APN-Based DNS Query Resolution for Wireless Data Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users accessing web services through mobile devices face inconvenience and increased costs due to the inability to differentiate DNS requests based on Access Point Names (APNs), leading to unnecessary data usage charges for promotional or custom services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing APN-based DNS query resolution methods that utilize virtual IP addresses and specific APNs, such as the 800 APN, to route DNS queries to different IP addresses, allowing for free or reduced-cost data usage by updating CNAME records and using virtual IP addresses to direct traffic through cost-supported networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If DNS requests are routed through standard IP address resolution, then web services can be accessed universally, but users incur data usage charges and cannot access promotional services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system between the user device and the web service that intercepts DNS requests and modifies them based on APN information. This intermediary rewrites host headers and updates CNAME records to redirect traffic through promotional IP addresses associated with free or subsidized data plans, thereby resolving the contradiction between universal access and cost reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes DNS resolution parameters by modifying domain name to IP address mappings based on the APN used. When a promotional APN is detected, the system alters the DNS response to return a different IP address than what would be returned for standard APNs, enabling cost-based routing without user awareness
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom or promotional web services are provided from different IP addresses, then specialized services can be offered, but users must navigate to different domain names which inconveniences them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary that transparently handles the complexity of multiple domain names and IP addresses. This intermediary intercepts DNS requests, identifies the appropriate promotional service based on APN, and automatically returns the correct IP address without requiring the user to know or navigate to different domain names, thus maintaining ease of operation while enabling service adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments DNS resolution into different pathways based on APN type. Standard APNs resolve to standard IP addresses while promotional APNs resolve to promotional IP addresses through separate CNAME record sets. This segmentation allows multiple services to coexist without user-facing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for APN-based DNS query resolution for wireless data networks are disclosed. Some implementations include receiving a domain name system (DNS) query for a domain name from a device having a source IP address, the DNS query being associated with an access point name, determining whether the source IP address is within a predetermined IP address range, upon determining the source IP address is within the predetermined IP address range, updating the DNS query to include an updated domain name unique to the predetermined IP address range, forwarding the updated DNS query to a DNS server for resolution, receiving an IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query from the DNS server, the IP address being different from an IP address associated with the DNS query, and providing the device with the IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query.