阅读说明：本技术 网络装置和在网络装置中实现的搜索边缘服务的方法 (Network device and method for searching edge service implemented in network device ) 是由 李东镇 于 2020-06-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提出了用于实现服务环境的新型解决方案(技术),在该服务环境中,可以通过响应于控制平面(控制节点)的请求在UPF中搜索边缘服务来在控制平面(控制节点)中搜索和选择适用于订户的边缘服务。(The present invention proposes a novel solution (technique) for implementing a service environment in which an edge service suitable for a subscriber can be searched and selected in a control plane (control node) by searching for the edge service in a UPF in response to a request of the control plane (control node).)

1. A network device, the network device comprising:

a request receiving unit configured to receive an edge service search request for a subscriber from a control node;

an edge service search unit configured to search, for each of the interfaces of the network device, an edge service that can be provided for processing data of the subscriber in response to the search request; and

a search result providing unit configured to return a result of searching for an edge service to the control node so as to enable the control node to apply an edge service to control the data session of the subscriber.

2. Network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge service search request and the results of the search are sent or received according to an interface between a data node and the control node, the interface being defined in a service-based interface between nodes, the nodes comprising network functions NF.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the edge service search unit is configured to:

performing, for each of the interfaces, signaling with each of the edge nodes identified as being in a connected state in order to obtain service information related to a particular edge service that satisfies performance required to process data of the subscriber; and

searching for the particular edge service for which service information is obtained as an edge service that can be provided for processing data of the subscriber.

4. The network apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the search result providing unit is configured to:

managing state information between the network device and the edge service based on the service information of the particular edge service; and

returning the state information to the control node as a result of searching for edge services for the subscriber.

5. The network apparatus of claim 3, wherein the service information related to the edge service comprises at least one of an edge service name, a hosting address where the edge service is provided, service performance, service interface I/F information, I/F load information, and a transmission/reception processing scheme.

6. The network device of claim 4, wherein the state information between the network device and the edge service comprises at least one of the following for each of the edge nodes searched for an edge service: service interface I/F information indicating at least one of an ID, a communication port, a node location, and an interface I/F of the edge node; the number of edge services available in the edge node and a list of edge services; and load information generated in the network device when providing an edge service.

7. The network apparatus of claim 3, wherein the signaling performed with each of the edge nodes comprises:

providing a traffic profile of the subscriber to each of the edge nodes to request a process identifying whether edge services can be provided to the subscriber;

each of the edge nodes identifying, based on the traffic profile of the subscriber, whether there is a processing of the particular edge service among the edge services supported by each of the edge nodes that meets performance required to process data of the subscriber; and

a process in which the edge node identified to the particular edge service returns service information related to the particular edge service.

8. The network apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signaling performed with each of the edge nodes comprises:

identifying an edge node for which the particular edge service does not exist, performing processing of service information related to the particular edge service that satisfies performance required for processing data of the subscriber with signaling of another edge node identified as connected to the edge node, and

the edge node that identifies the absence of the particular edge service returns the obtained service information for the particular edge service to the network device.

9. The network device of claim 3, wherein the edge service search unit is configured to:

identifying an interface in an active state from among the interfaces of the network device;

for each of the interfaces identified as being in the active state, detecting an address of at least one edge node connected through that interface; and

for each of the interfaces, identifying the edge node for which an address is detected as an edge node in the connected state.

10. The network device of claim 3, wherein the edge node is located in an access node connected to the network device over an N3 interface, in a data node connected to the network device over an N9 interface, or in a separate node connected to the network device over an N6 interface.

11. An edge service search method performed by a network device, the edge service search method comprising the steps of:

receiving an edge service search request for a subscriber from a control node;

searching, for each of the interfaces of the network device, an edge service that can be provided for processing the subscriber's data, in response to the search request; and

returning results of searching for edge services to the control node to enable the control node to apply edge services to control the data session of the subscriber.

12. The edge service search method of claim 11, wherein the edge service search request and the results of the search are transmitted or received according to an interface between a data node and the control node, the interface being defined in a service-based interface between nodes, the nodes including network functions.

13. The edge service search method of claim 11, wherein the searching comprises the steps of:

performing, for each of the interfaces, signaling with each of the edge nodes identified as being in a connected state in order to obtain service information related to a particular edge service that satisfies performance required to process data of the subscriber; and

searching for the particular edge service for which service information is obtained as an edge service that can be provided for processing data of the subscriber.

14. The edge service search method of claim 13, wherein returning results of searching for edge services comprises:

managing state information between the network device and the edge service based on the service information of the particular edge service; and

returning the state information to the control node as a result of searching for edge services for the subscriber.

15. The edge service search method of claim 13, wherein the signaling performed with each of the edge nodes comprises:

providing a traffic profile of the subscriber to each of the edge nodes to request a process identifying whether edge services can be provided to the subscriber;

each of the edge nodes identifying, based on the traffic profile of the subscriber, whether there is processing of the particular edge service among the edge services supported by the edge node that meets performance required to process data of the subscriber; and

a process in which the edge node identified to the particular edge service returns service information related to the particular edge service.

