KR20210050932A - Multi access edge computing service apparatus, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an edge computing (MEC, Multi-Access Edge Computing) technology. The present invention relates to an edge computing service device for providing a database of terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application) and an operation method of the edge computing service device.

Description

Edge computing service device and operating method of edge computing service device {MULTI ACCESS EDGE COMPUTING SERVICE APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to an edge computing (MEC, Multi-Access Edge Computing) technology, and to a method for providing a database of terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application).

Recently, the evolution from 4G (LTE) networks to 5G networks is actively progressing, and in the environment, edge computing (MEC, MEC), which enables ultra-low latency/security-sensitive services to be accommodated by arranging computing for application services near terminals. Multi-Access Edge Computing) technology is being tried.

Core growth drivers for edge computing are IoT (Internet of Things), 4G networks, and next-generation 5G networks.

In other words, the exponential increase in traffic and the explosion of connected devices means that the network infrastructure needs to be effectively expanded to transmit large amounts of data, and edge computing is the flexibility and flexibility of the cloud closer to the customer to meet these needs. It can provide agility.

Meanwhile, in the 5G network, the 5G network standard was designed in consideration of such edge computing from the beginning, so 5G network functions are standardized to be fully utilized for edge computing services, whereas in 4G networks, edge computing is overlaid on the previously established 4G network structure. It has no choice but to take a method that is independent of the 4G network.

Therefore, in order to implement an ultra-low latency/security-sensitive service, which is a major feature of edge computing service, edge computing service (MEC Application) located at the edge in 4G network environment, a specific method that can actively support it. Needs to be provided.

Accordingly, in the present invention, a new method for supporting edge computing services in a 4G network environment is proposed.

The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and an object to be reached in the present invention is, in an edge computing (MEC, Multi-Access Edge Computing) environment, terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application) Is to provide a database.

An edge computing service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes: an acquisition unit for obtaining a mirroring message obtained by mirroring a signaling message transmitted in an interface section of a network; A generator for generating a database storing information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message; And a provider for providing an attribute value for each category of each terminal in the database to an edge computing service.

Specifically, the acquisition unit mirrors the Gx message flowing into the SGi interface section from the edge computing router installed in the SGi interface section through which the signaling message between the PGW (PDN Gateway) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) is transmitted. It is possible to obtain a mirroring message.

Specifically, the generation unit updates the database based on the mirroring message obtained in at least one of the arrival of a preset update period, a change in the location of the terminal, and a mode conversion from the idle mode to the active mode of the terminal. can do.

Specifically, the provider matches an API (Application Programming Interface) that supports calling of attribute values for each category item in the database, and provides attribute values for each category item of each terminal according to an API-based request from the edge computing service. Can provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of operating an edge computing service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition step of obtaining a mirroring message obtained by mirroring a signaling message transmitted in an interface section of a network; A generating step of creating a database storing information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message; And a providing step of providing an attribute value for each category of each terminal in the database to an edge computing service.

Specifically, in the acquisition step, the Gx message flowing into the SGi interface section from the edge computing router installed in the SGi interface section through which the signaling message between the PGW (PDN Gateway) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) is transmitted is mirrored. The mirroring message can be obtained.

Specifically, the method updates the database based on the mirroring message obtained in at least one of the arrival of a preset update period, change of the location of the terminal, and mode conversion from the idle mode to the active mode of the terminal. It may further include an update step.

Specifically, in the providing step, an application programming interface (API) that supports calling attribute values for each category item in the database is matched, and attributes for each category item of each terminal according to an API-based request from the edge computing service. You can provide a value.

Accordingly, according to the operating method of the edge computing service device and the edge computing service device of the present invention, a database for terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application) is constructed, and the database is stored for the edge computing service. By supporting the API-based calling method for information, the effect of actively supporting service implementation for each edge computing service can be achieved.

