Redirecting a client device from a first gateway to a second gateway for accessing a network node function
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.
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, wherein the second gateway is communicatively connectable to the network node function and wherein each of the first gateway and the second gateway are located in a mobile core network, the method comprising:
detecting a data signal requesting access to a network node function transmitted from the client device via the first gateway;
analyzing the data signal to determine the network node function and a cell location of the client device and obtain an analysis result comprising an indication of the network node function and the cell location of the client device;
enabling access to the network node function based on the analysis result, wherein the enabling of the access comprises sending a request for instantiation 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 use 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 detecting and analyzing are performed by a service detection function;
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.
6. The method according to claim 5 , comprising transmitting the reference from the service placement function to a service gateway selection function.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second gateway is a packet data network gateway and the reference is an access point name.
8. A computer program product, implemented on a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product configured for:
a service detection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for the detecting and the analyzing in the method according to claim 1 ;
a service gateway selection software function, which, when being executed by the processor, is operative for the selecting in the method according to claim 1 ;
a service redirection software function, which, when being executed by the processor, is operative for the transmitting of the configuration data to the client device in the method according to claim 1 ; and
a service placement software function, which, when being executed by the processor, is operative for instantiation of the network node function in the method according to claim 1 .
9. A system for redirecting a client device from a first gateway in a core network to a second gateway in the core network 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 system comprising computer implemented software functions in a single network node or in one or more physically separated and communicatively connected network nodes, wherein:
a service detection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for (i) detecting a data signal requesting access to a network node function transmitted from the client device via the first gateway and (ii) analyzing the data signal to determine the network node function and a cell location of the client device and obtain an analysis result comprising an indication of the network node function and the cell location of the client device;
a service placement function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for enabling access to the network node function based on the analysis result, wherein the enabling of the access comprises sending a request for instantiation of the network node function;
a service gateway selection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for selecting a reference to the second gateway based on the analysis result and generating configuration data comprising the reference;
a service redirection software function, which, when being executed by a processor, is operative for transmitting the configuration data to the client device to configure the client device to use the network node function via the second gateway.