16. The edge service search method of claim 13, wherein the searching comprises the steps of:

identifying an interface in an active state from among the interfaces of the network device;

for each of the interfaces identified as being in the active state, detecting an address of at least one edge node connected through that interface; and

for each of the interfaces, identifying the edge node for which an address is detected as an edge node in the connected state.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to techniques for searching for edge services in conjunction with User Plane Functions (UPFs).

The present disclosure claims priority to korean application No.10-2019-0072947 filed on 19.6.2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Background

The diversification of communication service types, required transmission rates, and the like in the LTE communication system has led to a continuous evolution toward the 5G communication system.

The 5G communication system supports scenarios of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)/large-scale machine type communication (mtc) and ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), while accommodating as many terminals as possible on the basis of limited radio resources.

Specifically, 5G defines a network structure for end-to-end support of terminals, base stations (access), cores and servers.

Accordingly, the 5G separates a control signaling function and a data transmission/reception function, which are complicatedly performed by a single node (e.g., S-GW or P-GW) in the existing LTE (4G), and defines a network structure that distinguishes between a control plane of the control signaling function and a user plane of the data transmission/reception function.

The control node of the control plane according to 5G may be defined as an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) for controlling access of a terminal in a radio part, a Policy Control Function (PCF) for managing/controlling terminal information, terminal-specific subscription service information, and policies on charging and the like, a Session Management Function (SMF) for managing/controlling a session for using a data service for each terminal, a network open function (NEF) for sharing information with an external network, a network storage function (NRF) for managing/controlling information on each node in a network, and the like.

In addition, the data node of the user plane in 5G may define a User Plane Function (UPF) for transmitting/receiving data between the terminal and a server of an external service network (e.g., the internet) through a session with the terminal based on SMF control (interworking).

Further, in accordance with recent attention to edge computing technology, 5G is expected to evolve into a structure in which an edge service is provided by a node (hereinafter, referred to as an edge node) near a client (UE) for the purpose of a low-latency service.

However, the current standards do not provide a specific solution to enable an edge node (which may be a UPF) to determine what edge services will be provided thereby and to enable an SMF to search/select edge services to be applied to a terminal (subscriber).

Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a scheme for enabling a User Plane Function (UPF) to search for an edge service so that an SMF can search/select an edge service to be applied to a terminal (subscriber).

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a specific technical solution for enabling a User Plane Function (UPF) to search for an edge service.

Solution to the problem

A network apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a request receiving unit configured to receive an edge service search request of a subscriber from a control node; an edge service search unit configured to search, for each interface of the network device, an edge service that can be provided when data of the subscriber is processed, in response to the search request; and a search result providing unit configured to return a result of searching for the edge service to the control node so as to enable the control node to apply the edge service while a data session of the subscriber is controlled.

In particular, the edge service search request and the returned results may be sent or received according to an interface between a data node and the control node, which is defined in a service-based interface between nodes (network functions (NFs)).

In particular, the edge service search unit may be configured to: for each of the interfaces, performing signalling with each edge node identified as being in a connected state, in order to obtain service information relating to a particular edge service that meets the performance required when the subscriber's data is processed; and searches for a specific edge service for which service information is obtained as an edge service that can be provided when the data of the subscriber is processed.

Specifically, the search result providing unit may be configured to: managing state information between the network device and the edge service based on the obtained service information of the particular edge service; and returning the state information to the control node as an edge service search result for the subscriber.

Specifically, the service information related to the edge service may include at least one of an edge service name, a hosting address providing the edge service, service performance, service interface (I/F) information, I/F load information, or a transmission/reception processing scheme.

In particular, the state information between the network device and the edge service may comprise at least one of the following for each edge node discovering the edge service: service interface (I/F) information indicating at least one of an ID, a communication port, a node location, or an interface (I/F) of an edge node, a number of edge services available in an edge node and an edge service list, or load information generated in the network apparatus when the edge service is provided.

Specifically, the signaling performed with each edge node may include: providing a traffic profile of the subscriber to each of the edge nodes to request processing to identify whether the edge service can be provided to the subscriber; each edge node identifying, based on the traffic profile of the subscriber, whether there is a processing of a particular edge service among edge services supported by that edge node that satisfies a performance required when data of the subscriber is processed; and a process of returning service information related to a specific edge service to an edge node identified that the specific edge service exists among each of the edge nodes.

Specifically, the signaling performed with each edge node may include the following processes: an edge node among each of the edge nodes, which identifies that the specific edge service does not exist, performs signaling with another edge node identified as being connected to the edge node in order to obtain service information related to the specific edge service satisfying performance required when data of the subscriber is processed, and the edge node among each of the edge nodes, which identifies that the specific edge service does not exist, returns the obtained service information of the specific edge service to the network device.

In particular, the edge service search unit may be configured to: identifying an interface in an active state from among the interfaces of the network device; for each interface identified as being in an active state, detecting an address of at least one edge node connected through the interface; and for each interface, identifying the edge node for which the address is detected as an edge node in a connected state.

In particular, the edge node may be located in an access node connected to the network device over an N3 interface, in a data node connected to the network device over an N9 interface, or in a separate node connected to the network device over an N6 interface.

An edge service search method performed by a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a request receiving operation of receiving an edge service search request for a subscriber from a control node; an edge service search operation of searching for an edge service that can be provided when data of the subscriber is processed for each interface of the network device in response to the search request; and returning results of searching the edge service to the control node to enable the control node to apply the search result providing operation of the edge service while the data session of the subscriber is controlled.

