Cloud Edge Interface Tunneling Across NAT-Isolated CPE Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customer premises networks are isolated from the internet by routers acting as NAT gateways, limiting access to devices on these networks, and existing IoT devices often have limited computing resources, making it difficult to run applications that require advanced processing.
Innovation Solution
Edge CPE devices act as gateways to extend customer premises networks onto cloud provider networks, allowing applications to be launched on the cloud and appear directly connected to the customer premises network, with secure remote access and micro-LLMs hosted in the cloud to enhance device functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customer premises networks are isolated by NAT gateways to ensure security, then network security is improved, but access to devices on these networks from external locations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tunneling mechanism as an intermediary between the NAT gateway and cloud-executed applications. The tunnel establishes a secure L2 connection that allows applications outside the customer premises network to access devices on the local network as if they were directly connected, while the NAT gateway continues to provide security isolation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling remote access without compromising network security.
2Power
If IoT devices are equipped with more computing resources to run advanced applications, then application processing capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the computing resources from the physical dimension (local device hardware) to the network dimension (cloud infrastructure). By executing applications in the cloud and connecting them to local IoT devices through L2 tunnels, the system gains access to powerful computing resources without adding complexity to the physical devices. The computing power is effectively brought to the device through the network connection rather than being embedded in the device itself.
3Speed
If applications are executed locally on IoT devices to reduce latency, then response speed is improved, but device power consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computing workload from the IoT device and relocates it to cloud-based infrastructure. The L2 tunneling technology allows the device to interact with locally-executing applications as if they were running on-device, maintaining low latency for I/O operations while the heavy processing occurs in the cloud. This separation resolves the contradiction by keeping the device simple and energy-efficient while achieving fast response times through network-adjacent computing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hardware interfaces are exposed directly to applications for enhanced functionality, then device capability is improved, but security risks and access control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the L2 tunnel as an intermediary layer between applications and hardware interfaces. The tunneling mechanism provides virtual direct access to hardware interfaces for cloud-executed applications while maintaining the security boundaries of the customer premises network. The NAT gateway and tunneling infrastructure together manage access control, allowing applications to interact with hardware interfaces securely without exposing the entire network to security risks.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments that expose interfaces on customer premises networks for use by cloud-executed edge applications. In one embodiment, a layer-3 virtual private network is established between a cloud provider network and a customer premises network of a customer. A layer-2 virtual interface is established for an edge application executed on the cloud provider network using a tunnel to encapsulate layer-2 traffic over the layer-3 virtual private network. An interface on an edge device of the customer premises network is mapped so that the interface is accessible by the edge application via the tunnel.