Home Gateway Portal Service Proxy for QoS Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-CableHome (CH) compliant devices in home networks cannot effectively communicate their Quality of Service (QoS) needs, leading to data packet collisions and degradation of network quality, as they do not follow the directives of the Subnet Bandwidth Manager (SBM), and are unable to obtain necessary bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A home gateway with a Portal Service (PS) proxy interface is used to provide QoS capability to non-QoS capable devices by acting as a proxy for QoS reservations and data communications, allowing manual or automatic retrieval of QoS information and using protocols like RSVP to manage bandwidth allocation, thereby integrating non-CH devices into a CH compliant network without additional development or component costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If non-CH compliant devices are allowed to access the network, then device versatility is improved, but network quality deteriorates due to data packet collisions and bandwidth degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a QoS-capable intermediary device (such as a router or gateway) that acts as a mediator between non-QoS capable devices and the network. This intermediary device receives traffic from non-CH compliant devices, applies QoS policies, and forwards the traffic appropriately, thereby enabling device versatility while maintaining network quality through controlled bandwidth allocation and priority management.
2Reliability
If non-CH compliant devices are converted to CH compliant devices, then network quality is improved, but development cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring non-CH compliant devices to be converted (which would incur development costs), the patent employs a QoS-capable intermediary device that handles the QoS management externally. This approach maintains network quality without requiring changes to the original non-compliant devices, thereby avoiding additional development expenses while still achieving reliable QoS delivery.
3Productivity
If QoS capability is added to non-CH devices, then bandwidth allocation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the QoS capability in a separate intermediary device rather than embedding it within non-CH compliant devices. This intermediary device performs bandwidth allocation and QoS management functions, thereby improving bandwidth allocation efficiency without increasing the complexity of the original simple devices. The non-CH devices remain unchanged and simple, while the intermediary handles the complex QoS tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
An engineering model is described for a home gateway and interface system and method for providing quality of service to a home LAN device on a home network that is not QoS capable. The gateway comprises a modem (e.g., cable, DSL modem) and a portal service proxy interface. The modem is connected between the home network and a WAN cable network, and is operable to bridge traffic between the home LAN of the home network and the WAN cable network. The portal service interface is connected to the modem and is utilized as a proxy for QoS reservations and data communications between the home LAN devices on the home network. The portal interface acts on behalf of a client to make requests of the non-QoS capable home LAN devices and communicate these QoS needs to the QoS capable devices. The portal service interface is operable to manually input and obtain a set of QoS requirements of a client or user, for example, using a protocol such as the HTTP or Telnet protocol on a web browser. The QoS requirements are then utilized in the gateway and communicated to the home LANs thru the modem for selectively transmitting or receiving the data between the devices, based on the QoS needs of each home LAN device obtained from the client.