In particular, the edge service search request and the returned results may be sent or received according to an interface between a data node and the control node, which is defined in a service-based interface between nodes (network functions (NFs)).

Specifically, the edge service search operation may include: for each of the interfaces, performing signalling with each edge node identified as being in a connected state, in order to obtain service information relating to a particular edge service that meets the performance required when the subscriber's data is processed; and searching for a specific edge service for which service information is obtained as an edge service that can be provided when the data of the subscriber is processed.

Specifically, the search result providing operation may include: managing state information between the network device and the edge service based on the obtained service information of the particular edge service; and returning the state information to the control node as an edge service search result for the subscriber.

Specifically, the signaling performed with each edge node may include: providing a traffic profile of the subscriber to each of the edge nodes to request processing to identify whether the edge service can be provided to the subscriber; each edge node identifying, based on the traffic profile of the subscriber, whether there is a processing of a particular edge service among edge services supported by that edge node that satisfies a performance required when data of the subscriber is processed; and a process of returning service information related to a specific edge service to an edge node identified that the specific edge service exists among each of the edge nodes.

Specifically, the edge service search operation may include: identifying an interface in an active state from among the interfaces of the network device; for each interface identified as being in an active state, detecting an address of at least one edge node connected through the interface; and for each interface, identifying the edge node for which the address is detected as an edge node in a connected state.

Advantageous effects of the invention

An advantage of embodiments of the present disclosure is that a technique related to a scheme for enabling a UPF to search for an edge service is achieved, thereby providing a service environment in which a control plane can search and select an edge service suitable for a terminal (subscriber).

Drawings

Fig. 1 and 2 are exemplary diagrams illustrating the structure of a 5G system.

Fig. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an edge service search scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an edge service search result discovered by a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is an exemplary diagram describing service information managed by an edge node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is an exemplary diagram describing status information managed by a UPF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operational flow of an edge service search method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

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

The present disclosure relates to techniques for searching for edge services through User Plane Functions (UPFs).

The 5G communication system supports a scenario of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)/large-scale machine type communication (mtc)/ultra-reliable low latency communication (urrllc) while accepting a maximum number of terminals on the basis of limited radio resources.

Specifically, in 5G, a network structure supporting a terminal, a base station (access), a core, and a server in an end-to-end manner is defined.

Thus, 5G defines the following network structure: a control signaling function region (control plane) and a data transmission/reception function region (user plane) are divided by separating control signaling and data transmission/reception functions complicatedly performed by a single node (e.g., S-GW, P-GW, etc.) in the existing LTE (4G).

Fig. 1 and 2 are exemplary diagrams illustrating the structure of a 5G system.

As can be seen in fig. 1 and 2, in 5G, a control node of a control plane may be defined as an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) that controls radio section access of terminals, a Policy Control Function (PCF) that manages/controls policies such as terminal information, subscription service information of each terminal, and charging, a Session Management Function (SMF) that manages/controls a session for data service usage for each terminal, a network open function (NEF) that is responsible for sharing information with an external network, a network storage function (NRF) that manages/controls information on each node in a network, and the like.

In addition, in 5G, a data node of a user plane may be defined as a User Plane Function (UPF) that transmits or receives data between a terminal and a server on an external service network (e.g., a Data Network (DN)) through a session with the terminal based on control (interworking) of the SMF.

As can be seen in fig. 1, in the current 5G, for interworking performance between (R) AN cores (e.g., DNs) or between UE cores (e.g., DNs), AN Nx interface (I/F) in a point-to-point scheme is employed.

However, in 5G, since features of service-based architectures (SBAs), such as a fully active architecture and fully virtualized nf (vnf), are required in the future, an architecture in which all control nodes on the control plane are evolved into SBAs is discussed.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the I/F between SMF and UPF would also be expected to evolve from N4I/F to SBI I I/F (Nupf).

In addition, where the interface of the UPF evolves from N4I/F to SBI I/F (Nupf), the UPF may communicate directly with each control node in the control plane (NF of the control plane) without going through SMF based on Nupf.

On the other hand, as the edge computing technology has recently become a topic of discussion, in 5G, it is expected to evolve into a structure in which an edge service is provided in a node (hereinafter, an edge node) near a consumer (UE) for a low-latency service.

However, in the current standard, it is impossible to determine an edge service to be provided from the perspective of an edge node (which may be a UPF), and an SMF, which does not actually manage/control a data session of a terminal, can search/select a specific solution to be applied to the edge service of the terminal (subscriber).

Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a method for searching for an edge service through a User Plane Function (UPF), thus providing a service environment in which a control plane (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.) can search/select an edge service to be applied to a terminal (subscriber).

Specifically, a network apparatus for implementing a technical solution (hereinafter, edge service search technology) proposed in the present disclosure is proposed.

The edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure is characterized by realizing the following service environment: through requests and responses between the control node and the data node, the control node identifies the edge services applicable in controlling the data session of the subscriber so that the control plane (control node) can search/select the edge services to be applied to the subscriber.

In the current standard, the SMF, which actually manages/controls the data session of the terminal, does not know the data traffic path (hereinafter, user plane path) and edge service state of the subscriber for the edge service.

Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to achieve the following configuration: a control node, such as an SMF, requests an edge service search for a subscriber from a UPF and receives the search results in response, such that the control plane (control node) identifies the edge service applicable when the subscriber's data session is controlled.

In addition, the edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure has the following features: in response to a request from the control node, the data node searches for an edge service that can be provided when the data of the subscriber is processed, so as to implement the edge service search in the data plane (data node).

Fig. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an edge service search scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the main body implementing the edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure, i.e., the network device 100, may be a UPF as a data node.

In addition, the control node of the present disclosure, that is, the UPF100, which requests the edge service search for the subscriber to the network device 100 may be a node among NFs of the control plane such as SMF and PCF of the control plane. However, for convenience of the description hereinafter, the node will be referred to as SMF.

According to the edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure, a control node (e.g., SMF) may request an edge service search for a subscriber from the network apparatus 100.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the network device 100 may be a UPF100 that transmits/receives data (that is, processes data sessions) by participating in a data session of a subscriber (e.g., UE 10).

Thus, in the case where there are multiple UPFs 100 handling a data session of a subscriber (UE), the SMF may request an edge service search from each of the multiple UPFs 100.

However, for ease of description, fig. 3 illustrates one UPF100 handling a data session for a subscriber (UE).

In addition, the edge service search request received by the network device 100 may be for one subscriber or for a plurality of subscribers. However, hereinafter, for convenience of description, one subscriber, e.g., the UE10, is referred to and described.

The control plane basically has a profile of the subscriber and in the present disclosure, a control node (PCF, SMF, NRF, NEF, NSSF, UDM, etc.) of the control plane may trigger the occurrence of a predefined event based on the subscriber profile in order to request an edge service search from the UPF for the subscriber in which the event occurred.

The subscriber profile may include UE identification information such as a terminal address (IMSI, MSISDN, SUPI, GPSI, and IP) for identifying the subscriber, an N/W slice ID identification for the subscriber, a subscriber service/product based identification matching the identification of the subscriber, an edge service name desired by the subscriber, an edge IP address, service QoS information, and the like.

In addition, an event triggering an edge service search request may be defined to occur when a subscriber enters/leaves a specific area, when a subscriber performs handover, or when a specific control event occurs.

In addition, the edge service search request may be triggered based on the wireless idle/enabled status of the subscriber terminal, the type and status of the connected RATs, the radio quality (available resource blocks, RSSI, RSRP, and RSRQ information) status of the terminal, and carrier aggregation and 5G-LTE PDCP aggregation information.

Thus, in accordance with an implementation occurrence of the present disclosure, a control node (e.g., SMF) may monitor whether a predefined event occurs based on a subscriber profile and, when an event occurs, request (r) an edge service search from the UPF100 for the subscriber (UE10) where the event occurred.

According to the edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure, the UPF100, which receives an edge service search request from a control node (e.g., SMF), searches for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed for each interface of the UPF100 in response to the edge service search request.

Specifically, the UPF100 may perform signaling with respect to each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 of the UPF100, which are identified as being in a connected state, in order to obtain service information related to a specific edge service satisfying performance required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, and search for the specific edge service for which the service information is obtained as an edge service that can be provided when the data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed.

As can be seen in fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, signaling performed by the UPF100 for searching for an edge service may include indirect signaling (c-1) performed by the UPF with another edge node connected to the edge node, in addition to direct signaling (c) performed by the UPF100 with the edge node directly connected thereto.

Next, signaling performed by the UPF100 for searching for an edge service will be described in detail again.

As shown in fig. 3, the edge node providing the edge service may be located in AN access node (gNB or (R) AN) connected to the UPF100 through AN N3 interface, may be located in a data node (that is, UPF) connected to the UPF100 through AN N9 interface, or may be located in a separate node (hereinafter, edge server) connected to the UPF100 through AN N6 interface.

That is, the edge nodes may be located in the N3, N6, or N9 sections.

The edge services provided by such edge nodes may be implemented in various ways, such as Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, inline caching/brokering functions, video streaming functions, web content services, vehicle communication services, map services, location services, radio information extraction services, graphics rendering services, and big data analytics and extraction functions.

In addition, in consideration of the data plane, the edge service provided by the edge node located/implemented in the UPF may be implemented in various ways, such as a data packet compression/decompression function of traffic, a Network Address Translation (NAT) service, a traffic packet storage/loading function, a streaming adjustment/rhythm function according to video quality/BW status, a protocol/packet compression service function, a traffic repetition transmission/deduplication function for secure transmission and reception, and a function of changing L2(MAC), L3(IP), L4 (port), and L7 (content) addresses of subscribers or edge servers.

The difference between the edge node in the present disclosure and the device (server) providing the same service on a general internet network is that the edge node is a system in a subscription network to which a subscriber subscribes, and the device (server) providing the same service on the internet network is a system outside (external) the subscription network.

Therefore, compared to an external device (server), the edge node in the present disclosure is characterized in that even when the same service is provided, the number of node hops for service provision is small, the waiting time is small, and the service end point is located behind the base station (gNB).

According to the edge service search technique proposed in the present disclosure, the UPF100 searches for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed through direct signaling (c) and indirect signaling (c-1) as described above, and then returns the edge service search result to a control node, for example, SMF (c).

