mDNS Gateway Service Denial Notification Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless LAN systems, such as Bonjour, lack the ability to communicate service denial information directly to individual users, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users are connected, leading to users being unaware of service availability and access restrictions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unicast mDNS query response mechanism that allows a wireless LAN controller to send a service denial message to specific clients, including a service provider string with textual notifications, reason codes, and additional information, enabling users to understand why their service requests are denied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a wireless LAN controller implements mDNS gateway to provide service discovery across VLANs, then service information can be broadcast to multiple hosts, but the system cannot communicate service denial information to individual users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service discovery response by creating different response types: successful service announcements and denial notifications. The denial notification is segmented as a separate service type (_denial._udp) that can be independently processed and displayed to users, allowing service denial information to be communicated without disrupting the overall mDNS gateway functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the mDNS gateway acts as a mediator between the service provider and the client. When service denial occurs, the gateway generates a structured denial notification that includes reason codes and textual descriptions, translating internal service access control decisions into user-friendly information that can be displayed to end users.
2Ease of operation
If the system broadcasts service information to all hosts connected to the mDNS gateway, then service availability is widely communicated, but individual users cannot receive personalized service denial notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic response generation where the mDNS gateway can adapt its behavior based on the client's service access status. When a client attempts to access a denied service, the gateway dynamically generates a personalized denial notification with specific reason codes and messages tailored to that client's situation, rather than using a static broadcast approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different information quality to different users based on their access rights. Authorized users receive detailed service information, while unauthorized users receive personalized denial notifications with specific reasons. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation for all users while providing localized, individualized information about service denials.
3Extent of automation
If service denial information is only available to administrators at the wireless LAN controller, then centralized control is maintained, but users cannot understand why their service requests are denied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mDNS gateway sends denial notifications back to clients with actionable information. The notification includes reason codes (e.g., 1 for unauthorized, 2 for unavailable) and textual descriptions that explain why the service is denied. This feedback loop allows users to understand the reason for denial and take appropriate actions, such as contacting administrators or trying alternative services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by providing users with sufficient information in the denial notification to understand and potentially resolve their service access issues. Users can see the reason code and description, which may guide them to take corrective actions without requiring immediate administrator intervention, thus maintaining centralized control while improving user autonomy.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems may be provided to receive a first client request for a first service. A unicast mDNS query response may be provided to the first client, wherein the query response comprises information indicative of a denial of the first service and the query response is available for display to the first client.