1 is an exemplary view showing an edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exemplary diagram for explaining an edge computing service environment based on a 5G network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an edge computing service apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a service scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an edge computing service device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows an edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an edge computing (MEC) technology capable of supporting driving of an edge computing application (MEC Application) in an edge computing cloud (MEC Cloud) environment existing in a network of a communication service provider is dealt with. have.

Here, the edge computing application refers to a service provided by various service providers (eg, AR/VR, Game) in an edge computing cloud environment, which may be provided based on, for example, a virtual machine (VM) or container. have.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an edge computing application will be referred to as an edge computing service.

In addition, in the case of a network of a communication service provider, all networks to which edge computing technology can be applied may be included, but in an embodiment of the present invention, an LTE (4G) network will be described.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving of each edge computing service (MEC App) in the edge computing cloud (MEC Cloud) existing in the LTE (4G) network It may include an edge computing service device 10 for supporting.

In addition, in an edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, driving of an edge computing service (MEC App) may be supported through a method of providing terminal information required by each edge computing service (MEC App).

To this end, the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an edge computing router 20, which is a configuration for collecting terminal information from an LTE (4G) network.

The edge computing router 20 is installed in the SGi interface section, which is an interface section within the LTE (4G) network, and mirrors the signaling message transmitted between the PGW (PDN Gateway) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function). Thus, by transmitting to the edge computing service device 10, the edge computing service device 10 can analyze the terminal (UE) information from the mirroring message.

Here, the signaling message is a PGW (PDN Gateway) IP session-related QoS policy provided to the terminal (UE) in the course of a session management service for the terminal (UE) initially connected to the LTE (4G) network. Corresponds to the Gx message used to query/respond between the and PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function).

Meanwhile, as mentioned for a while, the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the LTE (4G) network, and may also be applied to the 5G network.

As such, when the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a 5G network, it is possible to install the edge computing router 20 in the N3 and N6 interface sections of the 5G network interface section shown in FIG. 2. Do.

In this case, of course, the signaling message mirrored by the edge computing router 20 may vary.

From this point of view, in the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, the interface section in which the edge computing router 20 in the LTE (4G) network is installed may be changed to the S1-U section. A signaling message in which mirroring is performed in the computing router 20 may be changed from a Gx message to an S1-AP protocol message.

Meanwhile, in the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the edge computing service device 10 and the edge computing router 20 are separate configurations, but the edge computing service device ( Of course, it is also possible to implement all the functions of 10) in the edge computing router 20.

As described above, in the edge computing service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, terminal (UE) information required for each edge computing service (MEC App) can be provided in a database through the above-described configuration. The configuration of the edge computing service device 10 will be described.

3 shows a schematic configuration of an edge computing service apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the edge computing service apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit 11 for obtaining a mirroring message, a generation unit 12 for generating a database, and a database. It may have a configuration including a providing unit 13 for providing stored terminal information.

The entire configuration or at least a portion of the edge computing service apparatus 10 may be implemented in the form of a hardware module or a software module, or may be implemented in a form in which a hardware module and a software module are combined.

Here, the software module may be understood as, for example, an instruction executed by a processor that processes an operation in the edge computing service device 10, and these instructions are mounted in a separate memory in the edge computing service device 10. It can have a shape.

On the other hand, the edge computing service device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, is an RF module responsible for a practical communication function with the edge computing router 20 and the edge computing service (MEC App) in the edge computing cloud. It may have a configuration that further includes a phosphorus communication unit 14.

Here, the communication unit 14 includes, but is not limited to, an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a codec chipset, and a memory. Any known circuit to perform may be included.

As described above, the edge computing service device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a database of terminal information required for each edge computing service (MEC App) through the above-described configuration. Each component in the computing service device 10 will be described in more detail.

The acquisition unit 11 performs a function of acquiring a mirroring message.

More specifically, the acquisition unit 11 acquires a mirroring message obtained by mirroring a signaling message transmitted in an interface section of an LTE (4G) network.

