JP2020031274A - Mobile communications network - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique for reducing communication delay in a mobile communications network having a plurality of application servers.SOLUTION: A mobile communications network with a plurality of application servers includes selection means for selecting a first application server from the plurality of application servers on the basis of location information of a first user device and location information of a second user device when a communication start request indicating that communication with the second user device starts is received from the first user device, and notifying means for notifying the first user device of the first application server when the first user device is not connected to the first application server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to mobile edge computing (MEC), and more particularly, to a technique for reducing network delay in MEC.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile edge computing (MEC) in which an application server (AS) is disposed near a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network, and a set of UEs communicates via the AS. Has been disclosed. Non-Patent Literatures 2 and 3 disclose a configuration in which a required application is operated when necessary in a server device by using virtualization technology.

ESTI's Industrial Specification Group for MEC members, "Mobile Edge Computing-Industrial technology white paper", Issue 1, September 2014. K. Wang, et al. , "MobiScud: A fast moving personal cloud in the mobile network", in Proc. of the 5th Works on All Things Cellular: Operations, Applications and Challenges, August 2015. L. F. Bittencourt, et al. , "Towards virtual machine migration in fog computing", in Proc. of 10th International conference on P2P, Parallel, Grid, Cloud and Internet Computing, November 2015.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a configuration is considered in which a plurality of base stations arranged adjacently are accommodated in one router, and one AS is provided corresponding to the router accommodating the base station. In FIG. 1, since the user apparatus (UE) 61 is located in the cell of the base station (BS) 71 and the UE 62 is located in the cell of the BS 72, the communication through the AS 81 is delayed. It is advantageous from the viewpoint of. Here, for example, assuming that the UE 61 is an IoT device such as a camera or a sensor and the UE 62 is a smartphone, the UE 62 may move to a cell of the BS 73 or the BS 74 by movement. In this case, providing the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 62 via the AS 82 or the AS 83 may cause a shorter delay than providing the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 62 via the AS 81, as compared with the AS 81.

  Further, a case is considered where the UE 63 and the UE 61 start communication in a state where the UE 61 which is an IoT device is connected to the AS 81. In this case, the delay may be smaller when the UE 61 is connected via the AS 83 than via the already connected AS 81. Further, depending on the installation location of each AS, the delay via the AS 82 may be shorter than that via the AS 81.

  The present invention provides a technique for reducing communication delay between user devices in a mobile communication network having a plurality of application servers.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, when a mobile communication network having a plurality of application servers receives a communication start request from a first user device indicating that communication with a second user device is to be started, the mobile communication network of the first user device Selecting means for selecting a first application server from the plurality of application servers based on the location information and the location information of the second user device, and wherein the first user device is not connected to the first application server Notification means for notifying the first user device of the first application server.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce communication delay between user devices in a mobile communication network having a plurality of application servers.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication network according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram at the time of starting communication according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram at the time of starting communication according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram at the time of starting communication according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram at the time of handover according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mobile communication network according to one embodiment.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, components not necessary for the description of the embodiment will be omitted from the drawings. The following embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the content of the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, in the configuration of FIG. 1, a process when the UE 61 starts communication with the UE 63 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 1, the UE 61 is located in the cell of the BS 71, connects to the AS 81 corresponding to the router that accommodates the BS 71, the UE 63 is located in the cell of the BS 74, and accommodates the BS 74. It is assumed that the connection is made to the AS 83 corresponding to the router to be connected. Note that the mobile communication network has a data management device (not shown), and the data management device includes topology information of the mobile communication network, specifically, installation positions of BS, router, and AS, and connection of BS, router, and AS. It is assumed that information on a state and transmission delay of each communication link connecting the BS, the router, and the AS is held. In addition, the data management device holds area information indicating the cell (BS) in which the UE is located and AS connection information indicating the AS to which the UE is connected, and reduces delay in communication between UEs. It has a function of determining an appropriate AS in order to perform the operation.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram in a case where the data management device determines that the delay between the UE 61 and the UE 63 is minimized by passing through the AS 82. As described above, in the initial state, it is assumed that the UE 61 is connected to the AS 81 and the UE 63 is connected to the AS 83 (S101). In S102, the UE 61 requests the AS 81 to start communication. This communication start request includes information (identification information) indicating the UE 63 that is the communication destination. In step S103, the AS 81 selects an appropriate AS in the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 63. Specifically, the AS 81 notifies the data management device of the identification information of the UE 61 and the UE 63. The data management device determines an appropriate AS based on the location information of the UE 61 and the UE 63 and notifies the AS 81 of the appropriate AS. In this example, it is assumed that the AS 82 has been notified.

