Policy Control for Encapsulated Data Flows in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, serving gateways often lack the necessary encapsulation information to successfully traverse data flows, particularly when host-based mobility protocols are used, leading to challenges in providing quality of service support.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that facilitate the transmission of encapsulation information from a network gateway to a policy server, which then communicates this information to a serving gateway, enabling the appropriate encapsulation and traversal of data flows based on the mobility protocol type, type of data flow, and other parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If host-based mobility protocols are used for data flow encapsulation, then mobility support is improved, but serving gateway ability to traverse flows deteriorates due to lack of encapsulation information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy server as an intermediary between the network gateway and serving gateway. The policy server receives encapsulation information from the network gateway, processes it, and provides the necessary policy rules to the serving gateway. This mediator resolves the information asymmetry by centrally managing and distributing encapsulation knowledge without requiring direct communication between the gateway endpoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the network gateway provide encapsulation information to the policy server during session establishment, before actual data flow traversal occurs. This advance provision of encapsulation information allows the serving gateway to be pre-configured with the necessary rules to successfully traverse encapsulated flows, preventing information loss during operation.
2Reliability
If encapsulation information is provided to policy server, then quality of service support is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the policy server multi-functional by having it perform both policy management and encapsulation information distribution. Instead of adding a separate dedicated system for encapsulation management, the existing policy server is enhanced to handle multiple functions, including receiving encapsulation information from network gateways, processing it into policy rules, and distributing it to serving gateways. This universal approach improves QoS support while avoiding additional network complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communicating encapsulation information for a related mobility protocol type utilized in communicating over a data flow with reduced specific implementation on the policy server to support different mobility protocol types. In this regard, encapsulation information can be transmitted to the policy server from a network gateway such that the policy server can forward the encapsulation information to a serving gateway along with policy rules related to a data flow type. The serving gateway can utilize the encapsulation information to detect and interpret the encapsulated data flow according to the policy rules. In this regard, the serving gateway can provide support (e.g., quality of service support) for the flow. The encapsulation information can relate to a mobility protocol type, an encapsulation header, an indication that encapsulation is required, parameters regarding locating an encapsulation header in a message, and/or the like.