Virtual Device Roaming via Distributed PoP Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face significant security challenges when used in BYOD policies, particularly in high assurance computing environments, and experience increased latency when roaming far from their usual server connections, leading to a degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes point-of-presence (PoP) servers to instantiate virtual devices, allowing mobile devices to connect to the nearest available PoP location for reduced latency and improved security by separating user-specific data and applications from the physical device, enabling efficient roaming and secure access to virtualized network services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices connect to centralized servers for virtual device functions, then security and data control are improved, but latency increases when devices roam away from server locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized server infrastructure into distributed point-of-presence (PoP) nodes located in multiple geographic regions. Each PoP can independently host virtual devices and process data locally, segmenting the monolithic centralized architecture into modular distributed units that reduce latency while maintaining security through centralized policy management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a geographic dimension to the server infrastructure by deploying PoP nodes across multiple physical locations. This transforms the traditional single-point centralized architecture into a multi-dimensional distributed system where servers are positioned in different geographic zones, enabling devices to connect to the nearest PoP and reducing latency without sacrificing security.
2Ease of operation
If virtual devices are hosted on multiple PoP locations for roaming support, then user experience during roaming is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal virtual device platform that can be deployed across multiple PoP locations with a consistent architecture. The same virtual device template can be instantiated at any PoP, providing multi-functionality and consistency. This universal approach simplifies management compared to maintaining separate systems at each location, as the platform uses standardized protocols and management interfaces across all PoPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized management system that acts as an intermediary between users and the distributed PoP infrastructure. This management layer abstracts the complexity of multiple PoP locations from end users and administrators, providing unified policy enforcement, device provisioning, and load balancing across the distributed architecture without exposing the underlying complexity.
3Reliability
If user data is stored at a single PoP location, then data integrity and security are maintained, but availability during roaming to different locations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective copying of user data to PoP locations where virtual devices are active. Instead of replicating all user data at every PoP, the system copies only the necessary data portions to the appropriate PoP based on user location and activity patterns. This maintains data integrity through centralized storage while enabling availability during roaming through targeted data replication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data placement where user data is selectively replicated to different PoP locations based on real-time conditions such as user location, network load, and data access patterns. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt data distribution to current requirements, maintaining data integrity while improving roaming availability without static replication.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and computer program products that enable efficient roaming of virtual mobile devices. In one embodiment, multiple PoP locations having a set of common master images are maintained. A communication from a mobile device received at a central facility identifies a user, a location and a type of the mobile device. The central facility determines performance measures for the PoP locations and identifies a preferred PoP location in response to the communication. If the preferred PoP location has available capacity, the central facility directs the preferred PoP location to provision resources and instantiate a virtual device from a selected master image corresponding to the mobile device. If the preferred PoP location persistently stores a user data volume for the user, the virtual device is attached to the stored user data volume. Otherwise, data is transferred from the user's data volume to a cache attached to the virtual device.