Access Control Gateway for SDN Mobile Network Service Chaining
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) mechanisms into mobile networks is hindered by the difference in forwarding mechanisms between the Gi-LAN domain and radio access networks, preventing unified control over access network elements.
Innovation Solution
An access control apparatus and method that receives and processes service chain forwarding rules from a controller to forward packets to appropriate access network elements based on service chain identifiers, enabling SDN-based control on access network elements by matching identifiers and forwarding packets accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SDN mechanism is used in Gi-LAN domain with service chain identifier routing, then service processing is achieved, but the forwarding mechanism is incompatible with radio access network tunnel identifier routing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component between the Gi-LAN domain and radio access network. The gateway performs protocol conversion, translating service chain identifier-based forwarding rules into tunnel identifier-based routing commands, thereby enabling SDN control in radio access network without direct compatibility between the two different forwarding mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the forwarding mechanism by changing the identifier parameter from service chain identifiers in Gi-LAN domain to tunnel identifiers in radio access network. This parameter transformation is achieved through the gateway which maps service chain identifiers to corresponding tunnel identifiers, allowing the same SDN control architecture to work across different network domains with different routing mechanisms
2Reliability
If different forwarding mechanisms are used in Gi-LAN domain and radio access network, then domain-specific functionality is maintained, but unified SDN control cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle both Gi-LAN domain service chain forwarding and radio access network tunnel routing. It can simultaneously process service chain identifiers from the core network and convert them to tunnel identifiers for access network forwarding, making a single component universal across different network domains with different forwarding requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communications field, and provide an access control apparatus, system, and method. The method includes: receiving a first service chain forwarding rule sent by a controller; receiving a first packet sent by a classifier; and when a service chain identifier carried in the first packet matches a first service chain identifier in the first service chain forwarding rule, forwarding the first packet to a first access network element according to a first identifier.