Mobile Edge Computing Enabler Layer: Edge-native Application Architecture for Mobile Networks

Abstract

Despite the incredible advances in mobile communications technology over multiple generations of wireless networks, service quality remains inherently limited by the physical distance between end service consumers and their network service providers, coupled with constrained resources (e.g., computation power and storage) of end user devices. To tackle these intrinsic challenges, mobile edge computing has received increasing attention within the industry, which aims to provide a service environment and computing capabilities in close proximity to the user devices. Specifically, the ability to provision and access mobile applications from the edge of the network enables ultra-reliable and low latency applications such as immersive AR/VR content, multi-player gaming, and vehicle-toeverything (V2X) applications. We provides an overview of the 3GPP efforts and related standard-based solutions addressing these industry requirements. In particular, we will review the 3GPP service and system aspect working group 6 (SA WG6) developed application architecture for enabling edge applications, also referred to as the edge enabler layer (EEL). This paper elaborates the motivation, detailed design principles behind the EEL architecture, and an insight into the overall procedures that are critical to enabling a UE with access to edge computing service information. In addition, EEL deployment scenarios over 5G core network are discussed, as well as potential open issues and challenges that remain to be addressed in upcoming 3GPP releases.