Proxy Cellular Network Visibility Through WiFi Representation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise networks face challenges in managing and observing private cellular access networks due to increased complexity and the need for specialized expertise in cellular terminologies, which incurs operational disruption and cost.
Innovation Solution
A method to represent private cellular access networks as WiFi networks for management and observability, using a logical connection and authentication mapping, without requiring APIs or special human expertise, allowing existing network management systems to integrate cellular networks seamlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If enterprises deploy private cellular access networks to handle increasing traffic, then network capacity and user connectivity are improved, but network management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy service as an intermediary layer between cellular network elements and network management systems. This proxy translates cellular network events, sessions, and user data into formats compatible with existing WiFi network management systems, enabling unified management without requiring specialized cellular expertise while maintaining the enhanced network capacity provided by cellular access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If enterprises use multiple network access types (cellular and WiFi), then service versatility is improved, but operational disruption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of cellular and WiFi networks into a unified system by representing cellular network elements as virtual WiFi network elements. This consolidation allows enterprises to manage both network types through a single interface using familiar WiFi management tools, reducing operational disruption and cost while maintaining the versatility of offering multiple network access types.
3Productivity
If enterprises deploy private cellular access networks, then user connectivity is improved, but specialized expertise requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of cellular network elements that replicate their functionality using WiFi network terminology and management interfaces. By copying cellular network events, sessions, and user data into equivalent virtual WiFi representations, the system enables enterprises to manage cellular networks using familiar WiFi operations, eliminating the need for specialized cellular expertise while maintaining full user connectivity capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A proxy service performing methods for representing a first type of access network as a second type of access network for visibility and management. The methods involve obtaining information about an endpoint device that established a connection to a first access network of an enterprise and generating a logical connection to a logical second access network based on a mapping of the information about the endpoint device with a profile associated with a second access network. The logical second access network represents the first access network as the second access network of the enterprise that is a different type of network. The methods further involve providing, to a network management service, the logical connection for observability and management of the first access network.