associated with a first device 110 may generally refer to any service provided by the communication network 100 to the first device 110, including, but not limited to, communication services, computing services, storage services, infrastructure services, platform services, software services, and the like. In some embodiments, the service devices of the first device 110 (e.g., the source service device 130-1 and the target service device 130-N) may provide any type of service 135 associated with the first device 110, such as an application, data, control, networking, hardware environment, software environment, other services associated with the first device 110, or any combination of these services.

The communication network 100 may also include access devices 120-1 through 120-M (collectively access devices 120), where M represents a natural number. Any of the access devices 120 may provide the first device 110 with access to the communication network 100. For example, an access device of the first device 110 may receive data or control signals from the first device 110 and send data or control signals to the first device 110. In some embodiments, if communication network 100 comprises a wireless local area network using Wi-Fi technology, access device 120 may comprise a Wi-Fi access device. In other embodiments, if communication network 100 comprises a wireless network using cellular technology, access device 120 may comprise a base station, such as a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a femto base station, and so on. In further embodiments, if the communication network 100 comprises a network that is built using other Radio Access Technologies (RATs), the access device 120 may comprise a corresponding access device.

The communication network 100 may also include network devices 130-1 through 130-N (collectively referred to as network devices 130), where the network devices 130-1, 130-5, and 130-N are also referred to herein as second device 130-1, third device 130-5, and fourth device 130-N, respectively, and N represents a natural number. In general, network device 130 may include any device for building a communication network or computing network. For example, in an embodiment where communication network 100 includes a Passive Optical Network (PON), network device 130-1, network device 130-2, network device 130-N-1, network device (fourth device) 130-N, etc. may include an Optical Network Unit (ONU), network device 130-3, network device 130-6, etc. may include an Optical Line Terminal (OLT), network device 130-4 may include a switch, network device (third device) 130-5 may include a gateway, etc. In some embodiments, network device 130-5 may be located in an edge cloud.

In other embodiments, network device 130 may include any other suitable device that forms part of communication network 100, depending on the construction technology, manner, protocol, etc. of communication network 100. It should also be noted that although different terms are used herein to describe access device 120 and network device 130, this is merely to indicate that first device 110 may access communication network 100 through access device 120 rather than through network device 130, and that the distinction between access device 120 and network device 130 is not absolute. In some cases, the access device 120 may also be referred to as a network device with respect to the first device 110 as a terminal device.

The communication network 100 may also include the internet 140. Via the internet 140, the communication network 100 may also be connected to or comprise other networks or devices, such as various service provider networks or devices, which may also provide various communication services or network services for terminal devices (e.g., the first device 110). It will be appreciated that the specific topology of the communication network 100 and the connection relationships between network devices shown in fig. 1 are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. In other embodiments, communication network 100 may have any suitable topology and any suitable connection between each access device 120, each network device 130, and other devices in communication network 100.

Further, the links or links between the various devices in the communication network 100 may be any form of connection or coupling that enables data communications or control signal communications between the various devices or components of the communication system 100, including but not limited to coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, twisted pair wires, or wireless technologies (such as infrared, radio, and microwave). In some embodiments, these links or links may also include, but are not limited to, network cards, hubs, modems, repeaters, bridges, switches, routers, etc. for network connected devices, as well as various network connection lines, wireless links, etc. In some embodiments, these links or links may include various types of buses. In other embodiments, these links or links may include computer networks, communication networks, or other wired or wireless networks.

In some embodiments, the communication network 100 may use fog computing technology to implement the fog computing network 100, i.e., a network architecture of a layer 2 network (e.g., an access network) that implements fog computing enablement, wherein the access device 120 and the network device 130 may together comprise a fog computing enabled network (e.g., an access network). In such embodiments, the first device 110 may also be referred to as a fog user device 110, such as an internet of things sensor, an end user device, and the like, that may access services (e.g., fog applications) deployed in certain fog nodes in the fog computing network 100.

In the fog computing network 100, the fog node may be implemented in some of the access device 120, the network device 130, and other devices in the network. These foggy nodes may be intermediate nodes in the layer 2 access network and have available resources for the foggy computing platform, i.e., the foggy nodes may contribute resources to the foggy computing platform. These intermediate nodes may be controlled by an access network operator and may include gateways (e.g., residential gateways), optical network units, optical line terminals, switches, and so forth. In one particular scenario, the access device 120-1, the access device 120-2, the access device 120-M-1, the access device 120-M, the network device (second device) 130-1, the network device 130-3, the network device 130-6, the network device (fourth device) 130-N in fig. 1 may have a foggy node implemented thereon, while other devices may not have foggy nodes implemented therein. However, it should be understood that any access device and network device in the fog computing network 100 may implement a fog node when eligible (e.g., having a resource to implement a fog node), and which devices implement a fog node thereon may vary.

On a device implementing a foggy node, two parts can be considered to be present. One part is the normal operation part of the device as a network element, and the other part is the environment for implementing itself as a fog node. In some embodiments, the services of the mist user equipment 110 (e.g., the mist application) may be implemented in this environment as virtual nodes for the mist user equipment 110. Thus, in some portions of this document, the term "virtual node" may be used interchangeably with the term "service". In some embodiments, the virtual node for implementing the fog application of the fog user device 110 may be identified by an address (e.g., an IP address) that may be allocated by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server in the third device 130-5 as a fog management device (i.e., FEC controller) from an address space reserved for services (e.g., fog applications).

In the mist computing network 100, the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device (i.e., FEC controller), may control and manage the mist nodes in the mist computing network 100. In other words, in some embodiments, the third device 130-5 may include a management device for managing the mist node. For example, the third device 130-5 may control, manage, or maintain available resources on the fog nodes and edge clouds and existing services (e.g., fog applications) in the respective fog nodes, may select the most appropriate fog node to implement virtual nodes or services (e.g., fog applications) of the fog user equipment 110, and may also control migration of services (e.g., fog applications) of the fog user equipment 110 from one fog node to another. Specifically, the third device 130-5, which is a fog management device, may determine on which fog node the corresponding service is implemented according to the resource status of the fog node, the resource requirement of the fog application, the location information of the fog user device, and the like.