In this case, the edge service search request ((r)) and the returned edge service search result ((r)) may be transmitted or received according to an interface between the control node and the data node (that is, the network device 100 as the UPF), which is defined in a service-based interface, i.e., Nupf interface (request/response and subscription/notification), between nodes (network functions (NFs)).

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following service environment can be implemented: based on the request and response according to the Nupf interface between the control node and the data node, the data node (UPF) may implement an edge service search in response to the request from the control node (e.g., SMF), and the control node (e.g., SMF) may search/select an edge service to be applied to the subscriber.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a network device for implementing the edge service search technique of the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 4, the network apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a request receiving unit 110, an edge service searching unit 120, and a search result providing unit 130.

The network device 100 of the present disclosure may correspond to a data node of the user plane shown in fig. 1 and 2, that is, each UPF.

Furthermore, the network apparatus 100 according to AN embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a communication unit 140, the communication unit 140 being configured to communicate with the terminal side (R) AN, AN external service network (e.g., a Data Network (DN)), and/or another UPF in order to connect a data session between the NF (that is, a control node) of the control plane, the terminal, and the external service network (e.g., a Data Network (DN)).

Thus, the communication unit 140 may support AN N9 interface defined to communicate with another UPF, AN N3 interface defined to communicate with AN (R) AN, and AN N6 interface defined to communicate with a DN, and also a Nupf interface (request/response and subscription/notification) defined to communicate with AN NF, i.e., a control node (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.) of the control plane.

All or at least some of the elements of network device 100 may be implemented in the form of hardware modules or software modules, or in the form of a combination of hardware and software modules.

A software module may be understood as an instruction executed by, for example, a processor controlling operations in the network device 100, and the instruction may be installed in a memory in the network device 100.

Finally, the network device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure implements the method proposed in the present disclosure, that is, the method for searching for an edge service through the UPF, by the above-described configuration, and hereinafter, each configuration of the network device 100 for implementing the above method is described in more detail.

The request receiving unit 110 is configured to receive an edge service search request for a subscriber (e.g., UE10) from a control node.

Specifically, the request receiving unit 110 may receive a request based on a Nupf interface or an edge service search request in a subscription form from a control node (e.g., SMF).

The edge service search unit 120 is responsible for searching for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber is processed for each interface of the network device 100 in response to an edge service search request received through the request receiving unit 110.

The network device 100 of the present disclosure corresponds to a data node, i.e., a UPF, of a data transmission/reception area (user plane).

Accordingly, the edge service search unit 120 in the network device 100(UPF) of the present disclosure may search for an edge service that may be provided when data of a subscriber (e.g., the UE10) is processed, for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 of the UPF 100.

More specifically, the edge service search unit 120 performs signaling with respect to each edge node identified as being in a connected state for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9, thereby obtaining service information related to a specific edge service satisfying performance required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed.

Accordingly, the edge service search unit 120 can search for a specific edge service for which service information is obtained as described above as an edge service that can be provided when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed.

The search result providing unit 130 returns the edge service search result of the edge service search unit 120 to the control node (e.g., SMF) and enables the control node (e.g., SMF) to apply the edge service when the data session of the subscriber (UE10) is controlled.

Specifically, the search result providing unit 130 may return the edge service search result to the control node, for example, the SMF, in the form of a response or notification based on the Nupf interface.

Hereinafter, a process of searching for an edge service (or signaling performed to search for an edge service) by the network device 100(UPF) of the present disclosure is described in detail.

As described above, the edge service search unit 120 performs signaling with each edge node identified as being in a connected state for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 in order to search for an edge service that satisfies performance required when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed.

Specifically, the edge service search unit 120 may first perform a connection state-based edge node search for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9.

In the present disclosure, the network device 100(UPF) may perform connection state management related to a session for an edge service.

The connection state management means to check the bandwidth, latency and QoS of the session in real time for each of the interfaces N3, N6 and N9 of the UPF and guarantee them at a certain level.

Accordingly, the edge service search unit 120 may perform an active I/F search process in the UPF to identify an interface in an active state among the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 of the network device 100 (UPF).

For example, the edge service search unit 120 may recognize whether each interface is in an active state through whether the bandwidth, latency, and session QoS of each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 are greater than or equal to predetermined levels, based on an active measurement technique that performs measurement by directly transmitting or receiving traffic using various L2-L7 protocols, such as an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) -based ping scheme, a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) router search scheme, an HTTP keep-alive/heartbeat, and an SBI-based HTTP service discovery.

Alternatively, based on a passive measurement technique in which measurement is performed by probing traffic transmitted or received (e.g., traffic mirroring), the edge service search unit 120 may identify whether each interface is in an active state by whether the bandwidth, latency, and session QoS of each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 are greater than or equal to predetermined levels.

In addition, the edge service search unit 120 may perform an edge node address detection process of detecting an address of at least one edge node connected through each interface identified as being in an active state.

For example, the edge service search unit 120 may detect AN address of AN edge node providing AN edge service by identifying a service function (which will include the edge service if the edge node is implemented) by means of the capability of AN access node (gNB or (R) AN)/UPF interfacing with N3/N9 identified as being in AN active state.

