Home Gateway Automatic WAN Failover via Neighbor Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing community networks require manual intervention and technological capabilities for users to switch to a neighboring home gateway when their WAN access is unavailable, leading to disruptions in communication services, particularly affecting non-nomadic users at home who cannot receive incoming calls or restore telephone services.

Innovation Solution

A method where a local home gateway automatically supervises WAN service availability, detects a neighboring gateway, establishes a wireless connection, and authenticates to maintain continuous communication services, using protocols like SIP and RTP for IP telephony and IPTV, even if the gateways are not from the same community.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual authentication and connection procedures are required for community network access, then security and controlled access are improved, but user convenience and service continuity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled accessVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting WAN unavailability and automatically establishing connections with neighboring gateways before the user needs service. The system pre-authenticates and sets up alternative paths, so when the primary WAN connection fails, service continuity is maintained without requiring user intervention in authentication or connection procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If users must manually detect and connect to neighboring gateways, then device control and authentication security are improved, but service availability and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidservice response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway performs self-service by automatically detecting WAN unavailability, identifying neighboring gateways, initiating authentication procedures, and establishing alternative connections without user intervention. The system autonomously monitors its own service status and takes corrective actions, eliminating the time delay associated with manual user detection and connection while maintaining security through automated authentication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If conventional telephone devices are used without wireless capabilities, then device simplicity and cost are improved, but adaptability to community network switching deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidnetwork switching capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The home gateway acts as an intermediary that shields conventional telephone devices from the complexity of wireless network switching. The gateway automatically establishes wireless connections with neighboring gateways and routes traffic appropriately, allowing simple conventional devices to maintain service continuity without needing wireless capabilities or awareness of the switching process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If automatic gateway switching is implemented, then service continuity and user experience are improved, but system complexity and automation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into the home gateway device: WAN connection monitoring, wireless network detection, authentication management, and connection routing. By consolidating these functions in a single device that already manages home network connectivity, the system achieves automatic service continuity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as the gateway leverages its existing multi-functional architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2594082B1Continuity of the availability of a communication service
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 SOFTATHOME
  • EP2594082B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2594082B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Method for ensuring the continuity of the availability of a communication service between a local domestic gateway and a WAN network, said domestic gateway implementing such a method. The invention relates to a method for ensuring the continuity of the availability of a communication service between a local domestic gateway and a WAN network providing said communication service. According to the invention, the local domestic gateway: - supervises the availability of the communication service, - if said communication service is not available, automatically detects a neighbouring domestic gateway by wireless communication, - sets up a wireless connection to the neighbouring domestic gateway, - automatically authenticates itself to an authentication service in the external network via the neighbouring domestic gateway, - sets up a link to the communication service via the neighbouring domestic gateway.