Network Node Deep Packet Inspection for Device Adaptability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Communication networks face challenges in dynamically adapting to the characteristics of end user devices behind an end user communication terminal, limiting the flexibility of control mechanisms and quality of service (QoS) enforcement without increasing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
Network nodes perform deep packet inspection (DPI) to determine characteristics of end user devices, such as type and number, and enforce policy rules, including QoS rules, based on this information to provide tailored processing of packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If deep packet inspection is performed to determine end user device characteristics, then adaptability and QoS enforcement are improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (traffic detection function or policy enforcement function) that performs deep packet inspection and device characteristic determination. This intermediary acts as a mediator between the network infrastructure and end user devices, extracting device characteristics from packet data without requiring changes to the core network architecture or end devices. The intermediary processes packets to identify device types, capabilities, and characteristics, then communicates this information to policy decision elements for QoS enforcement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If deep packet inspection is performed to determine end user device characteristics, then adaptability and QoS enforcement are improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing deep packet inspection and device characteristic determination at the traffic detection function or policy enforcement function before packets reach the core network processing. Device characteristics are extracted and cached in advance, allowing subsequent policy decisions to be made quickly without repeated inspection. The system preliminarily identifies device types, capabilities, and characteristics from packet payloads and headers, storing this information for rapid policy enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing deep packet inspection selectively rather than on all packets uniformly. The inspection focuses on specific packet fields and protocols relevant to device identification (such as payload content, header information, and protocol characteristics). This selective approach extracts necessary device characteristics without processing every packet in full detail, reducing overall processing time while maintaining adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If network nodes inspect packets beyond physical and data link layer headers, then measurement precision of device characteristics is improved, but device complexity and implementation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet inspection process into distinct functional components: traffic detection function for deep packet inspection, policy enforcement function for characteristic determination, and policy decision element for QoS rules. Each segment handles specific aspects of device characteristic detection, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through specialized processing while distributing implementation complexity across multiple manageable components rather than requiring a single complex system.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method is carried out by at least one network node (2) in a communication network (10), and the method includes determining, from received packets (4), at least one characteristic of one or more end user devices (8) connected, through an end user communication terminal (6), to the communication network (10). The determining procedure (s24) includes inspecting at least one of layer n control information of the received packets (4), wherein n is an integer equal to or larger than 3; and the received packets' (4) payload encapsufated by layer 7 control information; wherein the layer level is understood in the sense of the OSI reference model. The invention also relates to network nodes (2) and computer programs.