To illustrate the technical advantages of migrating service 135 with first device 110 as first device 110 moves, assume that first device 110 is initially located at location a in fig. 1 and accesses communication network 100 through access device 120-1. In this case, the third device 130-5 may select the second device 130-1 as its serving device for the first device 110 to provide the service 135 for the first device 110. In other words. The second device 130-1 is a source serving device selected by the third device 130-5 based on the access device 120-1 being an access device for the first device 110. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, when the mist user device 110 is attached to the access device 120-1 (e.g., wi-Fi access device), its desired mist application may be implemented in the second device 130-1 as a serving mist node.

It will be appreciated that the third device 130-5 may select the second device 130-1 as the serving device for the first device 110 based on various relevant factors. For example, the third device 130-5 may select the most suitable network device to be the serving device of the first device 110 in the vicinity of the access device 120-1 based on the topology of the communication network 100. In some embodiments, the third device 130-5 may also select the access device 120-1 itself as the serving device of the first device 110 to serve the first device 110 if the access device 120-1 has sufficient capabilities and resources to serve the first device 110. In this case, the access device 120-1 is both an access device for the first device 110 and a service device for the first device 110.

Assuming that the first device 110 moves to location B in fig. 1 and changes to access the communication network 100 through the access device 120-M, if the service 135 of the first device 110 is still in the second device 130-1, the traffic flow between the first device 110 and the service 135 in the second device 130-1 may not find the correct path to deliver or may take a long time to find the path to each other. This may cause the service 135 of the first device 110 to be interrupted, resulting in a poor service experience. Thus, the quality of service and the service experience of the first device 110 may be improved if the service 135 may move or migrate in the communication network 100 following the movement of the first device 110, i.e. the service 135 migrates to a network device closer to the new access device 120-M of the first device 110.

Thus, in embodiments of the present disclosure, as the first device 110 moves, the services 135 associated with the first device 110 may also migrate within the communication network 100, providing better quality of service and service experience for the first device 110. To this end, during movement of the first device 110, the third device 130-5 may select a new network device to provide the service 135 for the first device 110 based on a change in access devices of the first device 110.

More specifically, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the service 135 associated with the first device 110 may continuously migrate in the communication network 100 as the first device 110 moves. One such example process is described below with reference to fig. 1. For simplicity, access devices and network devices not shown in fig. 1 are not considered in this description, so that during the movement of first device 110 from location a to location B, first device 110 may access communication network 100 sequentially through access device 120-1, access device 120-2, access device 120-M-1, and access device 120-M.

When access device 120-1 is acting as an access device for first device 110, third device 130-5 may select second device 130-1 as a service device for first device 110 to provide service 135, assuming that access device 120-1 does not have sufficient resources to provide service 135 for first device 110 or to be able to meet the quality of service requirements of service 135, while second device 130-1, which is in proximity to access device 120-1, has sufficient resources to provide service 135 for first device 110 and to be able to meet the quality of service requirements of service 135.

Next, when access device 120-2 is acting as an access device for first device 110, third device 130-5 may select access device 120-2 as a service device for first device 110, provided that access device 120-2 has sufficient resources to provide service 135 for first device 110 and may meet the quality of service requirements of service 135. In other words, the access device 120-2 acts as both an access device and a service device for the first device 110. Accordingly, the service 135 associated with the first device 110 may migrate from the second device 130-1 to the access device 120-2.

Next, when access device 120-M-1 is the access device for first device 110, third device 130-5 may elect 62E9 access device 120-M-1 as the service device for first device 110, provided that there are sufficient resources for access device 120-M-1 to provide service 135 for first device 110 and that the quality of service requirements of service 135 can be met. In other words, the access device 120-M-1 acts as both an access device and a service device for the first device 110. Accordingly, service 135 associated with first device 110 may migrate from access device 120-2 to access device 120-M-1.

Next, when the access device 120-M is acting as an access device for the first device 110, the third device 130-5 may select the fourth device 130-N as a service device for the first device 110 to provide the service 135, provided that the access device 120-M does not have sufficient resources to provide the service 135 for the first device 110 or cannot meet the quality of service requirements of the service 135, and that the fourth device 130-N, which is close to the access device 120-M, has sufficient resources to provide the service 135 for the first device 110 and can meet the quality of service requirements of the service 135. Accordingly, the service 135 associated with the first device 110 may migrate from the access device 120-M-1 to the fourth device 130-N.

It will be appreciated that the access device handoff procedure of the first device 110 and the migration procedure of the service 135 described above are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. In other embodiments, the first device 110 may switch between any two access devices, and the service device selected for each access device may be any suitable service device other than the above.

Hereinafter, signaling interactions by the respective devices in the communication network 100 to effect migration of the service 135 of the first device 110 will be described with reference to fig. 2. Without loss of generality, in fig. 2, it will be assumed that access device 120-1 is the source access device of first device 110, while access device 120-M is the target access device of first device 110, i.e., first device 110 will switch from access device 120-1 to access device 120-M. Further, assuming that the access device 120-1 is the access device of the first device 110, the second device 130-1 is selected as the service device of the first device 110, and the access device 120-M is the access device of the first device 110, the fourth device 130-N is selected as the service device of the first device 110. That is, the service 135 of the first device 110 will migrate from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N.

Furthermore, it should be understood that fig. 1 only schematically illustrates devices, units, modules or components of the communication system 100 that are relevant to embodiments of the present disclosure. In practice, communication system 100 may also include other devices, units, modules, or components for other functions. Furthermore, the particular number and connection of devices, units, modules or components shown in fig. 1 is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. In other embodiments, the communication system 100 may include any suitable number of first devices, second devices, third devices, fourth devices, access devices, network devices, or other communication devices, may have any suitable connection relationship therebetween, and so forth. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific devices, units, modules, or components depicted in fig. 1, but are generally applicable to any technical environment in which a terminal device accesses a communication network through an access device and accepts services from a service device.

