Aggregated appliance in a mobile data network

摘要

A mobile data network includes a breakout appliance at the edge of the mobile data network and an appliance in the core network that includes multiple enclosures. Each appliance has defined interfaces and defined commands on each interface that allow performing all needed functions on the appliances without revealing details regarding the hardware and software used to implement the appliances. An aggregate appliance in the mobile data network defines high-level commands, which each have a corresponding set of steps that are performed when the high-level command is executed. Each step causes one or more of the defined commands to be executed on the breakout appliance and/or the appliance in the core network and/or one a related software entity. This aggregated appliance allows configuring and controlling the breakout appliance and the appliance in the core network in a way that is transparent to most existing components in the mobile data network.

主权项

1. A mobile data network that includes a plurality of basestations, each basestation communicating with a corresponding antenna that transmits and receives radio signals to and from user equipment, wherein the plurality of basestations are part of a radio access network that communicates with a core network in the mobile data network, the mobile data network comprising:
(A) a first appliance comprising:
first hardware;first software executing on the first hardware;a first interface for equipment external to the first appliance to interact with the first appliance, wherein the first interface hides details of the first hardware and the first software; anda first plurality of commands for the first interface; (B) a second appliance comprising:
second hardware;second software executing on the second hardware;a second interface for equipment external to the second appliance to interact with the second appliance, wherein the second interface hides details of the second hardware and the second software; anda second plurality of commands for the second interface; (C) an aggregated appliance mechanism executing on a first server computer system in the mobile data network, the aggregated appliance mechanism comprising:
a set of high-level commands;a set of steps performed when each high-level command is executed, wherein the set of steps for at least one of the high-level commands comprises:
at least one call to at least one of the first plurality of commands on the first interface on the first appliance; andat least one call to at least one of the second plurality of commands on the second interface on the second appliance.