3GPP network Local network External network Figure 1.47 MEC general framework [46]. The MEC platform represents a collection of baseline functionalities that are required to run applications on a particular MEC host and to enable MEC applications to discover, adver- tise, offer, and exploit the MEC services. MEC services can be provided by the platform and by the applications, where both the platform and applications may utilize MEC services. The baseline functionalities of the MEC platform are needed to navigate the traffic between the applications, services, and networks. The MEC platform receives the traffic forwarding rules from the MEC platform manager, MEC applications, and MEC services, and based on those criteria, as well as policies, it provides the instructions to the forwarding plane. The reference architecture shows the functional elements that comprise the mobile edge (ME) system and the reference points between them. Fig. 1.48 depicts the ME system refer- ence architecture. There are three groups of reference points defined between the system entities as follows [46]: 1. Reference points related to ME platform functionality (Mp) 2. Management reference points (Mm) 3. Reference points interfacing with external entities (Mx) The MEC applications run as VMs on top of virtualization infrastructure provided by the MEC host. The applications interact with the MEC platform over an Mp1 reference point to utilize the services offered by the platform. The MEC platform manager is a host-level entity that is further split into MEC platform element management, MEC application life cycle management, and MEC application rules and requirements management functions. The application life cycle management consists of application instantiation and termination procedures as well as providing indication to the MEC orchestrator on application-related 104 Chapter 1 portal Operations support system User application life cycle UE app management proxy Mobile edge orchestrator Other platform service ME platform element managem