Methods and apparatus for selecting network resources for UE sessions based on locations of multi-access edge computing (MEC) resources and applications

摘要

In one illustrative example, a mobility node (e.g. an SMF) may receive a message which indicates a request for creating a session for a user equipment (UE). A user plane function (UPF) instance for the session may be selected based on a set of parameters. The set of parameters may include one or more location(s) of one or more multi-access edge computing (MEC) resources and applications of interest for the UE. Location data associated with the MEC resources and applications may be determined from server addresses obtained from UPF processing of domain name server (DNS) queries associated with the applications. In preferred implementations, the server addresses are client subnet location-dependent server addresses obtained from client subnet-based DNS queries. The server addresses or location data derived therefrom may be regularly submitted to the SMF for improved UPF selection based on locations of MEC resources and applications.