VLAN Assignment via Identity Hashing for Mobile Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large communications networks face performance degradation due to broadcast traffic, and existing methods for subnet assignment, such as location-based or identity-based VLAN assignment, either lead to connectivity issues for mobile users or impose significant administrative burdens.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically assigns VLANs to clients based on their identity, using a hash function to select an available VLAN, ensuring persistent connectivity and reducing administrative effort by automating the assignment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If location-based subnet assignment is used, then the number of users per subnet is reduced, but mobile users lose connectivity when moving across subnet boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to self-select their preferred subnet through user preference profiles, eliminating the need for automatic location-based assignment that causes connectivity interruptions. Users can choose subnets based on their needs while maintaining continuous connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts subnet assignment based on user mobility patterns and preferences, rather than using static location-based rules. This allows the network to adapt to user movement while maintaining connectivity.
2Reliability
If identity-based VLAN assignment is used, then continuous connectivity is maintained, but administrative burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Users automatically select their preferred subnet through pre-configured user preference profiles stored in the system. This eliminates the need for administrators to manually assign subnets to each user, significantly reducing administrative burden while maintaining continuous connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copies of user preference profiles stored in the controller to automatically determine subnet assignment, rather than requiring real-time administrator intervention. This copying mechanism maintains connectivity while reducing administrative complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If administrators manually assign subnets to each user, then traffic separation by access privilege is achieved, but administrative effort becomes proportionately large
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically assigns users to subnets based on their preference profiles, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure each user's subnet assignment. This self-service approach maintains traffic separation while dramatically reducing administrative effort.
Solution Approach 2:
User subnet preferences are pre-configured in profiles before users connect to the network. This preliminary action allows automatic subnet assignment upon connection, eliminating the need for real-time administrative intervention and reducing administrative time.
Data Source
AI summary
This specification describes a system and method that can offer, among other advantages, a technique for resource assignment that involves obtaining a group of resources, repeatedly selecting a resource from the group of resources until a resource that is available is selected, and associating a client or process with that resource. An example of a method according to the technique includes obtaining a group of VLANs for assignment to a client based on client identity, selecting a first choice from the group of VLANs, selecting a next choice from the group of VLANs if the first choice is unavailable, and connecting the client to the selected VLAN. The client identity may include, by way of example but not limitation, a MAC address, an SSID, or some other known or convenient way to identify the client. A system constructed according to the technique may include, by way of example but not limitation, memory, a resource group name decoder, a value calculator, an index calculator, and a selector. The memory may include, for example, a resource name buffer, an identity buffer, a result buffer, a resource count buffer, a resource name array, and a selected resource buffer.