It should also be noted that communication in communication system 100 may be implemented in accordance with any suitable communication protocol, including, but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation, fourth generation (4G), and fifth generation (5G) cellular communication protocols and the like, wireless local area network communication protocols such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, and/or any other protocol currently known or to be developed. Further, the communication may utilize any suitable wireless communication technology including, but not limited to: code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), frequency Division Duplex (FDD), time Division Duplex (TDD), multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM), discrete fourier transform spread spectrum OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), and/or any other technique currently known or to be developed in the future.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example communication process 200 between a first device 110, a second device 130-1, a third device 130-5, and a fourth device 130-N, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. For discussion purposes, a communication process 200 will be described with reference to fig. 1, which may be used to implement a process in which services (e.g., fog applications) of a terminal device in a fog-computing-function-enabled communication network (e.g., access network) migrate following movement of the terminal device, for example. However, it should be appreciated that communication process 200 may be equally applicable to any other communication scenario in which four or more any devices communicate with each other.

As shown in fig. 2, the first device 110 determines 202 to switch from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M. That is, prior to performing the determining operation 202, the first device 110 accesses the communication network 100 via the source access device 120-1 and the service 135 is provided to the first device 110 by the second device 130-1 as a source service device. In other words, the first device 110 attaches to the source access device 120-1 and performs communication or data transmission with the second device 130-1 via the source access device 120-1. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the first device 110, which is a mist user device, may use the address (e.g., MAC address) of the second device 130-1, which is the source mist node, as the destination address of the traffic flow to send the traffic flow to the mist application in the virtual node on the second device 130-1.

At some point, the first device 110 may need to switch from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M for potentially various reasons. For example, in the scenario illustrated in fig. 1, the first device 110 moves from a location a within the coverage area of the source access device 120-1 to a location B within the coverage area of the target access device 120-M, thereby requiring a handoff of the access device to better access the communication network 100. As another example, the source access device 120-1 may not continue to provide access services to the first device 110 due to a shutdown or overload, etc., and thus the first device 110 may need to switch to the target access device 120-M. As another example, one or both of source access device 120-1 and target access device 120-M may be mobile, and their movement may result in first device 110 needing to be handed off from source access device 120-1 to target access device 120-M.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to any particular reason for causing an access device handoff of the first device 110, but are equally applicable to any scenario in which a terminal device is handed off from one access device to another. Furthermore, it should be noted that the handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M may be triggered by any suitable device, which may include the first device 110, the source access device 120-1, the target access device 120-M, and even other devices in the communication network 100.

As an example, in an embodiment where the communication system 100 uses Wi-Fi technology, a handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M may be triggered by the first device 110. For example, a fast basic service set transition (FT) of a terminal device is defined in the IEEE 802.11r standard, such as an over-the-air (FT) protocol in a Robust Security Network (RSN) and an FT protocol of over-the-air (over-the-DS), where over-the-air FT refers to an FT method in which the terminal device communicates with a target access device over a direct IEEE 802.11 link, and FT through a distributed system refers to an FT method in which the terminal device communicates with the target access device via a source access device. In these FT protocols in the IEEE 802.11r standard, the first device 110 may trigger a handoff or transition from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M.

In other embodiments, the handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M may also be triggered by the source access device 120-1. For example, in embodiments in which communication network 100 comprises a cellular communication network, first device 110 may be a User Equipment (UE) and source access device 120-1 and target access device 120-M may be a source base station and a target base station, respectively. The source access device 120-1 may trigger a handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M when the first device 110 moves from the cell of the source access device 120-1 to the cell of the target access device 120-M.

In further embodiments, the handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M may also be triggered by the target access device 120-M. For example, when the target access device 120-M detects that the first device 110 is moving into its coverage, the target access device 120-M may trigger a handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M.

With continued reference to fig. 2, after the first device 110 determines 202 that a handoff is to be made from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M, the first device 110 may send 204, via the source access device 120-1, an identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M to the second device 130-1 as a serving device. In this way, the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may in turn be provided by the second device 130-1 to the third device 130-5 so that the third device 130-5 may be aware that the target access device 120-M is to be the new access device for the first device 110. Based on this, the third device 130-5 may reselect an appropriate service device for the first device 110, such as the available service device closest to the target access device 120-M.

In some embodiments, the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may include any one or more of the following information: the device ID number of the target access device 120-M, a network identification code, a network address (e.g., IP address, MAC address, etc.), other information related to the target access device 120-M (e.g., geographic location information, network topology location information, etc.), and other information that may be used to identify the target access device 120-M. It should be noted that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to any particular form of identifier 205, but are equally applicable to any identification information that may be used to distinguish the target access device 120-M from other devices.

In other embodiments, the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may also include an identifier of the target network where the first device 110 is to be handed off from the source network to where the target access device 120-M is located. More generally, the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may be any information that the third device 130-5 can use to select an appropriate target serving device 130-N for the first device 110, e.g., the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may be location information associated with the target access device 120-M. In other words, from the location information, the third device 130-5 can know where the first device 110 will access the communication network 100.

In embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the first device 110, which is a mist user device, may send a "migration request" message to the virtual node in the second device 130-1, which is the source mist node. The "migration request" message may include information indicating the target access device 120-M, such as an identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M. The information of the target access device 120-M may be used by the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device, to select the best target mist node close to the target access device 120-M. In addition, it should be noted that in the event that an access device handoff of the first device 110 is triggered by either the source access device 120-1 or the target access device 120-M, the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M may also be transmitted by either the source access device 120-1 or the target access device 120-M to the second device 130-1.

