Network Gateway Per-Subscriber Service Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in providing services due to the serial deployment of services in network topologies, leading to increased hardware and software overprovisioning, susceptibility to outages, and limited subscriber awareness, which hampers the ability to offer customized services and increases latency in packet-based communication networks.
Innovation Solution
A gateway system that inspects messages to handle packet flows on a per-subscriber basis, extracting information to direct packet flows and provide services in-line, reducing the need for external processing and allowing for customized service delivery without overprovisioning hardware or software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If services are deployed serially through external server clusters, then service functionality is provided, but network latency increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple service functions (firewall, content filtering, parental controls, payload compression, caching) into a single integrated gateway device. This merging eliminates the need for packets to traverse multiple external server clusters serially, thereby reducing network latency and improving service delivery efficiency while maintaining all required service functionalities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external server clusters are added to provide new services, then service versatility is improved, but device complexity and susceptibility to outages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway is designed as a universal platform capable of providing multiple service functions simultaneously (firewall, content filtering, parental controls, payload compression, caching). This multi-functional design achieves service versatility without requiring separate external server clusters for each function, thereby simplifying network topology and reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If hardware and software are overprovisioned for each service, then service reliability is maintained, but loss of substance and resource waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple service functions into a single gateway with shared hardware and software resources, the system eliminates the need to overprovision resources for each individual service. The shared resource pool is dynamically allocated across all services, maintaining reliability while reducing overall resource consumption and preventing waste.
4Adaptability or versatility
If packet flows are routed through multiple external servers, then comprehensive service processing is achieved, but productivity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of multiple service processing capabilities within a single gateway enables packet flows to be processed comprehensively in one location rather than being routed through multiple external servers. This eliminates sequential processing delays and improves packet flow throughput while maintaining the ability to apply all necessary service processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing services to packet flows in a communication network. The services include enhanced charging, stateful firewalls, traffic performance optimization (TPO) and advanced services such as content differentiated charging, per-subscriber stateful firewalls, and VPNs, for example. A gateway can be used to route each packet flow through the services on a per-subscriber basis by inspecting accounting messages and checking subscriber profiles prior to setting up a new packet flow session. By directing the packet flow through the services requested latency can be reduced as well as the need to have equipment for each session regardless of whether the service is provided to the packet flow. The services can be provided in-line as well.