METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR MANAGING CLIENT DEVICES USING A VIRTUAL ANCHOR MANAGER

• US 20180254920A1
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: SHAW, VENSON, DOWLATKHAH, SANGAR
• Granted Patent: US 10,469,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/38 Telephone uniform resource identifier [URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments of a virtual anchor manager continuously connecting to a control plane of a wireless communication network. Further embodiments include receiving control information across the control plane indicating that client data is to be received on the user plane of the wireless communication network for a client device. Additional embodiments include accessing a first protocol stack via a network node according to the control information. Also, embodiments include receiving the client data for the client device over the user plane using the first protocol stack. The client device includes a thin client function. Embodiments include providing the client data for the client device over a premises communication network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

continuously connecting to a control plane of a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless communication network includes equipment operating in at least one of the control plane and a user plane;

receiving control information across the control plane indicating that client data is to be received on the user plane of the wireless communication network for a client device;

accessing a first protocol stack via a network node according to the control information;

receiving the client data for the client device over the user plane using the first protocol stack, wherein the client device includes a thin client function; and

providing the client data for the client device over a premises communication network.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the client device and wherein the receiving of the client data comprises receiving of the client data according to the IP address.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise determining a unique identifier for the client device on the premises communication network according to the IP address.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving services data from the client device;

identifying a second protocol stack and a target network services node according to the services data; and

sending the services data to the target network services node using the second protocol stack according to the services data.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise sending the client device an awake signal, wherein in response to receiving the awake signal the client device is placed from an idle state to an active state allowing the client device to receive the client data, wherein idle state consumes a lower level of power than the active state.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving client instructions from a control device, wherein the client instructions include an IP address for the client device; and

sending the client instructions to client device in response to determining the client device according to the IP address.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises one of a cellular network, WiFi network, and Bluetooth network.

8. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

operating in an idle state, wherein the idle state consumes a lower level of power than an active state;

operating in the active state in response to receiving an awake signal from a virtual anchor management node over a premises communication network, wherein the virtual anchor management node obtains client data over a wireless communication network that includes equipment operating in at least one of a control plane and a user plane, and wherein the virtual anchor management node is continuously connecting to the control plane of the wireless communication network, wherein the wireless communication network includes equipment operating in at least one of the control plane and the user plane;

receiving the client data from the virtual anchor management node over the premises communication network;

accessing service information according to the client data from a device; and

sending the service information to the virtual anchor management node over the premises communication network.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein processing system includes a thin client.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the virtual anchor management node selects a first protocol stack according to the service information, and wherein the virtual anchor management node sends the service information to a target network services node using the first protocol stack.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the premises communication network does not support Internet Protocol (IP).

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the processing system is identified by a unique identifier on the premises communication network.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving client instructions from the virtual anchor management node over the premises communication network; and

configuring a device according to the client instructions.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the virtual anchor management node selects a second protocol stack according to the client instructions.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the virtual anchor management node receives the client instructions from a control device using the second protocol stack.

16. A method, comprising:

continuously connecting, by a processing system including a processor, to a control plane of a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless communication network includes equipment operating in at least one of the control plane and a user plane;

receiving, by the processing system, client instructions from a control device, wherein the client instructions include IP address for a client device;

identifying, by the processing system, a unique identifier for the client device according to the IP address; and

sending, by the processing system, the client instructions to the client device according to the unique identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising sending, by the processing system, the client device an awake signal, wherein in response to receiving the awake signal the client device is placed from an idle state to an active state allowing the client device to receive the client instructions, wherein the idle state consumes a lower level of power than the active state.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

receiving, by the processing system, control information across the control plane indicating that client data is to be received on the user plane of the wireless communication network for the client device;

accessing, by the processing system, a first protocol stack via a network node according to the control information;

receiving, by the processing system, the client data for the client device over the user plane using the first protocol stack, wherein the client device includes a thin client function; and

providing, by the processing system, the client data for the client device over a premises communication network.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the client device and wherein the receiving of the client data comprises receiving of the client data according to the IP address.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising determining the unique identifier for the client device on the premises communication network according to the IP address.