Visiting Home Agent Allocation for Mobile Network Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, latency is introduced when packets are routed through a mobile node's home network, especially for latency-sensitive services like VoIP and streaming video, due to the distance between the mobile node and its home network, causing communication delays.
Innovation Solution
Optimally assigning a home agent within the visiting network closer to the mobile node, rather than relying on the home network's home agent, to reduce latency by routing communications directly through the visiting home agent, thereby avoiding unnecessary round trips through the home network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packets are routed through the home network for mobile node communications, then the mobile node can maintain connectivity with its home network, but latency is introduced due to the distance between the mobile node and home network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visiting home agent as an intermediary in the visiting network that can forward packets to the mobile node without requiring routing through the home network. This mediator enables the mobile node to maintain connectivity while avoiding the latency of long-distance routing through the home network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the home agent function into two parts: the home agent in the home network that maintains authentication and registration information, and a visiting home agent in the visiting network that handles actual packet forwarding. This segmentation allows connectivity maintenance while reducing routing latency.
2Reliability
If a home agent in the home network is used for routing packets, then the mobile node can be authenticated and authorized properly, but the communication distance increases causing delays in latency-sensitive services
Solution Approach 1:
The visiting home agent acts as an intermediary that handles packet forwarding locally in the visiting network, while the home agent in the home network continues to perform authentication and authorization functions. This separation maintains security while improving communication speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by placing a home agent functionally equivalent to the home network's home agent directly in the visiting network location. This allows local packet handling with low latency while the home network maintains centralized control for authentication and authorization.
3Reliability
If packets are routed through the home network, then centralized control and security policies can be enforced, but the load on the home network increases and latency-sensitive services suffer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the home agent responsibilities into authentication/authorization functions that remain centralized in the home network, and packet forwarding functions that are distributed to visiting home agents. This segmentation maintains security control while improving network efficiency by reducing home network load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to home agent deployment by introducing visiting home agents in multiple geographic locations (different visiting networks). This allows centralized security policies to be enforced while distributing the packet forwarding workload across multiple locations, improving overall network efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments provide an optimal allocation of a bearer manager or home agent. In one embodiment, a message is received from a mobile node requesting access to a visiting network that is different from a home network for the mobile node. An authentication request is sent to the home network requesting authentication for access. The authentication request indicates that a home agent has not been assigned. The home AAA server then sends a response that indicates the visiting AAA server can assign a home agent for the mobile node. The visiting AAA server then assigns a home agent that is optimally determined. The visiting home agent is different from a home agent that is found in the mobile node's home network. When a registration request is received, an IP gateway may send the registration request to the visiting home agent, which may not be sent back to the home network.