US 12,015,529 B1Granted

Private mobile network having network edges deployed across multiple sites

AssigneeHighway9 Networks, Inc.

InventorsSachin Thakkar, Debashis Basak, Serge Maskalik, Allwyn Sequeira

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Abstract

A private mobile network supports information technology (IT) needs of an organization of any type and size. The private mobile network may be customized and scaled to meet the changing IT needs of the organization. It provides a common virtual network fabric by which all of the disparate networks of the organization can be bridged together and across multiple locations, and may be integrated with existing IT software and hardware of the organization, even proprietary software and hardware. The private mobile network may be accessed by devices through existing access mechanisms and through a radio access network. In addition, any device accessing the private mobile network is associated with a user identifier, such as an e-mail address assigned to the user by the organization, so that the user can be identified regardless of which device was used in accessing the private mobile network.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of deploying a private mobile network and authenticating devices into the private mobile network, the method comprising:

deploying, in response to a selection of a service made by a user through a multi-tenant cloud services portal, a first set of network functions onto a first virtual infrastructure at a first location that is selected by the user, the first set of network functions including a first user plane function (UPF) through which data networks are accessed and including a first session management function (SMF);
authenticating a first device at the first location into the private mobile network and retrieving a list of first data networks that the first device is permitted to access via the private mobile network;
establishing by the first SMF, a connection that is between the first device and one of the listed first data networks and that is through the first UPF;
deploying, in response to the selection of the service, a second set of network functions onto a second virtual infrastructure at a second location that is selected by the user, the second set of network functions including a second UPF through which data networks are accessed and including a second SMF;
authenticating a second device at the second location into the private mobile network and retrieving a list of second data networks that the second device is permitted to access via the private mobile network;
and
establishing by the second SMF, a connection that is between the second device and one of the listed second data networks and that is through the second UPF.

4 more elements

A computer system supporting a private mobile network, the computer system comprising:

a first hardware platform that is at a first location selected by a user, the first hardware platform being configured to use one or more first central processing units (CPUs) and first memory to execute first virtual infrastructure, wherein a first set of network functions is deployed onto the first virtual infrastructure in response to a selection of a service made by the user through a multi-tenant cloud services portal, the first set of network functions including a first user plane function (UPF) through which data networks are accessed and a first session management function (SMF), and wherein the first hardware platform is further configured to use the one or more first CPUs and the first memory to:
authenticate a first device at the first location into the private mobile network and retrieve a list of first data networks that the first device is permitted to access via the private mobile network;
and
establish by the first SMF, a connection that is between the first device and one of the listed first data networks and that is through the first UPF;
and
a second hardware platform that is at a second location selected by the user, the second hardware platform being configured to use one or more second CPUs and second memory to execute second virtual infrastructure, wherein a second set of network functions is deployed onto the second virtual infrastructure in response to the selection of the service, the second set of network functions including a second UPF through which data networks are accessed and a second SMF, and wherein the second hardware platform is further configured to use the one or more second CPUs and the second memory to:
authenticate a second device at the second location into the private mobile network and retrieve a list of second data networks that the second device is permitted to access via the private mobile network;
and
establish by the second SMF, a connection that is between the second device and one of the listed second data networks and that is through the second UPF.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.