By triggering service migration based on access device switching, switching of the access device of the first device 110 may be triggered substantially simultaneously with switching of the service device, such that the service 135 of the first device 110 may migrate in the communication network 100 as the access device of the first device 110 changes. For example, in the example scenario of fig. 1, the service 135 of the first device 110 may migrate into a service device (e.g., the fourth device 130-N) that is closer to the target access device 120-M and closer to the first device 110 as the first device 110 moves from location a to location B, thereby improving the quality of service of the service 135.

For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 uses a mist computing function, the first device 110, which is a mist user device, may trigger substantially simultaneously the migration of the mist user device 110 from the current access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M, and the migration of the service 135 from the second device 130-1, which is a source mist node, to the fourth device 130-N, which is a target mist node. More specifically, by triggering migration of a service 135 (e.g., a fog application) when the fog user device 110 determines to transition to a target access device 120-M, transition (FT) of the quick basic service set of the fog user device 110 may be integrated with the migration of the service 135.

With continued reference to fig. 2, after receiving 206 the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M from the first device 110, the second device 130-1 may send 208 the identifier 205 of the target access device 120-M to the third device 130-5 so that the third device 130-5 may select a new serving device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be the access device for the first device 110. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the fog computing functionality, the second device 130-1, which is the source fog node, may send a "fog application migration request" message to the third device 130-5, which is the fog management device, which may include information of the target access device 120-M, such as the identifier 205.

Accordingly, at the third device 130-5, after receiving 210 the identifier 205 from the second device 130-1 to the target access device 120-M, the third device 130-5 may select 212 the fourth device 130-N as the target service device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be the access device for the first device 110.

As previously mentioned, the third device 130-5 may select the fourth device 130-N as the target service device for the first device 110 based on various factors. For example, the third device 130-5 may select an optimal network device to be the target serving device for the first device 110 in the vicinity of the source access device 120-1. In particular, the third device 130-5 may determine serving devices in the vicinity of the target access device 120-M based on the location of the target access device 120-M in the communication network 100. Additionally, based on the topology information of the communication network 100, the third device 130-5 may determine that the fourth device 130-N is proximate to the target access device 120-M. In addition, the third device 130-5 may also determine that the fourth device 130-N has the resources required by the service 135 of the first device 110 and may meet the quality of service requirements of the service 135. Using these selection factors, the third device 130-5 may select a target service device with better or optimal overall conditions to provide the service 135 to the first device 110.

In particular, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device, may select the best target mist node for the migration of the mist application 135 of the mist user device 110. The input parameters for selecting the target foggy node may include the point of attachment that the target access device 120-M will be as the foggy user device 110, the resources required for the virtual node to implement the foggy application, and quality of service requirements (e.g., delay constraints between the foggy application and the foggy user device), etc. Based on these parameters, the third device 130-5 may find the optimal fog node as the target fog node through calculation to perform the migration of the fog application.

In addition, it should be noted that the third device 130-5 may also select the target access device 120-M itself as the target serving device of the first device 110 to serve the first device 110 if the target access device 120-M itself has sufficient capabilities and resources to provide the service 135 of the first device 110. That is, in such a case, the access device and the service device of the first device 110 are the same physical device 120-M.

After selecting 212 the fourth device 130-N as the target serving device for the first device 110, the third device 130-5 may send 214 a configuration message 215 to the fourth device 130-N to cause the fourth device 130-N to allocate 218 resources, such as computing resources and storage resources, for serving the first device 110. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device, may instantiate a virtual node in the fourth device 130-N to contain a mist application or data associated with the mist user device 110. The instantiation may specifically include the fourth device 130-N allocating a corresponding resource of the virtual node, and so on. Accordingly, after receiving 216 the configuration message 215 from the third device 130-5, the fourth device 130-N may allocate 218 resources, such as computing resources and storage resources, for serving the first device 110, to provide the service 135 for the first device 110.

The third device 130-5 may then send 220 a migration indication 225 to the second device 130-1 to cause the second device 130-1 to initiate 224 a migration 235 of the service 135 associated with the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. Alternatively or additionally, the third device 130-5 may also send a migration indication regarding the service 135 of the first device 110 to the fourth device 130-N. For example, in an embodiment in which the communication network 100 enables the fog computing functionality, the third device 130-5, which is a fog management device, may instruct the second device 130-1, which is a source fog node, and the second device 130-N, which is a target fog node, to collectively implement migration of a designated fog application.

After receiving 222 the migration indication 225 from the third device 130-5, the second device 130-1 may initiate 224 a migration 235 of the service 135 associated with the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. Accordingly, in the event that the second device 130-1 initiates 224 a migration 235 of the service 135 of the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N, the fourth device 130-N may perform 226 the migration 235 of the service 135 in cooperation with the second device 130-1. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, a migration process of the service 135 (e.g., a mist application) of the mist user equipment 110 may be performed between the second device 130-1, which is the source mist node, and the fourth device 130-N, which is the target mist node.

In particular, the second device 130-1 and the fourth device 130-N may employ different flows to perform the migration 235 of the service 135, depending on the type of service 135 (e.g., a fog application). For example, the service 135 associated with the first device 110 may include a stateless fog application, a stateful fog application, and so on. For stateless fog applications and stateful fog applications, the second device 130-1 and the fourth device 130-N may use corresponding fog application migration procedures. For example, for a stateful fog application, the second device 130-1 and the fourth device 130-N may use a state migration method and a fog application instance migration method.

After the migration 235 of the service 135 is complete, the second device 130-1 may send 236 an indication 255 to the third device 130-5 that the migration 235 is complete to inform the third device 130-5 that the service 135 has migrated from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. For example, in an embodiment in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, after a service 135 (e.g., a mist application) migration between the second device 130-1, which is the source mist node, and the fourth device 130-N, which is the target mist node, is successfully completed, the second device 130-1 may send a "migration complete" message to the third device 130-5, which is the mist management device. Additionally, as an alternative, an indication that the migration 235 of the service 135 is complete may also be sent to the third device 130-5 by the fourth device 130-N as the target service device.

