Roaming Data Gateway Selection via Local POP Routing
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication methods incur significant costs and performance issues due to routing all data through the home network, especially for roaming devices, leading to excessive billing, transit costs, and potential data loss or failure, as well as compliance issues with local regulations when data is routed long distances.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a local Point of Presence (POP) for the Access Point Name (APN) allows DNS lookups to point to a more local data POP, reducing reliance on the home network for data routing and enabling direct billing and compliance with local regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data is routed through the home network for roaming devices, then billing and account management are simplified, but transit costs increase and data latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the GGSN function into home GGSN and local GGSN components. The home GGSN handles billing and account management, while the local GGSN handles data routing and transit. This segmentation allows billing complexity to remain centralized while data traffic is routed locally, reducing latency without complicating billing management.
Solution Approach 2:
The local GGSN acts as an intermediary between the roaming device and the home network. It receives data packets destined for the device, buffers them, and forwards them to the device locally rather than routing all traffic through the home network. This intermediary approach reduces transit costs and latency while the home GGSN continues to handle billing.
2Reliability
If data is routed through the home network, then network security and control are maintained, but significant transit costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the GGSN function into home GGSN and local GGSN components. The home GGSN maintains network control, security policies, and billing functions, while the local GGSN handles data routing and transit. This segmentation allows network control to remain centralized while data traffic is routed locally, reducing transit costs without sacrificing security or control.
Solution Approach 2:
The local GGSN acts as an intermediary that reduces transit costs by routing data locally rather than through the home network. It maintains connection to the home GGSN, which continues to enforce network control and security policies. This intermediary approach reduces energy loss in the form of transit costs while preserving network control.
3Loss of time
If a local GGSN is deployed for roaming devices, then data latency is reduced and transit costs decrease, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the GGSN function into home GGSN and local GGSN components with clearly defined roles. The home GGSN handles billing, security, and control functions, while the local GGSN handles data routing and transit. This segmentation reduces data latency by routing traffic locally while managing architecture complexity through clear functional separation and standardized interfaces.
4Measurement precision
If data is routed through the home network, then billing accuracy is maintained, but rounding up of costs occurs for M2M applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the billing function from the data routing function. The home GGSN handles billing and account management with precise measurement of data usage, while the local GGSN handles data transit. This segmentation allows billing accuracy to be maintained through precise measurement at the home GGSN while avoiding rounding up of costs by routing data locally through the local GGSN, reducing transit costs for M2M applications.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method of routing a roaming cellular data terminal (12), for example an M2M device or telephone handset to an APN includes providing a DNS 20 in a roaming network 2 which resolves a FQDN to a local POP remote 22 from the home POP 18 in home network 6.