Connection Container for Seamless Virtualized App Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in maintaining continuous data flow for mobile endpoint devices as they move between virtualization hosts due to sub-optimal handoff processes, leading to disruptions in service, especially when migrating stateful virtualized network functions across different coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a connection engine that generates and shares a connection container with a unique connection identifier and associated metadata, enabling seamless transfer of application state between virtualization hosts as the mobile endpoint device moves, ensuring continuous execution of stateful virtualized applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handoff processes are used when mobile endpoint devices move between coverage areas, then device mobility is supported, but data flow disruption and service interruption occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a forward connection to the target virtualization host before the mobile device actually moves to the new coverage area. The connection container with application state metadata is prepared and transmitted in advance, so when handoff occurs, the data flow can continue without interruption. This proactive approach resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliability through pre-positioning resources rather than reacting to mobility events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary connection container that carries application state metadata between source and target virtualization hosts. This intermediary structure acts as a buffer that decouples the mobility event from the data flow disruption, allowing the handoff process to be simplified while maintaining data flow continuity. The intermediary absorbs the complexity of state migration, resolving the contradiction between reliability and process complexity.
2Reliability
If application state is migrated during mobile device movement, then service continuity can be maintained, but migration may be inadequate given data flow velocity, resulting in lost connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs state migration in advance by establishing the forward connection and transmitting the connection container before the mobile device completes its movement. This preliminary state migration ensures that by the time the device reaches the new coverage area, the target virtualization host is already ready to continue the data flow without interruption. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating migration time from the critical path of device movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring the data flow connection is established and maintained throughout the handoff process. The forward connection is set up before movement, remains active during transition, and is seamlessly taken over by the target host after movement. This continuous connection approach ensures connection stability without requiring time-consuming migrations during active device movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stateful virtualized network functions are deployed across multiple virtualization hosts, then system scalability is improved, but management complexity and service disruption during host transitions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the application state metadata in the connection container and transmits it to the target virtualization host. This copying approach allows the same application state to be replicated across multiple hosts, enabling scalability while simplifying management. The target host receives a complete copy of the state information needed to continue service, eliminating complex coordination and reducing management overhead in multi-host deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection container serves multiple functions: it carries application state metadata, establishes forwarding rules, and enables seamless handoff between hosts. This multi-functional structure allows the same mechanism to support scalability across multiple virtualization hosts while maintaining simple, uniform management procedures. The universal container format can be used for any host transition, reducing management complexity despite system scalability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by an apparatus, establishment of a stateful application session between a mobile endpoint device and a stateful virtualized application executed by a first virtualization host in a data network, the mobile endpoint device establishing a network connection with the stateful virtualized application via a first wireless connection with a first network access point; generating, by the apparatus, a connection container comprising a connection identifier uniquely identifying the network connection, connection metadata describing the network connection, and application state metadata describing execution of the stateful virtualized application for the mobile endpoint device; and outputting, by the apparatus, the application state metadata for continuous execution of the stateful virtualized application by a second virtualization host associated with a second network access point, based on determining the mobile endpoint device connecting with the second network access point and disconnecting from the first network access point.