In some embodiments, after migration 235 of service 135 is complete, second device 130-1 may release 230 the resources used to provide service 135 to first device 110. In this manner, the above-described resources of the second device 130-1 may be reclaimed for other functions or to serve other terminal devices, thereby improving the resource utilization of the second device 130-1. In these embodiments, the second device 130-1 may send 236 an indication 255 of the completion of the migration 235 to the third device 130-5 after the release operation 230 is completed. However, it will be appreciated that it is also possible for the second device 130-1 to send 236 an indication 255 to the third device 130-5 when the release operation 230 is not started or not completed.

Returning to the discussion of the first device 110, at some time after determining 202 that a handoff from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M, the first device 110 initiates 228 a handoff from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M. For example, in embodiments where the communication network 100 utilizes Wi-Fi technology, the first device 110 may initiate an over-the-air FT process or associate to the target access device 120-M through a distributed system FT process. It should be noted that although in this document the first device 110 initiates 228 the handover operation of the access device is described after some operations (e.g., operations 206-236) of the second device 130-1, the third device 130-5 and the fourth device 130-N, this does not mean that the initiating operation 228 occurs after these operations. In fact, the first device 110 may initiate 228 a handoff of the access device at any suitable time after the operation of the determination 202. Further, it is also noted that the first device 110 initiating 228 a handover of the access device does not mean that the handover of the access device is triggered by the first device 110. As described above, in various different scenarios, the access device handoff of the first device 110 may be triggered by the first device 110, the source access device 120-1, the target access device 120-M, or any other suitable device.

In some embodiments, after the handoff of the access device is completed, the first device 110 may send 232 an indication 245 of the handoff completion to the third device 130-5 via the target access device 120-M. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, when the first device 110, which is a mist user device, receives a "re-association response" message from the target access device 120-M, indicating that the mist user device 110 has successfully associated with the target access device 120-M, the mist user device 110 may send a "handover complete" message to the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device. In this manner, the first device 110 may report to the third device 130-5 that the handover of the access device is complete, so that the third device 130-5 knows that the handover of the first device 110 has been completed, thereby triggering the first device 110 to perform communication with the target serving device 130-N at an appropriate timing.

After receiving 238 from the second device 130-1 an indication 255 that the migration 235 to the service 135 is complete, the third device 130-5 may send 242 to the first device 110 an indication 265 that the service 135 is ready. As such, the third device 130-5 may inform the first device 110 that its service 135 is ready and the first device 110 may communicate with the service 135 through the target access device 120-M.

In some embodiments, an identifier of the fourth device 130-N may be included in the indication 265 of the readiness of the service 135 such that the first device 110 may also know that the target service device providing the service 135 is the fourth device 130-N while learning that the service 135 is ready, and may then subsequently perform 246 communications 275 with the fourth device 130-N. In this way, the first device 110 does not need to learn the fourth device 130-N as a target service device in another way, thus simplifying the operation of the first device 110.

For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device, may send a "service ready" (e.g., "mist application ready") message to the first device 110, which is a mist user device, which may include therein an identifier of the fourth device 130-N, which is a target mist node.

In some embodiments, the identifier of the fourth device 130-N may include the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N. For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, once the third device 130-5, which is a mist management device, receives the "handover complete" message and the "migration complete" message described above, the third device 130-5 may send the "service ready" message or the "mist application ready" message described above, which may include the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N. By using the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N as an identifier, the existing MAC address identification information of the fourth device 130-N can be reused as an identifier for the fourth device 130-N without having to design or assign a new identifier for the fourth device 130-N, thereby simplifying the indication of the target serving device by the third device 130-5. In addition, by informing the first device 110 of the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N, the subsequent communication establishment procedure with the fourth device 130-N by the first device 110 may also be simplified.

In some embodiments, the third device 130-5 may send 242 an indication 265 that the service 135 is ready to the first device 110 after receiving 234 an indication 245 from the first device 110 that the handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M is complete. In this manner, the third device 130-5 may ensure that an indication 265 of service 135 ready is sent to the first device 110 after the access device handoff of the first device 110 is completed to avoid indicating that the first device 110 is in communication with the fourth device 130-N as the target serving device when the access device handoff of the first device 110 has not been completed.

After receiving 244 from the third device 130-5 an indication 265 that the service 135 is ready, the first device 110 may know that the migration 235 of the service 135 has been completed and that the target service device is ready to serve the first device 110, the first device 110 may perform 246 communication 275 with the fourth device 130-N via the target access device 120-M so that the fourth device 130-N may serve the first device 110 as a service device. Accordingly, on the fourth device 130-N side, after determining that migration 235 of service 135 is complete, fourth device 130-N may perform 248 communication 275 with first device 110 via target access device 120-M.

For example, in embodiments in which the communication network 100 enables the mist computing function, the first device 110, which is a mist user device, may communicate or data transfer with a service (e.g., a mist application) in a virtual node of the fourth device 130-N, which is a target mist node. Specifically, traffic destined for the fog application in the fourth device 130-N may encapsulate the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N as a fog node as a destination MAC address for transmission to the fourth device 130-N.

In some embodiments, after the migration 235 of the service 135 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N is completed, the fourth device 130-N may broadcast 240 an advertisement message to indicate that the service 135 of the first device 110 is provided by the fourth device 130-N. As such, other network devices in the communication network 100 may learn that the service 135 of the first device 110 becomes provided by the fourth device 130-N so that they may properly forward communication data associated with the first device 110 to the fourth device 130-N.

In some cases, the handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M may be completed before the migration of the service 135 of the first device 110 from the source service device 130-1 to the target service device 130-N is completed. In such a case, the first device 110 may receive the advertisement message broadcast 240 by the fourth device 130-N from the target access device 120-M, so that the first device 110 may learn from the received advertisement message that its service 135 is to be provided by the fourth device 130-N. Thus, in this case, the third device 130-5 may not need to include the identifier of the fourth device 130-N in the indication 265 that the service 135 sent 242 to the first device 110 is ready.

