Hierarchical Policy Management for Wireless Traffic Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rapid growth of smartphone usage, particularly with Android devices, leads to increased signaling and data traffic in wireless networks, causing congestion and inefficiencies in bandwidth and resource utilization, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A distributed wireless traffic optimization system that employs a hierarchical policy management and caching system, using a local proxy on mobile devices and a server-side proxy to categorize traffic, cache content, and apply policies based on application behavior, user activity, and network conditions, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If smartphone usage and app traffic increase to provide richer services, then service capability and user experience are improved, but network signaling load and congestion increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice capabilityVSAvoidsignaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the policy management system into multiple hierarchical levels (global policies at network level, device-specific policies at device level, application-specific policies at app level). This segmentation allows distributed traffic optimization where each segment handles local decision-making, reducing the signaling load on the core network while maintaining rich service capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a policy management system as an intermediary between the network and end devices. This intermediary translates high-level service requirements into specific traffic optimization policies, enabling rich services to be delivered while automatically managing and reducing the associated signaling overhead through intelligent policy enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traffic optimization policies are implemented to reduce signaling, then network efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex policy management functionality into manageable segments across different hierarchical levels and system components. Each segment handles specific aspects of traffic optimization, making the overall complex system tractable through modular design where each part has a defined, simplified role.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to policy management, organizing policies from global to device-specific to application-specific levels. This dimensional organization transforms a potentially overwhelming monolithic complexity into a structured multi-layered system where complexity is distributed and managed at appropriate levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If distributed caching is implemented to reduce data transmissions, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but device and network infrastructure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the caching infrastructure into distributed cache servers deployed at multiple network locations rather than a single centralized cache. This segmentation allows caching functionality to be introduced incrementally at appropriate network points, optimizing bandwidth utilization while distributing the infrastructure complexity across multiple manageable nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cache servers as intermediary components between content sources and end devices. These intermediaries automatically intercept, cache, and serve repeated content requests, optimizing bandwidth utilization while managing infrastructure complexity through standardized intermediary interfaces and automated cache management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2792186B1Hierarchies and categories for management and deployment of policies for distributed wireless traffic optimization
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 SEVEN NETWORKS INC
  • EP2792186B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2792186B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2792186B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Systems and methods for deploying and employing policies for wireless traffic optimization in a wireless network based on hierarchies are disclosed. One embodiment includes deploying a global policy set of the policies for wireless traffic optimization among mobile devices in the wireless network and deploying a first policy set of the policies among a first subset of mobile devices among the mobile devices. In one embodiment, the first subset of mobile devices meet a device-based criteria including one or more of, device type, device platform, or device model and any policy of the first policy set overwrites any policy of the global policy set in case of conflict when deployed on any of the first subset of mobile devices.