Method and system for RAN-aware multi-access edge computing traffic control
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a traffic control service is provided. The traffic control service may include using user plane congestion information pertaining to a radio access network and a multi-access edge computing system to manage congestion or anticipated congestion.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a network device, radio access network user plane congestion information (RUCI) and multi-access edge computing user plane congestion information (MUCI); and
determining, by the network device, whether at least one of congestion or an anticipated congestion is present in at least one of a radio access network to which the RUCI pertains or a multi-access edge computing (MEC) system to which the MUCI pertains, wherein the radio access network is a multi-radio access technology (RAT) network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the network device based on at least one of the RUCI or the MUCI, that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present; and
selecting, by the network device, a traffic control action in response to determining that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
invoking, by the network device, the traffic control action to be carried out by at least one of a first network device of the radio access network, a second network device of the MEC system, or an end device in communication with the MEC system.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the invoking comprises:
transmitting, by the network device, to the at least one of the first network device, the second network device, or the end device, a message that indicates to perform the traffic control action.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the end device, the traffic control action indicates to the end device to disconnect from the first network device via which a current communication session with the MEC system is supported, and search and select a third network device via which to communicate with the MEC system.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the end device, the traffic control action indicates to the end device to switch from a first (RAT) of the first network device via which a current communication session with the MEC system is supported, and use a second RAT that is different from the first RAT.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the second network device, the traffic control action indicates to the second network device to reduce a transmission rate of a current communication session between the end device and the second network device.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the first network device, the traffic control action indicates to reduce a bitrate of a current communication session with the MEC system.
9. A network device comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive, via a communication interface, radio access network user plane congestion information (RUCI) and multi-access edge computing user plane congestion information (MUCI); and
determine whether at least one of congestion or an anticipated congestion is present in at least one of a radio access network to which the RUCI pertains or a multi-access edge computing (MEC) system to which the MUCI pertains, wherein the radio access network is a multi-radio access technology (RAT) network.
10. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on at least one of the RUCI or the MUCI, that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present; and
select a traffic control action in response to the determination that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present.
11. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
invoke the traffic control action to be carried out by at least one of a first network device of the radio access network, a second network device of the MEC system, or an end device in communication with the MEC system.
12. The network device of claim 11 , wherein, when invoking, the processor is further configured to:
transmit, via the communication interface, to the at least one of the first network device, the second network device, or the end device, a message that indicates to perform the traffic control action.
13. The network device of claim 12 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the end device, the traffic control action indicates to the end device to disconnect from the first network device via which a current communication session with the MEC system is supported, and search and select a third network device via which to communicate with the MEC system.
14. The network device of claim 12 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the end device, the traffic control action indicates to the end device to switch from a first (RAT) of the first network device via which a current communication session with the MEC system is supported, and use a second (RAT), wherein the first RAT is different from the second RAT.
15. The network device of claim 12 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the second network device, the traffic control action indicates to the second network device to reduce a transmission rate of a current communication session between the end device and the second network device.
16. The network device of claim 12 , wherein when the message is transmitted to the first network device, the traffic control action indicates to reduce a bitrate of a current communication session with the MEC system.
17. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a device, which when executed cause the device to:
receive radio access network user plane congestion information (RUCI) or multi-access edge computing user plane congestion information (MUCI); and
determine whether at least one of congestion or an anticipated congestion is present in at least one of a radio access network to which the RUCI pertains or a multi-access edge computing (MEC) system to which the MUCI pertains, wherein the radio access network is a multi-radio access technology (RAT) network.
18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, which when executed cause the device to:
determine, based on at least one of the RUCI or the MUCI, that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present; and
select a traffic control action in response to the determination that the at least one of the congestion or the anticipated congestion is present.
19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, which when executed cause the device to:
invoke the traffic control action to be carried out by at least one of a first network device of the radio access network, a second network device of the MEC system, or an end device in communication with the MEC system.
20. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions to invoke further comprise instructions to:
transmit to the at least one of the first network device, the second network device, or the end device, a message that indicates to perform the traffic control action.