System and method of providing advanced services in a virtual CPE deployment
Described herein are techniques for providing a virtual Wi-Fi service using internet protocol (IP) connections between a central Wi-Fi access gateway (WAG) and one or more radio nodes. The WAG establishes an IP connection with a first radio node across a network, where the first radio node is configured to connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the first radio node. The WAG receives network traffic over the IP connection, where the network traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the first radio node. The WAG provides a virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device based on the network traffic such that the Wi-Fi device connects to the virtual Wi-Fi service as if the virtual Wi-Fi service is a physical device locally connected to the first radio node.
1. A computerized method for providing a virtual Wi-Fi service using internet protocol (IP) connections between a central Wi-Fi access gateway and one or more radio nodes, wherein the radio nodes and the Wi-Fi access gateway are connected across a network, and the Wi-Fi access gateway provides the virtual Wi-Fi service to Wi-Fi devices connected to the radio nodes, comprising:
establishing, by a Wi-Fi access gateway, an IP connection with a first radio node across a network, wherein the first radio node is configured to connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the first radio node;
receiving, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, network traffic over the IP connection, wherein the network traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the first radio node; and
providing, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, a virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device based on the network traffic such that the Wi-Fi device connects to the virtual Wi-Fi service as if the virtual Wi-Fi service is a physical device locally connected to the first radio node.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with the Wi-Fi access gateway so that the virtual Wi-Fi service can be subscribed to by customers; and
receiving, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, second data indicative of a customer account associated with the Wi-Fi device subscribing to the virtual Wi-Fi service.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with the Wi-Fi access gateway comprises one or more registration criteria selected from the group consisting of:
a name of the virtual Wi-Fi service;
a media access control (MAC) address for a second radio node, wherein a physical device associated with the virtual Wi-Fi service is connected to the second radio node;
an IP address for the physical device; and
a MAC address for the physical device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device comprises:
determining, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, a virtual IP address associated with the IP address for the physical device;
determining, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, a virtual MAC address associated with the MAC address for the physical device; and
providing, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both to the Wi-Fi device.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, a data packet from the Wi-Fi device, wherein the data packet is addressed to the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both; and
transmitting, by the Wi-Fi access gateway, the data packet to the physical device based on the IP address, the MAC address, or both.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network traffic is Layer 2 traffic.
7. A computing system for providing a virtual Wi-Fi service using internet protocol (IP) connections between a central Wi-Fi access gateway and one or more radio nodes, wherein the radio nodes and the Wi-Fi access gateway are connected across a network, and the Wi-Fi access gateway provides the virtual Wi-Fi service to Wi-Fi devices connected to the radio nodes, wherein the Wi-Fi access gateway comprises a processor configured to run a module stored in memory that is configured to cause the processor to:
establish an IP connection with a first radio node across a network, wherein the first radio node is configured to connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the first radio node;
receive network traffic over the IP connection, wherein the network traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the first radio node; and
provide a virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device based on the network traffic such that the Wi-Fi device connects to the virtual Wi-Fi service as if the virtual Wi-Fi service is a physical device locally connected to the first radio node.
8. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein the module is further configured to cause the processor to:
receive first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with the Wi-Fi access gateway so that the virtual Wi-Fi service can be subscribed to by customers; and
receive second data indicative of a customer account associated with the Wi-Fi device subscribing to the virtual Wi-Fi service.
9. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with the Wi-Fi access gateway comprises one or more registration criteria selected from the group consisting of:
a name of the virtual Wi-Fi service;
a media access control (MAC) address for a second radio node, wherein a physical device associated with the virtual Wi-Fi service is connected to the second radio node;
an IP address for the physical device; and
a MAC address for the physical device.
10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the module is further configured to cause the processor to:
determine a virtual IP address associated with the IP address for the physical device;
determine a virtual MAC address associated with the MAC address for the physical device; and
provide the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both to the Wi-Fi device.
11. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the module is further configured to cause the processor to:
receive a data packet from the Wi-Fi device, wherein the data packet is addressed to the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both; and
transmit the data packet to the physical device based on the IP address, the MAC address, or both.
12. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein the network traffic is Layer 2 traffic.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions operable to cause an apparatus to:
establish an IP connection with a first radio node across a network, wherein the first radio node is configured to connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the first radio node;
receive network traffic over the IP connection, wherein the network traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the first radio node; and
provide a virtual Wi-Fi service through the network to the Wi-Fi device based on the network traffic such that the Wi-Fi device connects to the virtual Wi-Fi service as if the virtual Wi-Fi service is a physical device locally connected to the first radio node.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:
receive first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with a Wi-Fi access gateway so that the virtual Wi-Fi service can be subscribed to by customers; and
receive second data indicative of a customer account associated with the Wi-Fi device subscribing to the virtual Wi-Fi service.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the first data indicative of the virtual Wi-Fi service registering with the Wi-Fi access gateway comprises one or more registration criteria selected from the group consisting of:
a name of the virtual Wi-Fi service;
a media access control (MAC) address for a second radio node, wherein a physical device associated with the virtual Wi-Fi service is connected to the second radio node;
an IP address for the physical device; and
a MAC address for the physical device.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the executable instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to::
determine a virtual IP address associated with the IP address for the physical device;
determine a virtual MAC address associated with the MAC address for the physical device; and
provide the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both to the Wi-Fi device.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the executable instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:
receive a data packet from the Wi-Fi device, wherein the data packet is addressed to the virtual IP address, the virtual MAC address, or both; and
transmit the data packet to the physical device based on the IP address, the MAC address, or both.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the network traffic is Layer 2 traffic.