SD-WAN Policy Filtering for Mobile Device-Specific Routing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional WAN architectures are limited in bandwidth, security, and complexity management, hindering business productivity as businesses become more mobile and operate across multiple clouds.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for distributing software-defined networking (SD-WAN) policies to mobile devices, involving a router that receives, filters, and communicates device-specific policies based on device information, using VRF enterprise IPsec and SSL/TLS gateways for secure connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional WAN architectures use dedicated MPLS circuits for security and reliability, then security protection and reliable connectivity are improved, but bandwidth availability and complexity management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an SD-WAN controller as an intermediary that centralizes policy management and network control. The controller receives policy information from network administrators and distributes it to multiple SD-WAN routers, eliminating the need for complex manual configurations on each device while maintaining reliable connectivity through centralized orchestration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The SD-WAN system provides multi-functional capabilities including policy distribution, path selection, segmentation, and flow classification through a unified platform. This universal approach replaces multiple specialized functions that would otherwise require separate complex configurations, simplifying network management while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional WAN architectures are used for mobile business operations, then infrastructure stability is maintained, but adaptability to mobile devices and cloud operations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile device adaptabilityVSAvoidpolicy distribution complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic policy distribution where the SD-WAN controller can push policies to routers in real-time based on changing network conditions and mobile device requirements. Policies can be updated without service interruption, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to mobile operations while maintaining infrastructure stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments policies into device-specific configurations that are filtered and applied individually to each mobile device. This segmentation allows tailored policies for different mobile devices and use cases without requiring complex overall system redesign, enabling adaptability while managing complexity through modular policy structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If SD-WAN policies are distributed to all mobile devices, then policy coverage is improved, but processing overhead and network traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy distribution coverageVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by filtering SD-WAN policies at the router level to generate device-specific policies tailored to each mobile device's characteristics and requirements. This ensures that each device receives only the relevant policies it needs, reducing processing overhead and network traffic compared to distributing universal policies to all devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial action by selectively distributing policies based on device information and session context. Rather than pushing all possible policies to every device, the router filters and applies only the necessary subset, reducing processing overhead while maintaining adequate policy coverage for operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4730719A2Systems and methods for distributing sd-wan policies
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4730719A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730719A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4730719A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a router includes one or more processors and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the router to perform operations including receiving software-defined networking in a wide area network (SD-WAN) policies from a component of an SD-WAN network. The operations also include establishing a session with a mobile device and receiving information associated with the mobile device in response to establishing the session with the mobile device. The operations further include filtering the SD-WAN policies based on the information associated with the mobile device to generate SD-WAN device-specific policies and communicating the SD-WAN device-specific policies to the mobile device.