Dynamic QoS Profile Provisioning via 802.11u GAS Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current QoS policies in wireless networks struggle to effectively prioritize and manage network traffic, especially in Wi-Fi environments, due to resource-intensive deep packet inspection techniques and the inability to classify encrypted traffic, leading to inefficient resource allocation and potential bottlenecks at wireless access points.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic application QoS profile provisioning method that uses 802.11u GAS frames to communicate QoS policies from wireless access points to client devices, allowing them to internally prioritize traffic based on application-specific identifiers and markings, thereby enabling appropriate QoS marking and prioritization at the origin of traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If deep packet inspection techniques are used to classify and prioritize network traffic, then traffic classification capability is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding QoS markings and application identifiers in traffic packets at the source (client device) before transmission. This pre-classification eliminates the need for resource-intensive deep packet inspection at the access point, as traffic is already tagged with relevant QoS information that can be directly used for prioritization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the traffic classification function from the network infrastructure (access point) and relocates it to the client device. By taking out the classification task from the resource-constrained access point and performing it at the source, the system achieves accurate traffic classification without overburdening the wireless network infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If deep packet inspection is used to inspect encrypted traffic, then traffic analysis capability is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not attempting to inspect encrypted traffic content, but instead relying on application-layer identifiers and QoS markings that are visible without decryption. This inversion allows the system to achieve effective traffic analysis while avoiding the complexity of decrypting and inspecting encrypted streams.
3Productivity
If QoS policies are enforced at the wireless access point, then traffic prioritization is improved, but network bottleneck increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing QoS marking and prioritization at the client device before traffic enters the wireless network. This upstream prioritization ensures that critical traffic is already differentiated when it reaches the access point, eliminating the need for complex real-time prioritization at the bottleneck location and reducing network congestion.
4Productivity
If symmetrical upstream and downstream QoS behavior is implemented, then network performance is improved, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a single QoS marking mechanism at the client device that simultaneously handles both upstream and downstream traffic prioritization. The same application identifiers and marking rules are used for bidirectional traffic, achieving symmetrical QoS behavior through a unified approach rather than separate complex policies for each direction.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamic application QoS profile provisioning may be provided. First, an access point may send a profile to a client device. The profile may comprise a plurality of application identifiers and a plurality policies corresponding to the plurality of application identifiers. Each of the plurality of application identifiers may respectively correspond to a plurality of applications. Next, the client device may receive the profile. Then the client device may select, from the received profile, a first policy from the plurality policies in the profile. The first policy may correspond to a first application identifier in the plurality of application identifiers. The first application identifier may correspond to a first application within the plurality of applications. The first application may be on the client device. The first application on the client device may then create a network flow from the client device to the access point based on the selected first policy.