Alternatively, the edge service search unit 120 may detect the address of an edge node providing an edge service by identifying a service function by means of a service list/ID of an edge server interfacing with N6 identified as being in an active state.

Accordingly, the edge service search unit 120 may identify the edge node, which has detected the address, as an edge node in a connected state for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9.

When each edge node is searched/identified for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 through the connection state-based edge node search as described above, the edge service search unit 120 performs signaling with each edge node to search for an edge service that satisfies performance required when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed.

The signaling performed with each edge node includes: a process of providing a traffic profile of a subscriber (UE10) to each edge node in order to request identification of whether an edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE10), a process of identifying, based on the traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10), whether a specific edge service satisfying a performance required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed exists among edge services supported by the edge nodes, and a process of returning service information related to the specific edge service to the edge node, which identifies existence of the specific edge service, among each edge node.

In particular embodiments, if each edge node is searched/identified for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 through the connection state-based edge node search as described above, the edge service search unit 120 may provide a traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) to each edge node in order to request identification of whether the edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE 10).

In this case, the service profile of the subscriber (UE10) may include UE identification information, such as a UE address (IMSI, MSISDN, SUPI, GPSI, and IP) for identifying the subscriber, a UE session, a performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required by the UE, a UE service name, etc.

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, when receiving a request for identifying whether an edge service can be provided to a subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, an edge node can identify whether there is a specific edge service satisfying performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, among edge services supported by the edge node, based on a traffic profile of the provided subscriber (UE 10).

Accordingly, among each edge node at which the UPF100 receives a request for identifying whether or not an edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE10), the edge node that identifies that there is a specific edge service satisfying performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed returns service information related to the specific edge service to the UPF 100.

Further, the signaling performed with each edge node may further include the following: among each edge node that receives a request for identifying whether or not edge services can be provided to a subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, an edge node that identifies that a specific edge service does not exist performs signaling with another edge node that is identified as being connected to the edge node in order to obtain service information related to the specific edge service that satisfies performance required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, and relays and returns the service information of the specific edge service obtained as described above to the UPF 100.

For example, among each edge node that receives a request for identifying whether edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, an edge node that identifies that there is no specific edge service that satisfies performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed performs the same connection state-based edge node search as performed by the edge service search unit 120 as described above, and relays a traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) to another edge node that is identified as being connected to the edge node, so as to request identification of whether edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE 10).

In this case, another edge node, which receives the relayed traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) from the edge node, may identify whether there is a specific edge service satisfying performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, among edge services supported by the edge node, based on the relayed traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10), and if there is the specific edge service, return service information related to the specific edge service to the edge node so that the service information is relayed/returned to the UPF100, or if there is no specific edge service, relay the traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) to yet another edge node after performing the same connection state-based edge node search as described above.

In the present disclosure, the following embodiments may be possible: an edge node that recognizes that there is a specific edge service that satisfies performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed performs signaling with another edge node that is recognized as being connected to the edge node, separately from returning service information related to the specific edge service to the UPF100, so as to obtain service information related to the specific edge service that satisfies performance required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, and relays/returns the service information to the UPF 100.

In this case, the service information related to the edge service may include at least one of an edge service name, a hosting address providing the edge service, service performance, service interface (I/F) information, I/F load information, or a transmission/reception processing scheme.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 6, in the present disclosure, each edge node possesses service information related to edge services supported by the edge node.

Fig. 6 illustrates an assumption of service information owned by the gNB _ Edge9 among the Edge nodes shown in fig. 5.

As can be seen in fig. 6, the service information related to the edge service may indicate information such as an edge service name, a hosting address where the edge service is provided, service performance (performance value), service interface (I/F) information (service I/F name), I/F load information, and a transmission/reception processing scheme.

For example, a local CDN, which is one of the Edge services supported by the gNB _ Edge9, refers to a service for caching content locally.

The service information related to the local CDN service includes a hosting address (IP stream) where the gNB _ Edge9 provides the local CDN service, a performance value for providing the service, a service I/F name for providing the service, I/F load information, and a transmission/reception processing scheme.

The transmission/reception processing scheme refers to the type of data transmitted when transmitting data to or receiving data from the UPF. For example, in IP communication (5-tuple flow), in the GPTU scheme, a PDU session is relayed (encapsulated with GPTU), and in VxLAN communication, traffic is encapsulated with VxLAN and transmitted.

As shown in fig. 5, it is assumed that the network apparatus 100 (that is, the UPF 100) of the present disclosure performs an Edge node search based on a connection state so as to search/identify the gNB _ Edge9, the gNB _ Edge6, the gNB _ Edge2, the gNB _ Edge3, the UPF _ Edge9, and the UPF _ Edge1 for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9, and provides a traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) to each of the Edge nodes (gNB _ Edge9, gNB _ Edge6, gNB _ Edge2, gNB _ Edge3, UPF _ Edge9, and UPF _ Edge1) so as to request to identify whether the Edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE 10).

In addition, in fig. 5, for convenience of description, it is assumed that there is a specific Edge service satisfying performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed among all Edge nodes (gNB _ Edge9, gNB _ Edge6, gNB _ Edge2, gNB _ Edge3, UPF _ Edge9, and UPF _ Edge 1).