In some embodiments, the advertisement message broadcast by fourth device 130-N may indicate that the IP address of service 135 is associated with the MAC address of fourth device 130-N. For example, the fourth device 130-N may send an unsolicited Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) message that may include information < the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N, the IP address of the service 135 > -to indicate an association therebetween. Other network devices in communication network 100 may update their saved forwarding tables after receiving the ARP message described above. In this manner, access device 120, network device 130, and other devices in communication network 100 may be facilitated to determine the MAC address of fourth device 130-N implementing service 135 from the IP address of service 135 (or the IP address of the virtual node) to forward traffic associated with service 135 to the MAC address of fourth device 130-N, thereby simplifying the forwarding process of the traffic for access device 120, network device 130, and other devices with respect to service 135.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 300 for communication, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 300 may be implemented by the first device 110 in the communication system 100, e.g., may be implemented by a processor or processing unit of the first device 110. In other embodiments, method 300 may also be implemented by a communication device separate from communication system 100, or may be implemented by other devices in communication system 100. For ease of illustration, the method 300 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

At block 310, the first device 110 determines whether to switch from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M. At block 320, in accordance with a determination to switch from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M, the first device 110 sends an identifier of the target access device 120-M to the second device 130-1 via the source access device 120-1, the second device 130-1 being a source serving device selected by the third device 130-5 based on the source access device 120-1 as an access device for the first device 110.

At block 330, the first device 110 initiates a handoff from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M. At block 340, the first device 110 determines whether an indication of service readiness associated with the first device 110 is received from the third device 130-5. At block 350, in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness is received from the third device 130-5, the first device 110 performs communication with the fourth device 130-N via the target access device 120-M, the third device 130-5 selecting the fourth device 130-N as the target service device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be the access device for the first device 110.

In some embodiments, the method 300 further comprises: in accordance with determining that the handoff is complete, an indication of handoff completion is sent to the third device 130-5 via the target access device 120-M.

In some embodiments, the service includes at least one of an application and data associated with the first device 110.

In some embodiments, the indication of service readiness includes an identifier of the fourth device 130-N.

In some embodiments, the identifier of the fourth device 130-N includes the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device 130-1 and the fourth device 130-N each comprise a network device for implementing fog nodes in the fog computing network, and the third device 130-5 comprises a management device for managing the fog nodes.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart of another example method 400 for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 400 may be implemented by the second device 130-1 in the communication system 100, for example, by a processor or processing unit of the second device 130-1. In other embodiments, method 400 may also be implemented by a communication device separate from communication system 100, or may be implemented by other devices in communication system 100. For ease of illustration, the method 400 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

At block 410, the second device 130-1 determines whether an identifier of the target access device 120-M to which the first device 110 is to be handed off from the source access device 120-1 is received from the first device 110. At block 420, in accordance with a determination from the first device 110 that an identifier of a target access device 120-M to which the first device 110 is to be handed over from the source access device 120-1 is received, the second device 130-1 sends the identifier of the target access device 120-M to the third device 130-5, the second device 130-1 being a source service device selected by the third device 130-5 based on the source access device 120-1 as an access device for the first device 110, and the third device 130-5 selecting the fourth device 130-N as a target service device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be an access device for the first device 110.

At block 430, the second device 130-1 determines whether a migration indication is received from the third device 130-5. At block 440, in accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from the third device 130-5, the second device 130-1 initiates migration of the service associated with the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. At block 450, the second device 130-1 determines whether migration of the service is complete. At block 460, in accordance with a determination that migration of the service is complete, the second device 130-1 sends an indication of the completion of migration to the third device 130-5.

In some embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: in accordance with determining that migration of the service is complete, resources for providing the service to the first device 110 are released.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart of yet another example method 500 for communication, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 500 may be implemented by the third device 130-5 in the communication system 100, for example, by a processor or processing unit of the third device 130-5. In other embodiments, method 500 may also be implemented by a communication device separate from communication system 100, or may be implemented by other devices in communication system 100. For ease of illustration, method 500 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

At block 510, the third device 130-5 determines whether an identifier of the target access device 120-M to which the first device 110 is to be handed off from the source access device 120-1 is received from the second device 130-1. At block 520, in accordance with a determination from the second device 130-1 that an identifier of the target access device 120-M to which the first device 110 is to be handed over from the source access device 120-1 is received, the third device 130-5 selects the fourth device 130-N as the target service device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be the access device for the first device 110, the second device 130-1 being the source service device selected by the third device 130-5 based on the source access device 120-1 as the access device for the first device 110.

At block 530, the third device 130-5 sends a configuration message to the fourth device 130-N to cause the fourth device 130-N to allocate resources for serving the first device 110. At block 540, the third device 130-5 sends a migration indication to the second device 130-1 to cause the second device 130-1 to initiate migration of the service associated with the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. At block 550, the third device 130-5 determines whether an indication of completion of migration of the service is received from the second device 130-1. At block 560, in accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of migration of the service is received from the second device 130-1, the third device 130-5 sends an indication of service readiness to the first device 110.

In some embodiments, the fourth device 130-N is selected as the target serving device for the first device 110 based on at least one of: the location of the target access device 120-M in the communication network; the proximity of the fourth device 130-N to the target access device 120-M in the communication network; resources required for the services of the first device 110; and quality of service requirements for the service.

In some embodiments, sending an indication that the service is ready comprises: in accordance with a determination that an indication of the completion of a handoff of the first device 110 from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M is received from the first device 110, an indication of service readiness is sent to the first device 110.

Fig. 6 illustrates a flow chart of yet another example method 600 for communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 600 may be implemented by the fourth device 130-N in the communication system 100, for example, by a processor or processing unit of the fourth device 130-N. In other embodiments, method 600 may also be implemented by a communication device separate from communication system 100, or may be implemented by other devices in communication system 100. For ease of illustration, method 600 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

At block 610, the fourth device 130-N determines whether a configuration message was received from the third device 130-5. At block 620, in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from the third device 130-5, the fourth device 130-N allocates resources for serving the first device 110, the first device 110 is to be handed off from the source access device 120-1 to the target access device 120-M, and the third device 130-5 selects the fourth device 130-N as the target serving device for the first device 110 based on the target access device 120-M to be the access device for the first device 110.

