Global IP Address Broker for IoT Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet-of-things (IoT) devices face challenges with consistent IP address allocation across different carrier networks, leading to connectivity and security issues due to frequent IP address re-assignment when moving between networks.
Innovation Solution
A cross-carrier IP address broker system that generates and manages global IP addresses, allowing IoT devices to maintain a consistent IP address across various networks by using a Global IP Address Broker (GIAB) that allocates and assigns IP addresses based on device subscriber identities, enabling seamless communication across different carrier networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If private IP addresses are assigned by individual carrier networks, then network address translation can be performed, but IP address consistency is lost when devices move between networks
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized IP address management system acts as an intermediary between carrier networks and IoT devices. This system assigns global IP addresses to devices and maintains mapping information, allowing devices to retain consistent IP addresses across different networks while enabling networks to perform address translation through the intermediary system.
Solution Approach 2:
The IP address management system provides universal service across multiple carrier networks and enterprise WiFi networks. A single system handles IP address assignment, tracking, and translation for diverse network types, eliminating the need for separate private addressing schemes in each network.
2Reliability
If IP addresses are re-assigned when devices move between networks, then network security can be maintained, but authentication challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
Global IP addresses are assigned to IoT devices in advance through the centralized management system, before devices move between networks. This preliminary assignment ensures that devices maintain their IP addresses during mobility, eliminating the need for re-authentication and re-assignment when transitioning between networks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If global IP addresses are allocated to IoT devices, then device mobility is enhanced, but IP address management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized IP address management system serves as an intermediary that handles all complexity of global IP address allocation, tracking, and coordination. Individual networks and devices benefit from simplified processes while the intermediary manages the overall complexity of maintaining global address consistency across multiple networks.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, from a first network, a first request for a first global internet protocol (IP) address that is to be allocated to a first device that is provisioned on the first network, the first device being provisioned on the first network prior to allocation of the first global IP address, the first device being provisioned on the first network via use of a first subscriber identity that is associated with the first device and that is recognized by the first network, the first request including the first subscriber identity; generating, responsive to the first request, the first global IP address, the first global IP address enabling communication with the first device when the first device is subsequently registered on a second network, the first subscriber identity being stored in a database as corresponding to the first global IP address that is generated; and sending, to the first network, the first global IP address that had been generated. Other embodiments are disclosed.