Home Gateway Single IP Address Traffic Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for data service accessibility via both mobile and fixed networks lack flexibility, as they typically use different IP addresses for each network, preventing bandwidth sharing and causing performance degradation due to differing packet delays across networks.

Innovation Solution

A gateway device and method that establish a single IP address for both fixed and mobile networks, allowing data traffic to be routed through both networks simultaneously, with mechanisms for detecting congestion and equalizing packet delays to optimize performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different IP addresses are used for fixed and mobile networks, then network connectivity is established, but bandwidth sharing is prevented and performance degradation occurs due to differing packet delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth sharing capabilityVSAvoidperformance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the IP addressing of fixed and mobile networks by assigning the same IP address to both networks through a gateway device. This allows the terminal to establish simultaneous connections to both networks using a unified IP address, enabling bandwidth sharing and load balancing across multiple network paths while maintaining consistent performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single IP address is assigned to both fixed and mobile networks, then bandwidth sharing and flexibility are improved, but complexity in managing packet delays and congestion detection increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidgateway management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the terminal and multiple networks. The gateway manages the complexity of single IP address assignment, congestion detection, and delay equalization by implementing these functions centrally. This allows the terminal to benefit from network flexibility without bearing the complexity of managing multiple network parameters simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts network parameters such as packet delay compensation and congestion detection thresholds based on real-time network conditions. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system maintains optimal performance across fixed and mobile networks while managing the complexity through automated parameter adjustment rather than manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If simultaneous connections to fixed and mobile networks are established with different IP addresses, then network redundancy is achieved, but resources cannot be reallocated between connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork redundancyVSAvoidresource reallocation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the IP addressing of multiple network connections into a single unified IP address. This merging enables the terminal to maintain redundant network paths while allowing dynamic resource reallocation between connections, as the unified IP address allows the operating system to distribute traffic flexibly across available network interfaces based on current conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2375797B1ADSL and 3G Traffic Aggregation in Home Gateway Environment
Publication Date: 2013.11.13 VODAFONE GRP PLC
  • EP2375797B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2375797B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gateway device and a method for simultaneously connecting a device to a plurality of networks using all the connection a single IP address and exchanging data traffic through the networks simultaneously. Packet delays and data traffic load are calculated in order to regulate data traffic over each network in order to avoid performance degradation by an implementation of a mechanism of delay equalization.