  Since the AS 82 is the optimal AS in the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 63, the AS 81 notifies the UE 61 of the AS change in S104. The AS change notification includes information (identification information) indicating the AS 82 of the change destination. The UE 61 transmits a connection request to the AS 82 in S105. The connection request includes the identification information of the currently connected AS 81, the identification information of the UE 63 that is the communication destination, a token (Token), and information indicating the application to be used. The token is an arbitrary value. Upon receiving the connection request from the UE 61, the AS 82 communicates with the AS 81 in S106 to perform a process of confirming the connection request. Specifically, the AS 82 transmits the identification information of the UE 61 and the token received in the connection request to the AS 81, and checks whether the AS 81 has notified the UE 61 of the change to the AS 82. If the AS 81 has not notified the UE 61 of the change to the AS 82, the confirmation process has failed. If the AS 81 has notified the UE 61 of the change to the AS 82, the confirmation process has succeeded. If the confirmation processing is unsuccessful, the AS 82 stops the processing of FIG. On the other hand, if the confirmation processing is successful, the AS 82 transmits an ACK to the UE 61 in S107, and activates the application notified in S104. Thereby, the connection between the UE 61 and the AS 82 is established. Although not shown, the UE 61 disconnects the connection with the AS 81 when the connection with the AS 82 is established.

  In step S108, the AS 82 performs a process of searching for an AS to which the UE 63 that is the communication partner of the UE 61 is connected. Specifically, the AS 82 inquires of the data management device about the information of the AS to which the UE 63 is connected, and acquires the identification information of the AS to which the UE 63 is connected from the data management device. In this example, the UE 63 is connected to the AS 83. In step S109, the AS 82 notifies the AS 83 to which the UE 63 is connected of an AS change instruction. This AS change instruction includes the identification information of the UE 63 whose connection is to be changed, and the identification information of the UE 61 that is the communication partner of the UE 63. When receiving the AS change instruction from the AS 82, the AS 83 notifies the UE 63 to change the connection of the AS change instruction in S110. The AS change instruction includes the identification information of the AS 82 to which the UE 63 is to connect, and the identification information of the UE 61 that is the communication partner of the UE 63. When notified of the AS change instruction, the UE 63 performs connection processing with the AS 82 that is the specified change destination in S111. Upon completion of the connection process, a connection between the AS 82 and the UE 63 is established. When the connection process with the UE 63 is completed and the connection is established, the AS 82 notifies the UE 61 of the connection in S112. Thus, the UE 61 and the UE 63 start communication via the AS 82. Although not shown, the UE 63 can release the connection with the AS 83 when the connection with the AS 82 is established.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram in a case where the data management device determines that the delay between the UE 61 and the UE 63 is minimized by passing through the AS 83. Steps corresponding to the same processing as in FIG. 2 are given the same step numbers. In this example, AS83 is selected in S103. Therefore, the AS 81 notifies the UE 61 of the AS change to the AS 83 in S104. Therefore, the UE 61 transmits a connection request to the AS 83 in S105. Since the AS 83 and the UE 63 are already connected, the AS 83 performs a confirmation process in S106, transmits an ACK to the UE 61 in S107, and when the connection between the UE 61 and the AS 83 is established, the AS 83 notifies the UE 61 in S112. Send

