Hierarchical Location Servers for Scalable Wireless Network Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
As wireless LAN (WLAN) technology evolves from convenience networks to business-critical networks, existing systems face challenges in scaling location services to meet increased demands for visibility, security, management, and performance, particularly as deployments grow in scale and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A scalable location system for wired and wireless networks is implemented using an Area Code Authority Server (ACAS) that manages connection events and location queries by storing identifying information in a location services table, allowing for redundant deployment and secure communication across the network infrastructure, enabling easier configuration and management through DNS lookups and secure protocols like TLS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized location service system is used, then location tracking is simple to implement, but the system cannot scale to large networks and becomes a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized location service into distributed Location Servers (LS) organized in a hierarchical structure with root LS, region LS, and local LS. Each LS manages a specific geographic region or network segment, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining location tracking functionality across the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Area Code Authority Servers (ACAS) as intermediary components that manage area code assignments and coordinate between different Location Servers. The ACAS acts as a mediator that resolves location queries across regional boundaries, enabling scalable distributed operation while maintaining system-wide location awareness.
2Reliability
If location services are distributed across multiple servers, then system reliability and scalability improve, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical segmentation of Location Servers into root, region, and local levels naturally divides the coordination complexity. Each level handles specific types of queries and management tasks, reducing the coordination overhead at any single point while maintaining overall system coherence through the hierarchical structure.
3Measurement precision
If a home ACAS follows a wireless node across different areas, then location accuracy is maintained during roaming, but query and update message overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into area code regions, each managed by a local ACAS. When a node roams, the home ACAS coordinates with the visited ACAS, and location updates are cached at the visited ACAS. This segmentation reduces message overhead by avoiding constant communication with the home ACAS for every location change within the same region.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-assigning area codes to nodes and pre-configuring the hierarchical ACAS structure. When roaming occurs, the preliminary setup allows for efficient handoff and location tracking without requiring extensive real-time coordination, thereby reducing message overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes receive a connection event message including information identifying a wireless node, wherein the identifying information comprises a wireless node identifier and an area code associated with the wireless node; determine, based on the area code, whether the wireless node is connected to its home wireless network region; add the identifying information to a location services table; and if the wireless node is not connected to its home network region, transmit a remote connection event message to a home area code authority server corresponding to the wireless node.