At block 630, the fourth device 130-N determines whether the second device 130-1 initiates migration of the service of the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N. At block 640, in accordance with a determination that the second device 130-1 initiates migration of the services of the first device 110 from the second device 130-1 to the fourth device 130-N, the fourth device 130-N performs the migration in cooperation with the second device 130-1, the second device 130-1 being the source service device selected by the third device 130-5 based on the source access device 120-1 as the access device for the first device 110. At block 650, the fourth device 130-N determines whether migration of the service is complete. At block 660, in accordance with a determination that migration of the service is complete, the fourth device 130-N performs communication with the first device 110 via the target access device 120-M.

In some embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: an announcement message is broadcast to indicate that the service of the first device 110 is provided by the fourth device 130-N.

In some embodiments, the advertisement message indicates that the IP address of the service is associated with the MAC address of the fourth device 130-N.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., first device 110) capable of performing method 300 may include means for performing the respective steps of method 300. The components may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or in software modules. For another example, the component may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform corresponding steps.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, at the first device, an identifier of the target access device to a second device via the source access device in accordance with a determination to switch from the source access device to the target access device, the second device being a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device; means for initiating a handover from a source access device to a target access device; and means for performing communication with a fourth device via the target access device in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from a third device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for sending an indication of handover completion to the third device via the target access device in accordance with determining that the handover is complete.

In some embodiments, the service includes at least one of an application and data associated with the first device.

In some embodiments, the indication of service readiness comprises an identifier of the fourth device.

In some embodiments, the identifier of the fourth device comprises a MAC address of the fourth device.

In some embodiments, the first device comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device and the fourth device each comprise a network device for implementing a fog node in the fog computing network, and the third device comprises a management device for managing the fog node.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., second device 130-1) capable of performing method 400 may include means for performing the respective steps of method 400. The components may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or in software modules. For another example, the component may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform corresponding steps.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, at the second device, an identifier of the target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device in accordance with a determination that the identifier of the target access device is received from the first device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device being an access device of the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as a target service device of the first device based on the target access device to be an access device of the first device; in accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from a third device, initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to a fourth device; and means for sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device in accordance with determining that the migration of the service is complete.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: and releasing the resources for providing the service to the first device in accordance with determining that the migration of the service is complete.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., third device 130-5) capable of performing method 500 may include means for performing the respective steps of method 500. The components may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or in software modules. For another example, the component may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform corresponding steps.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for selecting, at the third device, a fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device in accordance with a determination that an identifier of the target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from the source access device is received from the second device, the second device being the source serving device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device for the first device; means for sending a configuration message to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device; means for sending a migration indication to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device; and means for sending an indication of service readiness to the first device in accordance with a determination that an indication of migration completion of the service is received from the second device.

In some embodiments, the fourth device is selected as the target serving device for the first device based on at least one of: the location of the target access device in the communication network; the proximity of the fourth device to the target access device in the communication network; resources required for the service of the first device; and quality of service requirements for the service.

In some embodiments, the means for sending an indication of service readiness comprises: in accordance with a determination that an indication of a completion of a handoff of the first device from the source access device to the target access device is received from the first device, sending an indication of service readiness to the first device.

In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., fourth device 130-N) capable of performing method 600 may include means for performing the respective steps of method 600. The components may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or in software modules. For another example, the component may include at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory may store computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform corresponding steps.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for allocating, at the fourth device, resources for serving the first device in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from the third device, the first device to be handed over from the source access device to the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device; means for performing migration in cooperation with the second device in accordance with determining that the second device initiates migration of services of the first device from the second device to the fourth device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device; and means for performing communication with the first device via the target access device in accordance with determining that migration of the service is complete.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for broadcasting an announcement message to indicate that the service of the first device is provided by the fourth device.

In some embodiments, the advertisement message indicates that the IP address of the service is associated with the MAC address of the fourth device.

Fig. 7 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an example device 700 suitable for implementing embodiments of the disclosure. Device 700 may be used to implement communication devices, such as first device 110, second device 130-1, third device 130-5, and fourth device 130-N in fig. 1. As shown, the device 700 includes one or more processors 710, one or more memories 720 coupled to the processors 710, and one or more communication modules 740 coupled to the processors 710.

The communication module 740 is used for two-way communication. The communication module 740 has at least one cable/fiber optic cable/wireless interface for facilitating communication. The communication interface may represent any interface necessary to communicate with other devices.

Processor 710 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may include, as non-limiting examples, one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 700 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time with a clock that is synchronized to the master processor.

Memory 720 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, read Only Memory (ROM) 724, electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disks, compact Disks (CD), digital Versatile Disks (DVD), and other magnetic and/or optical storage devices. Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, random Access Memory (RAM) 722 or other volatile memory that cannot be sustained during a power loss.

The computer program 730 includes computer-executable instructions that are executable by an associated processor 710. Program 730 may be stored in ROM 724. Processor 710 may perform various suitable actions and processes by loading program 730 into RAM 722.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by program 730 to cause device 700 to perform any of the processes of the present disclosure as discussed above with reference to fig. 3-6. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented in hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

In some embodiments, program 730 may be tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium. Such computer-readable media may be included in device 700 (e.g., memory 720) or in other storage devices accessible to device 700. The device 700 may read the program 730 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 722 for execution. The computer readable medium may include a variety of tangible non-volatile storage devices, such as ROM, EPROM, flash memory, hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an example computer-readable medium 800 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in fig. 8, the computer readable medium 800 may take the form of a CD or DVD or any other suitable form having a program 730 stored thereon.

