DNS-AS Multipath Policy Enforcement for Heterogeneous Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multipath policies in heterogeneous mobile networking environments is challenging due to the complexity of managing communication resources and the need for efficient access network selection, path selection, and multipath protocol utilization, especially for applications not natively multipath enabled.
Innovation Solution
The use of enhanced Domain Name System-as-an-Authoritative Source (DNS-AS) techniques to define and signal multipath policies to remote devices, enabling the combination of policy recommendations to generate enforcement decisions for packet flows across various access networks, including wired and wireless technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If enhanced DNS-AS techniques are used to define and signal multipath policies, then policy enforcement efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an enhanced DNS-AS system as an intermediary between policy definition and enforcement. The DNS-AS receives multipath policy recommendations from multiple sources, combines them according to defined rules, and signals the combined policy to remote devices. This intermediary approach streamlines the enforcement process while managing complexity centrally in the DNS-AS rather than distributing it across multiple network elements.
2Reliability
If multiple multipath policy recommendations are combined to generate enforcement decisions, then policy accuracy and adaptability are improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy combination process into distinct functional components within the DNS-AS: receiving recommendations from multiple sources, evaluating recommendations against defined criteria, combining compatible recommendations, and generating enforcement decisions. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of the complexity, making the overall process more manageable while maintaining high policy accuracy through comprehensive multi-source evaluation.
3Productivity
If DNS-AS is used to signal multipath policies to remote devices, then network path optimization is improved, but information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing DNS infrastructure to serve multiple functions: traditional domain name resolution, multipath policy definition, and policy signaling to remote devices. By making the DNS-AS multi-functional, the system achieves network path optimization without requiring separate dedicated signaling infrastructure, thereby reducing information management complexity while maintaining optimization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described to provide multipath mobility via Domain Name System-as-an-Authoritative Source (DNS-AS) techniques. In one example, a method includes obtaining, by a multipath policy decision element, a plurality of multipath policy recommendations for an application, wherein the plurality of multipath policy recommendations are obtained from one or more multipath policy recommendation elements; combining the plurality of multipath policy recommendations to generate a policy enforcement decision, wherein the policy enforcement decision identifies, at least in part, one or more network paths that are to be utilized for one or more packet flows associated with the application, wherein each of the one or more network paths is associated with an access type; and enforcing the policy enforcement decision for one or more packet flows associated with the application.