{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853937","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853937","title":"Internal packet steering within a wireless access gateway","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-10-31T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04W","H04W"],"num_claims":23,"abstract":"In general, techniques are described for steering data traffic for a subscriber session from a network interface of a wireless access gateway to an anchoring one of a plurality of forwarding units of the wireless access gateway using a layer 2 (L2) address of the data traffic. For example, a wireless access gateway for a wireless local area network (WLAN) access network is described as having a decentralized data plane that includes multiple forwarding units for implementing subscriber sessions. Each forwarding unit may present a network interface for sending and receiving network packets and includes packet processing capabilities to enable subscriber data packet processing to perform the functionality of the wireless access gateway. The techniques enable steering data traffic for a given subscriber session to a particular one of the forwarding units of the wireless access gateway using an L2 address of the data traffic."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Internal Packet Steering Within a Wireless Access Gateway patent presents a solution for optimizing data traffic flow in wireless access networks. The core innovation lies in steering data traffic for a subscriber session from a network interface to an anchoring forwarding unit using the Layer 2 (L2) address of the data traffic. This addresses the problem of network congestion and bottlenecks often found in traditional wireless access gateway (WAG) architectures.\n\nThe technical approach involves a decentralized data plane within the WAG, comprising multiple forwarding units. Each unit is equipped with packet processing capabilities to handle subscriber data, effectively distributing the processing load. Traffic is then intelligently steered to these units based on the L2 address, ensuring efficient data delivery.\n\nThe business value of this innovation is significant. By distributing the processing load, the system enhances scalability and reduces latency, leading to a better user experience. This is particularly crucial in environments with a high density of connected devices. Furthermore, the technology allows for more efficient utilization of network resources, reducing operational costs. The market opportunity is vast, spanning various WLAN environments, including homes, offices, and public hotspots. This technology also has potential applications in mobile edge computing, enabling low-latency services and applications.","layman_explanation":"The Internal Packet Steering Within a Wireless Access Gateway patent addresses the growing problem of network congestion in wireless environments. As more devices connect to Wi-Fi, the network can become overloaded, leading to slower speeds and a frustrating user experience. Existing solutions often struggle to handle the increasing demand, resulting in bottlenecks and performance degradation.\n\nThis patent offers a solution by distributing the network load across multiple 'lanes' within the wireless access point. Instead of all data flowing through a single processing point, the system intelligently directs traffic to different processing units based on the destination of the data. Think of it like a highway with multiple lanes, where each lane is optimized for a specific type of traffic. This prevents congestion and ensures that data reaches its destination quickly and efficiently.\n\nThis innovation matters because it can significantly improve the performance of wireless networks, particularly in high-density environments such as offices, schools, and public hotspots. By reducing congestion and improving speed, it can enhance the user experience and enable new applications that require low latency and high bandwidth. The competitive advantage lies in its ability to handle increasing traffic loads without requiring expensive hardware upgrades. This can translate into cost savings and a better return on investment for businesses and organizations.\n\nLooking ahead, this technology has the potential to be integrated into a wide range of wireless devices and infrastructure. As the demand for wireless connectivity continues to grow, innovations like this will be essential for ensuring a seamless and reliable user experience. The market adoption timeline will depend on factors such as the availability of compatible hardware and the willingness of businesses and organizations to invest in new networking technologies.","technical_analysis":"The Internal Packet Steering Within a Wireless Access Gateway patent introduces a decentralized data plane architecture within a wireless access gateway (WAG). The core of the system comprises multiple forwarding units, each acting as an independent processing entity. These forwarding units are interconnected and responsible for handling a subset of subscriber sessions. The key technical aspect is the use of Layer 2 (L2) addresses for steering data traffic.\n\nUpon receiving a data packet, the WAG performs an L2 address lookup to determine the appropriate forwarding unit for that particular subscriber session. This lookup can be implemented using a variety of techniques, such as hash tables or content-addressable memory (CAM). The selected forwarding unit then processes the packet, performing tasks such as NAT, firewalling, and quality of service (QoS) enforcement.\n\nThe implementation details involve careful consideration of load balancing and fault tolerance. Load balancing ensures that traffic is evenly distributed across the forwarding units, preventing any single unit from becoming overloaded. Fault tolerance mechanisms, such as redundancy and failover, ensure that the system remains operational even if one or more forwarding units fail.\n\nIntegration with existing network infrastructure is also a critical aspect. The WAG must be able to seamlessly integrate with existing routers, switches, and other network devices. This requires adherence to standard networking protocols and interfaces. The performance characteristics of the system are influenced by factors such as the processing power of the forwarding units, the bandwidth of the interconnections, and the efficiency of the L2 address lookup mechanism. Code-level implications involve optimizing the packet processing pipeline and minimizing latency.","business_analysis":"The Internal Packet Steering Within a Wireless Access Gateway patent presents a compelling business opportunity in the rapidly growing market for wireless networking solutions. The increasing demand for bandwidth and low-latency connectivity is driving the need for more efficient and scalable WAG architectures.\n\nThe market opportunity size is significant, encompassing a wide range of industries and applications. This includes residential broadband, enterprise WLAN, public hotspots, and mobile edge computing. The competitive advantages of this technology lie in its decentralized architecture, which offers improved scalability, reduced latency, and enhanced fault tolerance.\n\nThe revenue potential is substantial. WAG vendors can offer this technology as a premium feature, commanding higher prices and increasing market share. Service providers can leverage this technology to deliver enhanced services, such as low-latency gaming and augmented reality, attracting new subscribers and increasing revenue per user.\n\nPotential business models include hardware sales, software licensing, and managed services. Strategic positioning involves targeting specific market segments, such as enterprises with high-density WLAN deployments or service providers looking to deploy mobile edge computing infrastructure.\n\nROI projections are favorable, with the potential for significant cost savings through improved network efficiency and reduced downtime. The technology also offers the potential for new revenue streams through enhanced services and applications.","faqs":null,"topics":["wireless access gateway","packet steering","WLAN","L2 address","decentralized data plane","internal","packet","steering"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Internal Packet Steering - Wireless Gateway Optimization","description":"Optimize wireless networks with Internal Packet Steering. Patent US-9853937 analysis, claims, and technical details. Improve performance and scalability.","keywords":["wireless access gateway","packet steering","WLAN","L2 address","decentralized data plane","network optimization","patent US-9853937"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853937","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853937","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Internal packet steering within a wireless access gateway\" (US-9853937). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853937","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853937","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853937","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T10:10:36.516Z"}