# US 12,113,711 B2 · Application-based traffic control in multipath networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,711 B2 - Document ID: US12113711B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/669,513 - Filed: 2022-02-11 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-27 - Assignees: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Applicants: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Inventors: Steve Morin; Roger Bainbridge; Weerapong Kritpiphat; John Fischer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113711B2 ## CPC - H04L 47/193: at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related - H04L 67/1023: based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04L 45/306: {Route determination based on the nature of the carried application} - H04L 47/62: characterised by scheduling criteria - H04L 69/22: Parsing or analysis of headers - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Various example embodiments for supporting application-based traffic control in a multipath network are presented herein. Various example embodiments for supporting application-based traffic control in a multipath network may be configured to support application-based traffic steering, application-based traffic blocking, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof. Various example embodiments for supporting application-based traffic control in a multipath network may be configured to support application-based traffic control in various types of multipath networks, such as multipath networks combining wireline and wireless access technologies between an end-user customer premises and a network gateway (e.g., between a hybrid-access customer premises equipment (HCPE) and a hybrid-access gateway (HAG), in a hybrid-access communication network (e.g., based on a Broadband Forum TR-348 specification), that are in communication based on a multipath communication capability), multipath networks combining multiple wireless access technologies (e.g., cellular, WiFi, or the like) between an end user mobile device and a network gateway, or the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: support, by a hybrid access device, establishment of a first transport layer subflow for a transport layer flow of a multipath connection; determine, by the hybrid access device based on the first transport layer subflow, an application indication of traffic of the transport layer flow; detect, by the hybrid access device, a request for establishment of a second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection; and determine, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, whether to establish the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application indication includes at least one of an indication of an application of the traffic of the transport layer flow or an indication of an application type of the traffic of the transport layer flow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request for establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection is received from a second hybrid access device associated with the multipath connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: permit, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: prevent, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transport layer subflow is associated with a wireline network and the second transport layer subflow is associated with a wireless network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transport layer subflow is associated with a wireless network and the second transport layer subflow is associated with a wireline network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hybrid access device is a hybrid access gateway or a hybrid access customer premises equipment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multipath connection comprises a Multipath-Transmission Control Protocol (MP-TCP) connection. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: supporting, by a hybrid access device, establishment of a first transport layer subflow for a transport layer flow of a multipath connection; determining, by the hybrid access device based on the first transport layer subflow, an application indication of traffic of the transport layer flow; detecting, by the hybrid access device, a request for establishment of a second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection; and determining, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, whether to establish the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the application indication includes at least one of an indication of an application of the traffic of the transport layer flow or an indication of an application type of the traffic of the transport layer flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the request for establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection is received from a second hybrid access device associated with the multipath connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: permitting, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: preventing, by the hybrid access device based on the application indication, establishment of the second transport layer subflow for the transport layer flow of the multipath connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first transport layer subflow is associated with a wireline network and the second transport layer subflow is associated with a wireless network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first transport layer subflow is associated with a wireless network and the second transport layer subflow is associated with a wireline network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the hybrid access device is a hybrid access gateway or a hybrid access customer premises equipment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the multipath connection comprises a Multipath-Transmission Control Protocol (MP-TCP) connection.