Controller Maps Wired Hosts to WAPs for Service Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large enterprise networks, client devices cannot discover services offered by wired host devices across different Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs, leading to increased network traffic and inefficient service discovery, as multicast DNS (mDNS) relies on subnet connectivity and can be filtered to conserve network resources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a controller maps wired host devices to sets of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) based on service advertisement messages, allowing client devices to discover only wired host devices in proximity, reducing unnecessary network traffic and manual location tagging errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multicast DNS (mDNS) is used for service discovery across VLANs, then service discovery capability is improved, but network traffic increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that receives service advertisement messages from wired host devices and forwards them to wireless client devices. This mediator approach allows service discovery information to be transmitted without requiring direct multicast communication across VLANs, thereby reducing network traffic while maintaining service discovery capability. The controller acts as a centralized point that manages and distributes service information selectively.
2Productivity
If mDNS multicast traffic is filtered to conserve network resources, then network performance is improved, but service discovery functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves as an intermediary that receives service advertisement messages from wired host devices and redistributes them to wireless client devices. This approach maintains service discovery functionality without requiring multicast traffic to traverse the entire network, thus preserving network performance while enabling service discovery across VLANs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the service discovery process into distinct components: wired host devices send advertisements to the controller, and the controller separately forwards these to wireless client devices. This segmentation allows service discovery to occur without requiring end-to-end multicast connectivity, enabling filtered networks to still provide service discovery functionality through unicast communication paths.
3Measurement precision
If manual location tagging is implemented for wired host devices, then location-aware discovery is improved, but errors increase and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by allowing wired host devices to automatically send service advertisement messages that include their location information. The controller receives these messages and automatically processes the location data without requiring manual configuration. This eliminates manual location tagging errors and reduces complexity while maintaining location-aware service discovery capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of techniques for service discovery of wired host devices are described. In an example, a controller may receive a service advertisement message comprising information of a service hosted by a wired host device in a network. Based on a header information of the service advertisement message the controller determines that the service advertisement message is from a switch. The controller maps the wired host device to a set of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) connected to the switch. Further, the controller may send identification information of the wired host device to a client device connected to one of the set of WAPs, in response to receiving a query for the service from the client device.