In this case, among each edge node that receives a request for identifying whether an edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, the edge node that identifies that there is a specific edge service that satisfies performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed returns service information related to the specific edge service to the UPF 100.

In fig. 5, the gNB _ Edge9 returns service information 1 related to a specific Edge service, the gNB _ Edge6 returns service information 2 related to a specific Edge service, the gNB _ Edge2 returns service information 3 related to a specific Edge service, the gNB _ Edge3 returns service information 4 related to a specific Edge service, the UPF _ Edge9 returns service information 5 related to a specific Edge service, and the UPF _ Edge1 returns service information 6 related to a specific Edge service.

Accordingly, the edge service search unit 120 may obtain service information 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 related to a specific edge service by performing signaling with each edge node for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9, and search for the specific edge service for which the service information is obtained as described above as an edge service that can be provided when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed.

The search result providing unit 130 returns the edge service search result of the edge service search unit 120 to the control node, for example, SMF.

More specifically, the search result providing unit 130 may manage state information between the network device 100(UPF) and the edge service based on the service information of the specific edge service obtained by the edge service searching unit 120.

The status information between the network device 100(UPF) and the edge service (status information in UPF) may comprise at least one of the following for each edge node that discovers the edge service: service interface (I/F) information indicating at least one of an ID, a communication port, a node location, or an interface (I/F) of the edge node, the number of edge services available in the edge node and an edge service list, or load information generated in the network device 100(UPF) when the edge service is provided.

For example, the search result providing unit 130 may generate and manage status information between the network device 100(UPF) and the edge service (hereinafter, status information in UPF) as shown in fig. 7 in a table form based on the service information of the specific edge service obtained by the edge service searching unit 120.

The status information in the UPF shown in fig. 7 is an example of generation/management of service information 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 based on a specific edge service obtained in the embodiment assumed in fig. 5 described above.

Among the status information in the UPF, referring to the Edge node gsb _ Edge9 where the Edge service is found, for the Edge node gsb _ Edge9, service interface (I/F) information indicating the ID, communication port, node location, and interface (I/F) of gsb _ Edge9 may correspond to a service I/F name in the service information, and additionally indicate the number of specific Edge services available in the Edge node gsb _ Edge9 (the number of available Edge services), an Edge service list (Edge service name/list), load information generated in the network device 100(UPF) when the Edge service is provided (UPF load information: bandwidth and latency), and the like.

In addition, the search result providing unit 130 returns the state information in the UPF managed in relation to the subscriber (UE10) as described above to the control node (e.g., SMF) as an edge service search result for the subscriber (UE10) in order to enable the control node (e.g., SMF) to identify an edge service applicable when the session of the subscriber (UE10) is controlled, that is, to identify a data traffic path (hereinafter, user plane path) for the edge service.

Further, the search result providing unit 130 may store/manage state information in the UPF managed in relation to the subscriber (UE10) according to a predefined storage and validity policy.

Accordingly, when receiving an edge service search request from a control node (e.g., SMF) for the same subscriber (e.g., UE10) or a subscriber that can be treated the same as the subscriber (e.g., UE10), if state information in a UPF available in relation to the subscriber (UE10) is retained, the network apparatus 100(UPF) of the present disclosure may return the state information retained in the UPF as an edge service search result to the control node (e.g., SMF) without going through the above-mentioned edge node search and edge service search.

Alternatively, when receiving an edge service search request from a control node (e.g., SMF) for the same subscriber (e.g., UE10) or a subscriber that can be treated the same as the subscriber (e.g., UE10), if state information in a UPF available in relation to the subscriber (UE10) is retained, the network device 100(UPF) of the present disclosure may search for the latest edge service (service information) through the above-mentioned edge node search and edge service search to update existing state information retained in the UPF, and then return the updated state information in the UPF to the control node (e.g., SMF) as an edge service search result.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the following service environment is implemented: based on the request and response according to the Nupf interface, the UPF searches for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber is processed in response to a request from a control plane (control node), so that the control plane (control node) can search for an edge service applicable when a session of the subscriber is controlled.

Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the following service environment is realized: the control plane (control node) (e.g., SMF) can identify not only the type of edge service applicable but also the state (e.g., load information: bandwidth and latency) of each edge service as an edge service search result for the subscriber, and thus can select an appropriate (or best) edge service when the subscriber's session is controlled.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the solution (technique) for searching for an edge service by a data node (e.g., UPF) is realized, so an effect of being able to provide (realize) a service environment in which a control plane (control node) can search for and select an edge service suitable for a subscriber is obtained.

Hereinafter, an edge service search method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 8.

For convenience of description, description is made by referring to the UPF100 as a network device through which the edge service search method of the present disclosure is performed.

According to the edge service search method of the present disclosure, the UPF100 may receive an edge service search request for a subscriber (e.g., the UE10) from a control node (S10).

In particular, the UPF100 may receive an edge service search request in the form of an SBI-based message (e.g., a request or subscription message) from a control node (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.).

According to the edge service search method of the present disclosure, when an edge service search request is received (S10), the UPF100 searches for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber (e.g., the UE10) is processed for each interface of the UPF100 in response to the received edge service search request (S20-S30).

According to the detailed description of the edge service search process, first, the UPF100 may perform a connection state-based edge node search for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 of the UPF100 (S20).