At this time, the acquisition unit 11 is from the SGi interface section from the edge computing router 20 installed in the SGi interface section through which signaling messages are transmitted between the PGW (PDN Gateway) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) in the LTE (4G) network. It is possible to acquire (receive) a mirroring message that mirrors the incoming Gx message.

Here, the Gx message is a PGW (PDN Gateway) and a QoS policy related to the IP session provided to the UE in the course of a session management service for the UE initially connected to the LTE (4G) network. It can be understood that it is a signaling message used for query/response between Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF).

The generation unit 12 performs a function of generating a database by analyzing the mirroring message.

More specifically, when the mirroring message is obtained from the edge computing router 20 in the LTE (4G) network, the generation unit 12 generates a database storing information of each terminal (UE) analyzed from the mirroring message. .

At this time, the generation unit 12 is information of each terminal (UE) from AVP (Attribute Value Pairs) including a mirroring message (Gx message), for example, IMSI (International Mobile Station Identity), IP Address, Network access information, Bearer Id, QoS information, and location information (Location) can be analyzed.

Here, the IMSI may be analyzed from the'Subscription-ID' AVP, and the IP Address may be analyzed from the'Framed-IP-Address' AVP.

Network access information (e.g. 3G or 4G or 5G) can be analyzed from the'RAT-Type' AVP.For example, if the value is 1000, UTRAN (3G), if 1004, EUTRAN (LTE), if 1006, then NR (New Radio, 5G) Can be analyzed as

In addition, the QoS information for each bearer of the UE can analyze the Id assigned by the PGW for each IP Can Bearer assigned to the UE through the'Bearer-Identifier' AVP, and the'QoS-Information' AVP and the corresponding AVP are It is possible to analyze QoS information provided for each IP CAN Bearer through'QoS-Class-Identifier' and'Allocation-Retention-Priority' included below.

For reference, an IP CAN session is created for each IP assigned to a terminal (UE), and one IP CAN session can have multiple IP CAN bearers, and QoS, etc. are managed for each IP CAN bearer, which is the same in PGW. In order to separate the IP CAN bearer transmitted from the UE IP, a unique ID can be assigned for each bearer, and this is called Bearer Id.

The location information of the terminal (UE) can be analyzed by time using the'User-Location-Info-Time' AVP, and the corresponding AVP includes ECGI (E-UTRAN Cell Global Id). Through this, it is possible to check which base station the current UE belongs to.

As such, the matching relationship between the AVP and the information analyzed from the mirroring message (Gx message) according to an embodiment of the present invention may be summarized as shown in [Table 1] below.

UE IP Address IMSI Network connection
Information Bearer Id QoS information Location AVP Framed IPAddress AVP Subscription-
ID AVP RAT-Type AVP Bearer
Identifier AVP QoS Information
AVP UE Location
Info Time AVP

In this regard, FIG. 4 shows a service scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the process up to the generation of the database described above is matched with the block (a) of FIG. 4. Meanwhile, an embodiment of the present invention In the embodiment, in order to keep the information managed in the database up to date, an update is performed on the database.

That is, after generating the database, the generation unit 12 generates at least one of, for example, a mode conversion from an idle mode of the terminal to an active mode, a change of the location of the terminal, and the arrival of a preset update period. In each case, the database is updated by analyzing the acquired mirroring message (Gx message) obtained from the edge computing router 20.

For reference, the database update process according to the mode conversion from the idle mode of the terminal to the active mode is matched with the block (b) of FIG. 4 exemplified above, and The following database update process is matched with the block (c), and the process of updating the database according to the arrival of the preset update period is matched with the block (d) of FIG. 4 exemplified above.

The providing unit 13 performs a function of providing terminal information stored in a database.

More specifically, the provider 13 provides an attribute value for each category of each terminal analyzed and stored in a database as an edge computing service according to a request from the edge computing service.

Here, the attribute value for each category of each terminal is a category corresponding to IMSI (International Mobile Station Identity), IP Address, Network access information, Bearer Id, QoS information, and location information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message. It can be understood as item-specific information.

In this case, the providing unit 13 may provide attribute values for each category of each terminal through an application programming interface (API).

