Centralized DPI Platform Consolidates Subscriber Management Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subscriber management systems for wireless communication networks are inefficient and complex, with excessive control interfaces and duplicated components from different vendors, leading to scalability limitations and increased costs, particularly for 'Greenfield' operators with new equipment.
Innovation Solution
A centralized DPI platform consolidates subscriber management functions such as QoS Policy Manager, Application Manager, Accounting Client, and Hotlining functions, reducing the number of interfaces and components, and enabling interoperability between vendors by inspecting all control and bearer plane traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If subscriber management functions are distributed over many different network nodes with similar or overlapping functions, then the system can leverage older technology infrastructure, but the device complexity and number of interfaces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple subscriber management functions (QoS Policy Manager, Application Manager, Accounting Client, Hotlining functions) into a single centralized DPI platform. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate network nodes with overlapping functions, directly reducing device complexity and interface count while maintaining all necessary subscriber management capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized DPI platform is designed to perform multiple subscriber management functions within a single system. By making the platform universal and multi-functional, it can handle QoS policy management, application management, accounting, and hotlining operations, thereby reducing the overall number of specialized components needed in the network architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vendor RAN components are integrated, then the system achieves interoperability and avoids vendor lock-in, but the device complexity and integration challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized DPI platform serves as an intermediary layer between multiple vendor RAN components and the core network. By positioning this platform as a mediator that handles all subscriber management functions, it simplifies integration by providing a single point of control and management, thereby reducing the complexity of coordinating multiple vendor-specific components
3Reliability
If existing subscriber management architectures are used, then the system maintains compatibility with current network elements, but scalability and efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts subscriber management functions from their traditional distributed locations across multiple network elements and consolidates them into a dedicated centralized DPI platform. This extraction improves efficiency by creating a specialized system focused solely on subscriber management, while the platform maintains compatibility with existing network elements through standardized interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A subscriber management system for a communication system having a radio access network coupled to by a gateway node to a packet switched network. The system consolidates three prior art subscriber management system components, a DPI device, a QoS Policy Manager 40, and an Application Manager 28, into a DPI platform. The system also relocates functions to the DPI platform that were previously provided by the gateway node in prior art networks. Specifically, an Accounting Client 34, a Hotlining function 36, and a QoS SFA function 44 are located to the DPI platform. By consolidating network components and relocating functions to the DPI platform, the number of control interfaces in the network can be reduced. Further, network components produced by different vendors may be integrated more easily. A method of implementing hotlining in the system is also provided.