Method and system for multi-operator anchor service
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a multi-operator anchor service is provided. A multi-operator anchor device may provide a centralized user plane anchor for traffic of end devices associated with multiple networks and operators. The multi-operator anchor device may provide virtual routing and forwarding to isolate traffic among the networks and operators. The multi-operator anchor device may provide a charging service for traffic and a handover service based on end device mobility.
1. A method comprising:
determining, by a multi-operator network device, one of multiple networks and operators from which to obtain configuration information for charging an end device based on an identifier of the end device included in a message received from the end device during a registration request or an attachment request procedure, wherein the multi-operator network device provides a user plane anchor for traffic of end devices associated with the multiple networks and operators that is external from the multiple networks and operators;
obtaining, by the multi-operator network device from the one of the multiple networks and operators, the configuration information;
establishing, by the multi-operator network device, an application service session between the end device and an application layer network;
monitoring, by the multi-operator network device, traffic of the application service session based on the configuration information;
generating, by the multi-operator network device in response to the monitoring, charging information pertaining to the traffic and at an end device level; and
transmitting, by the multi-operator network device to the one of the multiple networks, the charging information.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting, by the multi-operator network device, a route to the one of the multiple networks and operators based on the identifier of the end device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple networks include multiple radio access networks and multiple core networks of the multiple operators.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the multi-operator network device from the end device, a request for an application service; and
transmitting, by the multi-operator network device to the one of the multiple networks, the request.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the multi-operator network device in response to the monitoring, other data pertaining to the traffic including at least one of a key performance indicator or a performance metric, wherein the transmitting further comprises:
transmitting, by the multi-operator network device to the one of the multiple networks, the other data.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the multi-operator network device, a handover of the application service session to the one of the multiple networks or another multi-operator network device based on a mobility of the end device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application layer network is a multi-access computing edge network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-operator network device includes at least one of a user plane function or a packet data network gateway.
9. A network device comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine one of multiple networks and operators from which to obtain configuration information for charging an end device based on an identifier of the end device included in a message received from the end device during a registration request or an attachment request procedure, wherein the network device is a multi-operator network device provides a user plane anchor for traffic of end devices associated with the multiple networks and operators that is external from the multiple networks and operators;
obtain the configuration information from the one of the multiple networks and operators for charging the end device;
establish an application service session between the end device and an application layer network;
monitor traffic of the application service session based on the configuration information;
generate in response to the monitoring, charging information pertaining to the traffic and at an end device level; and
transmit to the one of the multiple networks, the charging information.
10. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
select a route to the one of the multiple networks and operators based on the identifier of the end device.
11. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the multiple networks include multiple radio access networks and multiple core networks of the multiple operators.
12. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive, from the end device, a request for an application service; and
transmit to the one of the multiple networks, the request.
13. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
generate, in response to the monitoring, other data pertaining to the traffic including at least one of a key performance indicator or a performance metric, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
transmit to the one of the multiple networks, the other data.
14. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
perform a handover of the application service session to the one of the multiple networks or another multi-operator network device based on a mobility of the end device.
15. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the application layer network is a multi-access computing edge network.
16. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the multi-operator network device includes at least one of a user plane function or a packet data network gateway.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a multi-operator network device, which when executed cause the processor to:
determine one of multiple networks and operators from which to obtain the configuration information for charging the end device based on an identifier of the end device included in a message received from the end device during a registration request or an attachment request procedure, wherein the multi-operator network device provides a user plane anchor for traffic of end devices associated with the multiple networks and operators that is external from the multiple networks and operators;
obtain the configuration information from the one of the multiple networks and operators for charging the end device;
establish an application service session between the end device and an application layer network;
monitor traffic of the application service session based on the configuration information;
generate in response to the monitoring, charging information pertaining to the traffic and at an end device level; and
transmit to the one of the multiple networks, the charging information.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the multiple networks include multiple radio access networks and multiple core networks of the multiple operators.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the application layer network is a multi-access computing edge network.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions when executed cause the processor to:
perform a handover of the application service session to the one of the multiple networks or another multi-operator network device based on a mobility of the end device.