The UPF100 may perform an active I/F search process in the UPF to identify an interface in an active state among the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 of the UPF 100.

For example, the UPF100 may recognize whether each interface is in an active state by whether the bandwidth, latency, and session QoS of each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 are greater than or equal to predetermined levels, based on an active metering technique that performs metering by directly transmitting or receiving traffic using various L2-L7 protocols such as an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) -based ping scheme, a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) router search scheme, an HTTP keep-alive/heartbeat, and an SBI-based HTTP service discovery.

Alternatively, the UPF100 may identify whether each of the interfaces is in an active state by whether the bandwidth, latency, and session QoS of each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 are greater than or equal to predetermined levels based on a passive measurement technique that performs measurements by probing traffic sent or received (e.g., traffic mirroring).

In addition, the UPF100 may perform an edge node address detection process that detects, for each interface identified as being in an active state, an address of at least one edge node connected through the interface.

For example, the UPF100 may detect the address of AN edge node providing edge services by identifying a service function (which would include the edge service if the edge node is implemented) by the capability of AN access node (gNB or (R) AN)/UPF interfacing with the N3/N9 identified as being in AN active state.

Alternatively, the UPF100 may detect the address of an edge node providing an edge service by identifying the service function by means of the service list/ID of the edge server interfacing with N6 identified as being in an active state.

The address of the edge node may include an L2(MAC)/L3(IP) address, an ID of the edge node, a group ID of the relevant edge node in case that more than one edge node exists, and an edge node home address.

Accordingly, the UPF100 may identify the edge node, which has detected the address, as an edge node in a connected state for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 (S20).

When each edge node is searched/identified for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 through edge node search based on a connection state (S20), the UPF100 performs signaling with each edge node to search for an edge service that satisfies performance required when data of a subscriber (UE10) is processed (S30).

For example, if each edge node is searched/identified for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9 through the connection state-based edge node search as described above (S20), the UPF100 may provide a traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) to each edge node in order to request identification of whether the edge service can be provided to the subscriber (UE 10).

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, when receiving a request for identifying whether an edge service can be provided to a subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, an edge node can identify whether there is a specific edge service satisfying performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed, among edge services supported by the edge node, based on a traffic profile of the subscriber (UE10) provided.

Accordingly, among each edge node that receives a request for identifying whether an edge service can be provided to a subscriber (UE10) from the UPF100, the edge node that identifies that there is a specific edge service that satisfies performance (bandwidth, latency, etc.) required when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed returns service information related to the specific edge service to the UPF 100.

In this case, the service information related to the edge service may include at least one of an edge service name, a hosting address providing the edge service, service performance, service interface (I/F) information, I/F load information, or a transmission/reception processing scheme.

Accordingly, the UPF100 can obtain service information related to a specific edge service (e.g., information 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of fig. 5) by performing signaling with each edge node for each of the interfaces N3, N6, and N9, and search for the specific edge service for which the service information is obtained as described above as an edge service that can be provided when data of the subscriber (UE10) is processed.

In addition, according to the edge service search method of the present disclosure, based on the service information of the specific edge service obtained in operation S30, the UPF100 may generate and manage state information between the UPF100 and the edge service (hereinafter, state information in the UPF) in the form of a table, as shown in fig. 7 (S40).

The status information in the UPF shown in fig. 7 is an example of generation/management of service information 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 based on a specific edge service obtained in the embodiment assumed in fig. 5 described above.

Further, according to the edge service search method of the present disclosure, as an edge service search result for the subscriber (UE10), the UPF100 returns status information in the UPF managed in relation to the subscriber (UE10) as described above to the control node (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.) (S50) in order to enable the control node (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.) to identify an edge service applicable when the session of the subscriber (UE10) is controlled.

In particular, the UPF100 may return the edge service search results in the form of an SBI-based message (e.g., a response or notification message) to the control node (e.g., SMF, PCF, etc.).

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the following service environment may be implemented: based on the request and response according to the Nupf interface, the UPF searches for an edge service that can be provided when data of a subscriber is processed in response to a request from a control plane (control node), so that the control plane (control node) can search for an edge service applicable when a session of the subscriber is controlled.

Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the following service environment may be implemented: the control plane (control node) can identify not only the type of edge service applicable but also the status (e.g., load information: bandwidth and latency) of each edge service as the subscriber's edge service search results, and can thus select the appropriate (or best) edge service when the subscriber's session is controlled.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a solution (technique) of searching for an edge service by a data node (e.g., UPF) is realized, so an effect of being able to provide (realize) a service environment in which a control plane (control node) can search for and select an edge service suitable for a subscriber is obtained.

The edge service search method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented in the form of program commands that can be executed by various computer devices and recorded in computer-readable media. The computer readable medium may include program commands, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination. The program commands recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the present disclosure, or may be known and available to those skilled in the computer software art. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, flexible disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floppy disks, and hardware devices such as ROMs, RAMs, or flash memories that are specially configured to store and execute program commands. Examples of the program command include not only machine language code generated by a compiler but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer by using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the present disclosure, and vice versa.

Although the present disclosure is described in detail by referring to various embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is to be understood that the technical scope of the present disclosure covers the scope in which a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can make various modifications or changes to the embodiments without departing from the subject matter of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims.