Virtual Wi-Fi Service via Centralized SDN Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi access point management systems are inefficient and costly for large-scale deployments due to the need for manual configuration of standalone APs, lack of centralized monitoring, and scalability limitations, making it difficult to manage tens of thousands of devices and provide value-added services.
Innovation Solution
A centrally managed Wi-Fi system using software-defined networking (SDN) principles to separate the control and data planes, allowing for a Layer 2-based data framework that connects Wi-Fi access gateways with radio nodes via a Layer 2 domain, enabling scalable and cost-effective management of millions of devices and providing virtual Wi-Fi services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standalone Wi-Fi access points are deployed individually, then each AP can operate independently with full routing functions, but configuration and management becomes tedious and error-prone when deploying multiple APs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary between network administrators and multiple Wi-Fi access points. The controller manages configuration, monitoring, and control of multiple APs centrally, eliminating the need for administrators to log into and configure each AP individually. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining independent AP operation while dramatically simplifying management through centralized control.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple standalone APs are deployed to cover large areas, then network coverage is improved, but centralized monitoring and aggregated statistics become difficult to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring and control functions of multiple distributed access points into a single centralized controller. The controller aggregates bandwidth statistics, usage data, and status information from all connected APs, providing comprehensive centralized monitoring while maintaining the distributed physical deployment of access points for extended network coverage.
3Ease of operation
If hierarchical architecture with Wireless Access Controller is adopted to manage multiple APs, then centralized monitoring is improved, but the vendor-specific proprietary interface limits scalability and adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal controller architecture that can manage access points from different vendors through standardized protocols. The controller provides vendor-agnostic management capabilities, allowing organizations to deploy multi-vendor Wi-Fi infrastructures without being locked into a single vendor's proprietary system. This enhances adaptability while maintaining centralized management benefits.
4Ease of operation
If traditional centralized controller architecture is used, then management of multiple APs is simplified, but the single point of failure reduces system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized controller functionality into multiple distributed controller instances that can operate independently. Each controller instance manages a subset of access points, eliminating the single point of failure. If one controller instance fails, others continue to operate, maintaining system reliability while preserving centralized management capabilities through the distributed controller network.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are techniques for providing a virtual Wi-Fi service using internet protocol (IP) connections between a central Wi-Fi access gateway (WAG) and one or more radio nodes. The WAG establishes an IP connection with a first radio node across a network, where the first radio node is configured to connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the first radio node. The WAG receives network traffic over the IP connection, where the network traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the first radio node. The WAG provides a virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device based on the network traffic such that the Wi-Fi device connects to the virtual Wi-Fi service as if the virtual Wi-Fi service is a physical device locally connected to the first radio node.