Femtocell Access Controller Local Packet Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Femtocell networks face congestion issues due to the need to forward all packet communications through the core network, even for local intranet traffic, which can lead to network overload and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
An access controller is introduced to perform packet inspection and maintain a state table, allowing for local switching of data packets destined for the intranet, thereby bypassing the core network and enabling direct routing to the Internet when necessary, reducing network congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all packet communications are forwarded through the core network, then network management and control are simplified, but network congestion increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network traffic into two paths: local intranet traffic that is switched directly at the femtocell access point without traversing the core network, and other traffic that continues to use the core network path. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing local traffic to bypass the core network (improving performance) while maintaining core network involvement for other traffic (preserving management simplicity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an access controller as an intermediary component between the femtocell access point and the core network. This intermediary performs packet inspection and routing decisions, enabling local switching of intranet traffic while maintaining connection to the core network for other purposes, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified management and improved performance.
2Productivity
If packet inspection and local switching are implemented, then network congestion is reduced and performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a packet inspector, a router for local switching, and a state table manager. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device at the femtocell, the patent reduces the need for additional specialized equipment, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved network efficiency through local switching.
3Quantity of substance
If local switching is performed for intranet traffic, then core network load is reduced, but routing decision complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access controller performs preliminary packet inspection and routing decisions at the femtocell access point, before traffic enters the core network. By making routing decisions locally based on packet inspection and state table lookup, the system reduces the volume of traffic that needs to be managed by the core network, while containing the routing decision complexity at the edge device rather than in the core network infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An access controller is coupled to an access point and receives data packets from connected user equipment. The access controller is configured to perform packet inspection techniques on the received packets to determine if they should be locally switched. In some embodiments, packets destined for a local intranet services may be locally switched to avoid congesting a core network link. In further embodiments, a local connection to the Internet may be used so that locally switched packets can also be directed to the Internet without the use of a core network link. In still further embodiment, in addition to packet inspection techniques, the access controller maintains a state table for the states of connected user equipment. The access controller may use the information in this table to further decide whether to perform local switching techniques.