To this end, the providing unit 13 matches an application programming interface (API) that supports calling of attribute values for each category item in the database, and enables calling of attribute values for each category item of each terminal through the API.

Through this, the provision unit 13 formats the attribute value for each category item of the corresponding terminal according to a request from the edge computing service (MEC App) through an API that matches each category item of each terminal in the database. It can be delivered as an edge computing service (MEC App).

Meanwhile, this process of providing terminal information is matched with block (e) of FIG. 4 exemplified above.

For reference, here, the block (f) is an illustration of the location information change notification service of the terminal (UE), and the MEC service uses the'User-Location-Info-Time' AVP to locate the terminal (UE) by time. When a change occurs, it shows the process of notiing it to the pre-registered edge computing service (App).

As described above, according to the configuration of the edge computing service device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application) is constructed, and an edge computing service It can be seen that by supporting the API-based calling method for information stored in the database, the effect of actively supporting service implementation for each edge computing service is achieved.

Hereinafter, a method of operating the edge computing service apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

First, the acquisition unit 11 acquires a mirroring message obtained by mirroring a signaling message transmitted in an interface section of an LTE (4G) network (S10).

At this time, the acquisition unit 11 is from the SGi interface section from the edge computing router 20 installed in the SGi interface section through which signaling messages are transmitted between the PGW (PDN Gateway) and the PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) in the LTE (4G) network. It is possible to acquire (receive) a mirroring message that mirrors the incoming Gx message.

Here, the Gx message is a PGW (PDN Gateway) and a QoS policy related to the IP session provided to the UE in the course of a session management service for the UE initially connected to the LTE (4G) network. It can be understood that it is a signaling message used for query/response between Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF).

Then, when the mirroring message is obtained from the edge computing router 20 in the LTE (4G) network, the generation unit 12 creates a database storing information of each terminal (UE) analyzed from the mirroring message (S20). ).

At this time, the generation unit 12 is information of each terminal (UE) from AVP (Attribute Value Pairs) including a mirroring message (Gx message), for example, IMSI (International Mobile Station Identity), IP Address, Network access information, Bearer Id, QoS information, and location information (Location) can be analyzed.

Here, the IMSI may be analyzed from the'Subscription-ID' AVP, and the IP Address may be analyzed from the'Framed-IP-Address' AVP.

Network access information (e.g. 3G or 4G or 5G) can be analyzed from the'RAT-Type' AVP.For example, if the value is 1000, UTRAN (3G), if 1004, EUTRAN (LTE), if 1006, then NR (New Radio, 5G) Can be analyzed as

In addition, the QoS information for each bearer of the UE can analyze the Id assigned by the PGW for each IP Can Bearer assigned to the UE through the'Bearer-Identifier' AVP, and the'QoS-Information' AVP and the corresponding AVP are It is possible to analyze QoS information provided for each IP CAN Bearer through'QoS-Class-Identifier' and'Allocation-Retention-Priority' included below.

For reference, an IP CAN session is created for each IP assigned to a terminal (UE), and one IP CAN session can have multiple IP CAN bearers, and QoS, etc. are managed for each IP CAN bearer, which is the same in PGW. In order to separate the IP CAN bearer transmitted from the UE IP, a unique ID can be assigned for each bearer, and this is called Bearer Id.

The location information of the terminal (UE) can be analyzed by time using the'User-Location-Info-Time' AVP, and the corresponding AVP includes ECGI (E-UTRAN Cell Global Id). Through this, it is possible to check which base station the current UE belongs to.

Further, the generation unit 12 updates the database in order to keep the information managed in the database as the latest information (S30).

At this time, after generating the database, the generation unit 12 generates at least one of, for example, a mode conversion from an idle mode of the terminal to an active mode, a change of the location of the terminal, and the arrival of a preset update period. In each case, the database is updated by analyzing the acquired mirroring message (Gx message) obtained from the edge computing router 20.

