Cloud-Extended CPE Networking Through Secure Layer-2 Over Layer-3 Tunnels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customer premises networks are isolated from the internet by routers acting as NAT gateways, limiting communication and requiring manual configuration for external access, and devices within these networks often have limited computing resources, preventing seamless integration of advanced applications and IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
Extending customer premises networks onto a cloud provider network using edge CPE devices as gateways, enabling tunneling to run applications on the cloud provider network and accessing hardware interfaces as if directly connected, with secure remote access and micro-LLMs hosted in the cloud to enhance device capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customer premises networks are isolated by NAT gateways to maintain security, then network security is improved, but communication capability and ease of external access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud provider network as an intermediary between the customer premises network and the public internet. The CPE device establishes a secure tunnel to the cloud network, which then provides controlled access to cloud-hosted applications. This mediator enables external access without requiring direct internet connectivity, maintaining security while improving accessibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If advanced applications are deployed locally on CPE devices, then application functionality is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex application processing from the local CPE device and relocates it to the cloud provider network. The CPE device retains only essential local functions (tunnel establishment, hardware interface management), while cloud-hosted applications provide advanced functionality. This extraction reduces device complexity while maintaining application versatility.
3Speed
If computing resources are concentrated locally on CPE devices, then processing speed is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the processing dimension from local CPE devices to the cloud provider network infrastructure. By utilizing the cloud's distributed computing resources, the system achieves high processing speeds without requiring expensive, complex local hardware. The tunneling mechanism maintains low-latency communication for time-sensitive operations.
4Reliability
If manual configuration is required for external access to maintain security, then network security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the CPE device automatically establishes secure tunnels to the cloud provider network without requiring manual configuration. The cloud platform automatically manages application deployment, networking, and security policies. This automation maintains security through consistent, standardized configurations while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments that extend customer premises networks onto a cloud provider network. In one embodiment, a layer-3 virtual private network is established between a tunneling agent and a virtual private network server on a cloud provider network. The tunneling agent is executed on an edge customer premises equipment (CPE) device on a customer premises network. A layer-2 virtual interface is established for an edge application on the cloud provider network using a tunnel to encapsulate layer-2 traffic between the customer premises network and the edge application over the layer-3 virtual private network.