Systems and methods for SCEF-assisted MEC traffic breakout

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a network device, reachability information for a user equipment (UE) device;

sending, by the network device and in response to receiving the reachability information, a reachability notification to a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) orchestrator for an edge network;

receiving, by the network device and from the MEC orchestrator, a local breakout request that identifies a traffic flow authorized for local service from the edge network;

generating, by the network device, instructions for a gateway device to apply local breakout service, for the traffic flow, to a local MEC application in the edge network; and

sending, by the network device, the instructions to an anchoring gateway device for the traffic flow.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the instructions includes:

sending the instructions to an anchor Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) via a Diameter or Radius-based interface; or

sending the instructions to a combined session management function (SMF) and PGW-control plane function (SMF+PWG-C) via an application programming interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the instructions at a serving gateway, and

redirecting the traffic flow to the local MEC application.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein redirecting the traffic flow comprises:

switching, by the serving gateway and after receiving the instructions, a destination IP address and port for the traffic flow.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forwarding, by the anchoring gateway device, the instructions to a serving gateway for the edge network.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating, by network device, the UE device with an edge location for the edge network, wherein the edge location includes a closest edge location to a wireless station servicing the UE device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating, by the MEC orchestrator, the UE device with an edge location for the edge network, wherein the edge location includes a closest edge location to a wireless station servicing the UE device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device includes a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway device is included within one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network or a 5G non-standalone (NSA) core network.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the reachability information includes one or more of:

receiving, from a Mobility Management Entity (MME), reachability information related to a network attachment by the UE device, or

receiving, from the MME, reachability information related to a mobility event by the UE device.

11. A network device, comprising:

a communications interface;

a memory to store instructions; and

one or more processors, coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

receive reachability information for a user equipment (UE) device;

send, in response to receiving the reachability information, a reachability notification to a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) orchestrator for an edge network;

receive, from the MEC orchestrator, a local breakout request that identifies a traffic flow authorized for local service from the edge network;

generate instructions for a gateway device to apply local breakout service, for the traffic flow, to a local MEC application in the edge network; and

send the instructions to an anchoring gateway device for the traffic flow.

12. The network device of claim 11 , wherein, when sending the instructions, the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

send the instructions to an anchor Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) via a Diameter or Radius-based interface; or

send the instructions to a combined session management function (SMF) and PGW-control plane function (SMF+PWG-C) via an application programming interface.

13. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

forward the instructions to a serving gateway for the edge network.

14. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

associate the UE device with an edge location for the edge network, wherein the edge location includes a closest edge location to a wireless station servicing the UE device.

15. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the network device includes a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF).

16. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the network device is included within one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network or a 5G non-standalone (NSA) core network.

17. The network device of claim 11 , wherein, when receiving the reachability information, the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

receive, from a Mobility Management Entity (MME), reachability information related to a mobility event by the UE device.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a network device, the instructions comprising:

receiving reachability information for a user equipment (UE) device;

sending and in response to receiving the reachability information, a reachability notification to a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) orchestrator for an edge network;

receiving and from the MEC orchestrator, a local breakout request that identifies a traffic flow authorized for local service from the edge network;

generating instructions for a gateway device to apply local breakout service, for the traffic flow, to a local MEC application in the edge network; and

sending the instructions to an anchoring gateway device for the traffic flow.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the instructions further comprising:

sending the instructions to one of an anchor Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) or a combined session management function (SMF) and PGW-control plane function (SMF+PWG-C).

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the sending the instructions to an anchoring gateway device instructions further comprising:

wherein the gateway device is included within one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network or a 5G non-standalone (NSA) core network.