Redirecting a Client Device from a First Gateway to a Second Gateway for Accessing a Network Node Function

• US 20160301762A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Strijkers, Rudolf, Norp, Antonius
• Granted Patent: US 10,951,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents

Abstract

The present invention enables a network operator to select a gateway that provides desirable operational parameters to access a network node function in a network node requested by a client. A network service provider detects what service a client device is requesting or using and selects a gateway (e.g. PDN-GW) to deliver the service. The client device is signaled to make a new connection to the network using the selected gateway, e.g. by connecting to the APN associated with the PDN-GW that delivers the service.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting a client device from a first gateway to a second gateway for accessing a network node function remote from the client device, wherein the client device is communicatively connected to the first gateway, wherein the client device is communicatively connectable to the second gateway and wherein the second gateway is communicatively connectable to the network node function, the method comprising:

intercepting a data signal transmitted from the client device via the first gateway, wherein the data signal comprises data for using the network node function;

analyzing the data to determine the network node function and obtain an analysis result comprising an indication of the network node function;

selecting a reference to the second gateway based on the analysis result and generating configuration data comprising the reference;

transmitting the configuration data to the client device to configure the client device to transmit further data for using the network node function via the second gateway.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises one or more of:

determining of a network layer protocol;

determining of an application layer protocol; and

a deep packet inspection wherein binary patterns in the data are compared with predefined binary patterns associated with the network node function.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting is further based on one or more properties of the client device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the intercepting and analyzing are performed by a service detection function (6);

the selecting is performed by a service gateway selection function; and

the transmitting of the configuration data to the client device is performed by a service redirection function,

and wherein the service detection function, the service gateway selection function and the service redirection function are computer implemented software functions in a single network node or in one or more physically separated and communicatively connected network nodes.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the analysis result to a service placement function, wherein the service placement function is a computer implemented software function in a first network node of a provider of the network node function; and

enabling access to the network node function based on the analysis result by the service placement function.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the enabling of the access comprises transmitting the reference from the service placement function to a service gateway selection function.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the enabling of the access comprises loading and/or executing of the network node function on a second network node by the service placement function.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second gateway is a packet data network gateway in a mobile network and the reference is an access point name;

or

the second gateway is an access point in a wireless local network and the reference is a service set identifier.

9. A service detection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for the intercepting and the analyzing in the method according to claim 1.

10. A service gateway selection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for the selecting in the method according to claim 1.

11. A service redirection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for the transmitting of the configuration data to the client device in the method according to claim 1.

12. A service placement software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for the enabling of the access to the network node function in the method according to claim 1.

13. A client device that is communicatively connectable to a first gateway and communicatively connectable to a second gateway for accessing a network node function remote from the client device via the second gateway, wherein the client device is configured to:

transmit a data signal via the first gateway, the data signal comprising data for using the network node function; and

in response, receive configuration data and transmit further data for using the network node function via the second gateway,

wherein the configuration data is generated and transmitted to the client device according to the method of claim 1.