Cloud-Based VCPE for Centralized Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current broadband service architectures face challenges with customer premises equipment (CPE) devices, including maintenance difficulties, incompatibility with network upgrades, and restricted visibility for broadband service providers due to functions like network address translation (NAT).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with virtual customer premises equipment (VCPE) components that provide DHCP and NAT services, allowing edge routers to manage layer 2 traffic and offer virtual private networks (VPNs) for secure access to subscribed services, thereby reducing the need for traditional CPE devices and enhancing network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional CPE devices are used at customer premises, then local network functions are provided, but maintenance and configuration become difficult resulting in increased help desk calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts critical network functions (DHCP, NAT, firewall, routing) from traditional CPE devices and relocates them to cloud-based virtual network elements. This separation allows the service provider to maintain and configure these functions centrally through the management network, eliminating the need for customers to perform maintenance while ensuring consistent service reliability across all customer premises.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management network as an intermediary between customer premises equipment and the core network. This management network enables remote provisioning, configuration, and monitoring of network functions without requiring physical access to customer devices, thereby simplifying maintenance operations while maintaining service reliability through centralized control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If CPE devices are deployed at customer premises, then network access is provided, but network upgrades are restricted due to device incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal virtual network elements in the cloud that can perform multiple network functions and support various network protocols. These virtual elements replace diverse physical CPE devices with different functionalities, enabling the network to upgrade and adapt to new requirements without requiring customers to replace their specific hardware devices, thereby improving upgrade compatibility while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic provisioning and configuration of network functions through the management network. Instead of static CPE devices with fixed capabilities, the system dynamically assigns and updates network functions based on current network requirements and customer needs, enabling flexible adaptation to network upgrades and changes without hardware constraints.
3Loss of information
If NAT functions are implemented by CPE devices, then address translation is provided, but visibility to attached end-user devices is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the management network as an intermediary that sits between the NAT function and the end-user devices. This intermediary receives detailed information about attached devices from the cloud-based virtual network elements and forwards it to the service provider's billing and provisioning systems, thereby restoring visibility into end-user devices while maintaining ease of network management through centralized cloud access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the management network continuously monitors and reports information about attached end-user devices to the cloud-based virtual network elements. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain accurate device inventories, improve network management decisions, and provide better service while preserving the simplicity of centralized management.
Data Source
AI summary
Network (cloud) based customer premises equipment may receive, over a broadband access circuit, layer 2 traffic from an access device at a customer premises; provide dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) services for computing devices at the customer premises, the DHCP services providing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the computing devices at the customer premises; and provide network address translation (NAT) services for the computing devices at the customer premises.