In general, the various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. For example, in some embodiments, various examples of the disclosure (e.g., methods, apparatus, or devices) may be implemented, in part or in whole, on a computer-readable medium. While aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated or described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that the blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product comprises computer executable instructions, such as included in program modules executed in devices on a physical or virtual processor of a target, to perform any of the processes 300 to 600 described above with respect to fig. 3 to 6. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In various embodiments, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between described program modules. Computer-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within local or distributed devices. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage media.

Program code for carrying out the methods of the present disclosure may be written in one or more programming languages. These computer program code may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus such that the program code, when executed by the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, causes the functions/operations specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on the computer, partly on the computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server.

In the context of this disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus, or processor to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer readable media, and the like.

The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination thereof. More detailed examples of a machine-readable storage medium include an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof.

In addition, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In some cases, multitasking or parallel processing may be beneficial. Likewise, although the foregoing discussion contains certain specific implementation details, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of any invention or claims, but rather as describing particular embodiments that may be directed to particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A method for communication, comprising:

at a first device, in accordance with a determination to switch from a source access device to a target access device, transmitting an identifier of the target access device via the source access device to a second device, the second device being a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device;

initiating a handoff from the source access device to the target access device; and

in accordance with a determination that an indication is received from the third device that a service associated with the first device is ready, communication with a fourth device is performed via the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the handover is complete, an indication of the handover completion is sent to the third device via the target access device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service comprises at least one of an application and data associated with the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the service readiness comprises an identifier of the fourth device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier of the fourth device comprises a media access control, MAC, address of the fourth device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device and the fourth device each comprise a network device for implementing a fog node in the fog computing network, and the third device comprises a management device for managing the fog node.

7. A method for communication, comprising:

at a second device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from a source access device is received from a first device, the identifier of the target access device is transmitted to a third device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device;

In accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from the third device, initiating a migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device; and

and according to the determination that the migration of the service is completed, sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the migration of the service is complete, resources for providing the service to the first device are released.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the service comprises at least one of an application and data associated with the first device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first device comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device and the fourth device each comprise a network device for implementing a fog node in the fog computing network, and the third device comprises a management device for managing the fog node.

11. A method for communication, comprising:

at a third device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which a first device is to be handed over from a source access device is received from a second device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device, selecting a fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be the access device for the first device;

Transmitting a configuration message to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device;

transmitting a migration indication to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of services associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device; and

in accordance with a determination that an indication of the migration completion of the service is received from the second device, an indication of the service readiness is sent to the first device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth device is selected as the target serving device for the first device based on at least one of:

the location of the target access device in a communication network;

a proximity of the fourth device to the target access device in the communication network;

resources required for the service of the first device; and

the quality of service requirements of the service.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the indication that the service is ready comprises:

in accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of a handoff of the first device from the source access device to the target access device is received from the first device, the indication of readiness of the service is sent to the first device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of the service readiness comprises an identifier of the fourth device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier of the fourth device comprises a MAC address of the fourth device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the service comprises at least one of an application and data associated with the first device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device and the fourth device each comprise a network device for implementing a fog node in the fog computing network, and the third device comprises a management device for managing the fog node.

18. A method for communication, comprising:

at a fourth device, in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from a third device, allocating resources for serving a first device to be handed over from a source access device to a target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device;

In accordance with a determination that a second device initiates migration of the service of the first device from the second device to the fourth device, the migration is performed in cooperation with the second device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device; and

in accordance with a determination that the migration of the service is complete, communication with the first device is performed via the target access device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

an announcement message is broadcast to indicate that the service of the first device is provided by the fourth device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the advertisement message indicates that an IP address of the service is associated with a MAC address of the fourth device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the service comprises at least one of an application and data associated with the first device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first device comprises a terminal device in a fog computing network, the second device and the fourth device each comprise a network device for implementing a fog node in the fog computing network, and the third device comprises a management device for managing the fog node.

23. A first device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-6.

24. A second device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to perform the method of any of claims 7-10.

25. A third device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the third device to perform the method of any of claims 11-17.

26. A fourth device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the fourth device to perform the method of any of claims 18-22.

27. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for, at a first device, in accordance with a determination to switch from a source access device to a target access device, transmitting an identifier of the target access device via the source access device to a second device, the second device being a source serving device selected by a third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device;

means for initiating a handover from the source access device to the target access device; and

in accordance with a determination that an indication of service readiness associated with the first device is received from the third device, performing communication with a fourth device via the target access device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device.

28. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for, at a second device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of a target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from a source access device is received from a first device, transmitting the identifier of the target access device to a third device, the second device being a source service device selected by the third device based on the source access device as an access device for the first device, the third device selecting a fourth device as a target service device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device;

In accordance with a determination that a migration indication is received from the third device, initiate migration of a service associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device; and

and means for sending an indication of the completion of the migration to the third device in accordance with a determination that the migration of the service is complete.

29. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for selecting, at a third device, a fourth device as a target serving device for a first device based on an access device to which the target access device is to be the first device, in accordance with a determination that an identifier of the target access device to which the first device is to be handed over from a source access device is received from a second device, the second device being a source serving device selected by the third device based on the source access device as the access device for the first device;

means for sending a configuration message to the fourth device to cause the fourth device to allocate resources for serving the first device;

means for sending a migration indication to the second device to cause the second device to initiate migration of services associated with the first device from the second device to the fourth device; and

In accordance with a determination that an indication of completion of the migration of the service is received from the second device, sending an indication of readiness of the service to the first device.

30. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for allocating, at a fourth device, resources for serving a first device to be handed over from a source access device to a target access device in accordance with a determination that a configuration message is received from a third device, the third device selecting the fourth device as a target serving device for the first device based on the target access device to be an access device for the first device;

in accordance with a determination that the migration of the service is complete, performing communication with the first device via the target access device.

31. A computer readable medium storing machine executable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform the method of any one of claims 1-6, 7-10, 11-17, and 18-22.