20240040427. SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN IAB MEC simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN IAB MEC

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Sudeep Manithara Vamanan of Munich, Bavaria-Bayern (DE)

Sarma V. Vangala of Cupertino CA (US)

Fangli Xu of Beijing (CN)

Haijing Hu of Cupertino CA (US)

Krisztian Kiss of Cupertino CA (US)

Mona Agnel of Greater London (GB)

Naveen Kumar R Palle Venkata of San Diego CA (US)

Ralf Rossbach of Neubiberg, Bavaria-Bayern (DE)

Sethuraman Gurumoorthy of Cupertino CA (US)

Yuqin Chen of Beijing (CN)

Zhibin Wu of Cupertino CA (US)

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN IAB MEC - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240040427 titled 'SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING COMMUNICATION WITH AN IAB MEC

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for systems and methods that utilize integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes to provide multi-access edge computing (MEC) functionality. These IAB nodes have MEC functionality, which includes an application instance configured for MEC. A user equipment (UE) connects to the network through an access link with the IAB node and establishes a packet data unit (PDU) session for the application's traffic with a core network (CN). The CN determines that the traffic corresponds to the application and that an instance of the application is present on the IAB node. As a result, the CN instructs the IAB donor to instantiate a remote packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and, in some cases, a remote service data application (SDAP) layer. These layers are configured to route the UE's traffic for the application to the instance of the application on the IAB node.

• Integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes are used to provide multi-access edge computing (MEC) functionality.
• IAB nodes have MEC functionality, including an application instance configured for MEC.
• User equipment (UE) connects to the network through an access link with the IAB node.
• UE establishes a packet data unit (PDU) session for the application's traffic with a core network (CN).
• The CN determines that the traffic corresponds to the application and an instance of the application is present on the IAB node.
• The CN instructs the IAB donor to instantiate a remote packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer.
• In some cases, a remote service data application (SDAP) layer is also instantiated.
• These layers route the UE's traffic for the application to the instance of the application on the IAB node.

Potential Applications

• Improved network performance and efficiency in delivering MEC services.
• Enhanced user experience by reducing latency and improving response times for MEC applications.
• Support for various MEC applications, such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and real-time data analytics.

Problems Solved

• Overcoming the limitations of traditional network architectures in delivering MEC functionality.
• Enabling efficient routing of traffic for MEC applications from user equipment to the appropriate instances on IAB nodes.
• Reducing latency and improving response times for MEC applications by bringing computing resources closer to the network edge.

Benefits

• Enhanced network performance and efficiency in delivering MEC services.
• Improved user experience with reduced latency and faster response times for MEC applications.
• Scalability and flexibility in supporting various MEC applications.
• Optimal utilization of computing resources by bringing them closer to the network edge.

Original Abstract Submitted

systems and methods are disclosed herein for using integrated access and backhaul (iab) nodes configured to provide multi-access edge computing (mec) functionality. an iab node may include a mec functionality that includes an instance of an application configured for mec. a ue using the application connects to the network through an access link with the iab node and establishes a pdu session for traffic of the application with a core network (cn). the cn may determine that the traffic corresponds to the application, and that an instance of the application is present on the iab node. accordingly, the cn may instruct the iab donor to instantiate a remote packet data convergence protocol (pdcp) layer and, in some cases, a remote service data application (sdap) layer that are configured to route the traffic from the ue for the application to the instance of the application on the iab node.