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram in a case where the data management device determines that it is optimal to pass through the AS 81 in the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 63. Steps corresponding to the same processing as in FIG. 2 are given the same step numbers. In the present example, AS81 is selected in S103. Since the UE 61 does not need to change the AS, steps S104 to S107 in FIG. 2 are omitted. In step S108, the AS 81 performs a search process for an AS connected to the UE 63, which is a communication partner of the UE 61, and notifies the AS 83 connected to the UE 63 of an AS change instruction in step S109. Therefore, the connection between the UE 63 and the AS 81 is established by the processing of S110 and S111. When the connection between the UE 63 and the AS 81 is established, the AS 81 notifies the UE 61 of the connection in S112.

  Next, a process when the UE 61 moves and moves into the cell of the BS 73 while the UE 61 is communicating with the UE 63 via the AS 83 will be described with reference to FIG. In the initial state, the UE 61 and the UE 63 are connected to the AS 83 and are communicating via the AS 83 (S201). Note that the UE 61 and the UE 63 determine, from the received signal strength, the cell in which the own device is located and the cell to which the own device attempts to enter by movement. In this example, the UE 61 has increased the signal strength from the BS 73 due to the movement, and transmits a BS change notification indicating that a handover to the BS 73 is to be performed to the AS 83 in S202. This BS change notification includes information (identification information) indicating the BS 73 that is the handover destination. Upon receiving the BS change notification, the AS 83 performs an AS selection process in S203. Specifically, in the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 63, when the serving cell of the UE 61 has been changed to the BS 73, the data management apparatus is inquired of an optimal AS. In this example, it is assumed that the data management apparatus determines that the optimum AS is the AS 82 when the serving cell of the UE 61 is changed to the BS 73.

  Therefore, in S204, after the handover to the BS 73, the AS 83 notifies the UE 61 that the optimum AS is the AS 82 by the switching destination notification. This switching destination notification includes the identification information of the optimal AS 82 and the token. The token can be any value. The UE 61 then performs handover to the BS 73 in S205. After the handover to the BS 73, the UE 61 transmits a switching request to the AS 82 in S206. This switching request includes the identification information of the AS 83 that is the current connection destination, the identification information of the UE 63 that is the communication partner, the token received in S204, and information indicating the application to be used. Upon receiving the switching request, the AS 82 performs a confirmation process with the AS 83 in S207. Specifically, the AS 82 transmits the identification information of the UE 61 and the UE 63 and the token received in the connection request to the AS 83, and the AS 83 provides the communication service of the communication with the UE 63 to the UE 61, and switches to the UE 61 Check if the notification has been made. If the AS 83 has not notified the UE 61 of the switching destination, the confirmation processing will be unsuccessful. On the other hand, when the AS 83 has notified the UE 61 of the switching destination to the AS 82, the confirmation processing is successful. If the confirmation processing is unsuccessful, the processing in FIG. 5 ends.

