CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT VIRTUALIZATION

• US 20180248791A1
• Filed: 05/01/2018
• Published: 08/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: KRAMER, Glen, ILYADIS, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US15/968,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20180248791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 involving identification of individual flows

Abstract

A system is described that improves network function virtualization. The system facilitates an access point, such as a customer premises equipment, to utilize functionality of another access point when providing communication service to a device at a customer premises. The other access point may be a customer premises equipment at a neighboring premises. The access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case the access point is in a power saving state. Alternatively or in addition, the access point may use the other neighboring access point based on bandwidth availability, processing capability, memory capacity, or other attributes, or a combination thereof of the neighboring access point. In yet another example, the access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case of a failure in connection between the access point and a network provider.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A first device on a first local area network, the first device comprising:

a communication interface; and

at least one processor configured to perform at least one of;

provide at least one of processing or memory to a second device on a second local area network, based at least in part on a network management policy;

or

provide a virtual function to the second device using the communication interface based at least in part on the network management policy.

22. The first device of claim 21, wherein when the at least one processor is configured to provide the virtual function, the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive at least part of a network flow directed to, or intended for, the second device;

perform the virtual function with respect to the at least part of the network flow; and

after performing the virtual function, provide the at least part of the network flow to the second device.

23. The first device of claim 22, wherein the at least part of the network flow is received from at least one of a network switch or the second device.

24. The first device of claim 22, wherein the at least part of the network flow provided to the second device bypasses a remote server.

25. The first device of claim 21, wherein the network management policy is accessible to the first device and the second device.

26. The first device of claim 21, wherein the network management policy is provided by a network service provider.

27. The first device of claim 26, wherein the network service provider comprises at least one of a cable or satellite television service provider, a telephony service provider, or an Internet service provider.

28. The first device of claim 21, wherein the first device includes at least one of a SIM card interface or a SIM card.

29. The first device of claim 21, wherein the network management policy is stored in the first device and the first device is associated with a network service provider.

30. The first device of claim 21, wherein the network management policy assigns the virtual function to the first device based at least in part on a geographic location associated with at least one of the first device or the virtual function.

31. The first device of claim 21, further comprising another communication interface, that utilizes a different communication standard than the communication interface wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide another virtual function to a third device using the other communication interface based at least in part on the network management policy.

32. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first device on a first local area network, at least part of a network flow directed to, or intended for, a second device on a second local area network;

performing, based at least in part on a network management policy, a virtual function with respect to the at least part of the network flow; and

after performing the virtual function, providing the at least part of the network flow to the second device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least part of the network flow is received via a first communication interface and the at least part of the network flow is provided to the second device via a second communication interface that implements a different communication standard than the first communication interface.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least part of the network flow provided to the second device bypasses a remote server.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the network management policy is accessible to the first device and the second device.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the network management policy is provided by a network service provider.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the network service provider comprises at least one of a cable or satellite television service provider, a telephony service provider, or an Internet service provider.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the first device includes at least one of a SIM card interface or a SIM card.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the network management policy assigns the virtual function to the first device based at least in part on a geographic location associated with at least one of the first device or the virtual function.

40. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising code that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations, the code comprising:

code to provide, by a first device on a first local area network, at least one of processing or memory to a second device on a second local area network, based at least in part on a network management policy.