Bridged Gateway QOS Indicator for Virtual Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual gateways lack the functionality to identify computing devices that require different Quality of Service (QOS) treatments, making it difficult to implement customized QOS for devices connected to a local area network (LAN).
Innovation Solution
A bridged gateway establishes a layer 2 tunnel with a virtual gateway and modifies DHCP Discover messages to include a QOS special treatment indicator, allowing the virtual gateway to provide customized QOS treatments to specific computing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a virtual gateway is used to provide default gateway functionality to computing devices connected to a LAN, then the service provider can reduce the need to send technicians to customer premises and facilitate faster problem resolution, but the virtual gateway lacks the functionality to identify computing devices that require different Quality of Service (QOS) treatments
Solution Approach 1:
A bridged gateway is introduced as an intermediary device between the LAN and the virtual gateway. The bridged gateway receives DHCP Discover messages from computing devices, determines whether QOS treatment is required, and forwards modified DHCP Offer messages to the virtual gateway. This intermediary enables the virtual gateway to gain QOS identification capability without changing its fundamental architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridged gateway performs preliminary action by modifying the DHCP Offer message before it reaches the virtual gateway. It adds QOS treatment indicators to the message, so that when the virtual gateway receives the modified message, it already contains the necessary information to identify and provide appropriate QOS treatment to the computing device.
2Ease of operation
If the virtual gateway is located external to the LAN, then functionality can be moved to the service provider's network, but the virtual gateway cannot directly interact with computing devices on the LAN to identify their QOS requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The bridged gateway serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the externally located virtual gateway and the computing devices on the LAN. It receives DHCP Discover messages from devices, determines QOS requirements, and forwards modified DHCP Offer messages to the virtual gateway, ensuring no QOS information is lost in the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical interaction between the virtual gateway and LAN devices with a message-based communication system. The bridged gateway modifies DHCP messages to carry QOS information, substituting the need for direct device-to-virtual-gateway interaction with an information-carrying message transmission mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A bridged gateway coupled to a local area network (LAN) in a premises establishes a layer 2 tunnel with a first computing device that is external to the LAN. The first computing device is operable to provide a virtual gateway that provides default gateway functionality to computing devices connected to the LAN. The bridged gateway receives from a second computing device connected to the LAN a first dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) Discover message. The bridged gateway determines that the second computing device is to be given a different quality of service (QOS) treatment that differs from a default QOS treatment associated with the LAN. The bridged gateway modifies the first DHCP Discover message to include a QOS special treatment indicator to generate a modified DHCP Discover message, and sends, to the first computing device via the layer 2 tunnel, the modified DHCP Discover message.