Thereafter, the provider 13 provides the attribute values for each category of each terminal analyzed and stored in the database as an edge computing service in response to a request from the edge computing service (S40-S50).

Here, the attribute values for each category of each terminal are categories corresponding to IMSI (International Mobile Station Identity), IP Address, Network access information, Bearer Id, QoS information, and location information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message. It can be understood as item-specific information.

In this case, the providing unit 13 may provide attribute values for each category of each terminal through an application programming interface (API).

To this end, the providing unit 13 matches an application programming interface (API) that supports calling of attribute values for each category item in the database, and enables calling of attribute values for each category item of each terminal through the API.

Through this, the provision unit 13 formats the attribute value for each category item of the corresponding terminal according to a request from the edge computing service (MEC App) through an API that matches each category item of each terminal in the database. It can be delivered as an edge computing service (MEC App).

As described above, according to the operating method of the edge computing service device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application) is constructed, and edge computing It can be seen that by supporting the API-based calling method for the information stored in the database about the service, the effect of actively supporting service implementation for each edge computing service is achieved.

Meanwhile, the method of operating the edge computing service apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded in the medium may be specially designed and configured for the present invention, or may be known and usable to those skilled in computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. -A hardware device specially configured to store and execute program instructions such as magneto-optical media, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those produced by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the present invention, and vice versa.

Until now, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the technical field to which the present invention belongs without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the following claims. Anyone of ordinary skill in the art will say that the technical idea of the present invention extends to the range in which various modifications or modifications are possible.

According to the operating method of the edge computing service device and the edge computing service device according to the present invention, it relates to an edge computing (MEC, Multi-Access Edge Computing) technology, and provides terminal information on a network required for each edge computing service (MEC Application). In the sense that it can be provided as a database, as it exceeds the limitations of the existing technology, the possibility of marketing or sales of the applied device is sufficient as well as the extent that it can be practically clearly implemented. It is a possible invention.

10: Edge computing service device
11: acquisition unit 12: generation unit
13: Provider
20: edge computing router

Claims (8)

An acquisition unit for obtaining a mirroring message obtained by mirroring the signaling message transmitted in the interface section of the network;
A generator for generating a database storing information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message; And
And a provider for providing an attribute value for each category of each terminal in the database to an edge computing service. The method of claim 1,
The acquisition unit,
Obtaining the mirroring message mirroring the Gx message flowing into the SGi interface section from an edge computing router installed in the SGi interface section through which a signaling message between PGW (PDN Gateway) and PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) is transmitted. Edge computing service device. The method of claim 1,
The generation unit,
Edge computing, characterized in that the database is updated based on the mirroring message obtained in at least one of the arrival of a preset update period, a change in the location of the terminal, and a mode conversion from the idle mode to the active mode of the terminal. Service device. The method of claim 1,
The providing unit,
Matching an API (Application Programming Interface) that supports calling attribute values for each category item in the database, and providing attribute values for each category item of each terminal according to an API-based request from the edge computing service. Edge computing service device. An acquisition step of obtaining a mirroring message obtained by mirroring the signaling message transmitted in the interface section of the network;
A generating step of generating a database storing information of each terminal analyzed from the mirroring message; And
And a providing step of providing an attribute value for each category of each terminal in the database to an edge computing service. The method of claim 5,
The acquisition step,
Obtaining the mirroring message mirroring the Gx message flowing into the SGi interface section from an edge computing router installed in the SGi interface section through which a signaling message between PGW (PDN Gateway) and PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function) is transmitted. How to operate the edge computing service device. The method of claim 5,
The above method,
An update step of updating the database based on the mirroring message obtained in at least one of the arrival of a preset update period, a change in the location of the terminal, and a mode conversion from the idle mode to the active mode of the terminal. The operating method of the edge computing service device, characterized in that. The method of claim 5,
The providing step,
Matching an API (Application Programming Interface) that supports calling attribute values for each category item in the database, and providing attribute values for each category item of each terminal according to an API-based request from the edge computing service. How to operate the edge computing service device.

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