WLAN Policy Distribution Device for Carrier Network Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The absence of a necessary policy control and management mechanism in Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) carrier-class networks hinders effective resource allocation and user experience, particularly in managing diverse user services and ensuring seamless service delivery across heterogeneous networks.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for distributing WLAN user policies, involving modules for receiving and forwarding policies between an upstream policy decision distribution device and a WLAN user policy execution device, enabling local judgment and decision-making for efficient policy management and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a policy control and management mechanism is introduced in WLAN network, then user experience and service management capability are improved, but device complexity and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy control system into three distinct functional modules: policy decision device (PDC), policy distribution device (PDD), and policy execution device (PED). This segmentation allows each module to perform specific functions independently, improving service management capability while distributing system complexity across multiple specialized components rather than concentrating it in a single complex device.
Solution Approach 2:
The policy distribution device serves as an intermediary between the policy decision device and policy execution device. It receives policies from the PDC, distributes them to appropriate PEDs, and manages policy updates and queries. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a standardized interface layer that mediates between decision-making and execution functions.
2Reliability
If centralized policy control is implemented, then uniform authentication and service assurance are improved, but operation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The policy distribution device is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various operations including policy distribution, policy updates, policy queries, and coordination between different network elements. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate systems, thereby ensuring uniform authentication and service assurance while reducing overall operation and maintenance complexity.
3Productivity
If fine-grained service management is enabled, then user experience and resource allocation efficiency are improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing policy execution devices to make autonomous decisions based on locally stored policies and user information. Each PED can execute policies specific to its local context without requiring constant communication with the central PDC, thereby improving resource allocation efficiency while reducing information processing overhead through decentralized decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-distributing policies from the PDC to multiple PEDs before they are needed for execution. This advance distribution allows PEDs to have policies readily available in local memory, enabling immediate policy enforcement when users access the network without requiring real-time communication with the central policy decision device, thus reducing information processing overhead during actual service delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) user policy distribution device and method are described. One embodiment of such a device comprises: a first receiving module, configured to receive a WLAN user policy actively sent by an upstream policy decision distribution device; and a first forwarding module, configured to forward the WLAN user policy to a WLAN user policy execution device. Through the technical solution provided in one embodiment of such a device, the absence of a necessary policy control management mechanism in the existing WLAN is solved, thereby implementing the WLAN user policy control effectively.