  In this example, since the confirmation processing is successful, the AS 82 transmits an ACK to the UE 61 in S208. Thereby, the UE 61 is connected to the AS 82. In addition, the AS 82 activates the application used in the communication between the UE 61 and the UE 63 notified in S206. If the confirmation processing is successful, the AS 83 instructs the UE 63 to change the AS in S209. This AS change instruction includes the identification information of the UE 61 that is the communication partner of the UE 63 and the identifier of the AS 82 to be changed. When notified of the AS change instruction, the UE 63 performs connection processing with the AS 82 that is the specified change destination in S210. Upon completion of the connection process, a connection between the AS 82 and the UE 63 is established. When the connection process with the UE 63 is completed and the connection is established, the AS 82 notifies the UE 61 of the connection in S211.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to provide a communication service with low delay between UEs in the MEC.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the mobile communication network according to the present embodiment. The database 1 stores topology information of the mobile communication network, specifically, installation positions of BSs, routers, and ASs, connection states of BSs, routers, and ASs, and transmission delays of communication links that connect the BSs, routers, and the ASs. Holds information about Further, the database 1 also stores serving information indicating a cell (BS) in which the UE is located and AS connection information indicating an AS to which the UE is connected. Upon receiving a communication start request indicating that communication with the second UE is to be started from the first UE via the communication unit 3, the determination unit 2 determines the location information of the first UE stored in the database 1 and the location information of the second UE. A communication delay in communication between the first UE and the second UE via each of the plurality of ASs is determined based on the location information. In the determination of the communication delay, the route setting policy of the mobile communication network is considered. For example, when one or more anchor gateways are provided in a mobile communication network and an existing connection via a certain anchor gateway is changed, if there is a policy not to change the anchor gateway, communication is performed according to the policy. The route is determined, and the communication delay is determined based on the determined communication route. The determination unit 2 selects one AS (first AS) from a plurality of ASs based on the determined communication delay. The first AS is, for example, an AS with the smallest communication delay. When selecting the first AS, the determination unit 2 notifies the first UE to the first UE via the communication unit 3. If the first UE is already connected to the first AS, this notification can be omitted. The determining unit 2 determines whether the second UE is connected to the first AS based on the AS connection information held in the database 1, and instructs connection to the first AS if not connected.

  Also, the determination unit 2 indicates that the serving cell of the first UE is changed from the first cell to the second cell when the first UE and the second UE are communicating via the first AS. When the change notification is received, it is determined whether the first AS is used in communication between the first UE and the second UE when the serving cell of the first UE is changed to the second cell. This determination is also based on the communication delay. For example, among a plurality of ASs, when there is an AS whose communication delay is smaller than the first AS, when the serving cell of the first UE is changed to the second cell, the first AS is used in the communication between the first UE and the second UE. Judge not to use. When determining that the first AS is not used, the determination unit 2 selects an AS having the smallest communication delay from among the plurality of ASs other than the first AS as the second AS. Then, the determination unit 2 notifies the first UE of the second AS via the communication unit 3. Further, thereafter, when a notification indicating that the cell has been changed to the second cell is received from the first UE, the second UE is instructed to connect to the second AS.

  Each function of the mobile communication network can be realized by causing a computer (processor) to execute an appropriate computer program. The computer may be a single computer or a plurality of computers located at different geographical locations and connected to each other via a communication link. The computer program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium or can be distributed via a network.

  1: database, 2: judgment unit, 3: communication unit

Claims (5)

A mobile communication network having a plurality of application servers,
Upon receiving a communication start request indicating that communication with the second user device is to be started from the first user device, the plurality of plurality of communication devices are determined based on the location information of the first user device and the location information of the second user device. Selecting means for selecting a first application server from the application server;
Notifying means for notifying the first user device of the first application server when the first user device is not connected to the first application server;
A mobile communication network, comprising:   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the first application server based on a communication delay in communication between the first user device and the second user device via each of the plurality of application servers. Mobile communication network as described.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit configured to instruct the second user apparatus to connect to the first application server when the second user apparatus is not connected to the first application server. Or the mobile communication network according to 2. A mobile communication network having a plurality of application servers,
When the first user device and the second user device are communicating via the first application server among the plurality of application servers, the cell in which the first user device is located is changed from the first user device to the first cell. When receiving a change notification indicating that the cell is changed from the cell to the second cell, when the serving cell of the first user apparatus is changed to the second cell, the first user apparatus and the second user apparatus Determining means for determining whether to use the first application server in communication or to use a second application server different from the first application server among the plurality of application servers;
Notification means for notifying the first user device of the second application server when the determination means determines to use the second application server;
When the determination unit determines to use the second application server, and receives a notification from the first user device indicating that the serving cell of the first user device has been changed to the second cell, Instruction means for instructing the second user device to connect to the second application server;
A mobile communication network, comprising:   The determining means uses the first application server based on a communication delay in communication between the first user device and the second user device via each of the plurality of application servers, or uses the second application server. The mobile communication network according to claim 4, wherein it is determined whether or not to perform the operation.

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