BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communications networks and more particularly to communications networks that include mobile devices.

Description of Related Art

Communications networks must increasingly accommodate mobile devices whose changing coordinates may frustrate the goals of static network policies for managing system resources. Thus, there is a need for communications networks where system resources and policies can dynamically adapt to mobile devices.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments provide systems and methods that dynamically adapt network policies for mobile devices by accessing context-based values that may include position or velocity to allocate or restrict capabilities on the mobile devices or within the network.

One embodiment relates to a method of providing a method of selecting a first network policy for a mobile device that operates as an endpoint in a communications network. The method includes storing network policy values for the mobile device in a storage system, where the network policy values relating context-based values for the mobile device to operational features for the mobile device. The method further includes receiving first context-based values for the mobile device from at least one context-based data source. The method further includes using the first context-based values to select the first network policy for the mobile device from the stored network policy values, where the first network policy specifies first operational features for the mobile device. The method further includes sending endpoint configuration values for the first network policy to an endpoint policy management unit to enforce the first network policy at the mobile device.

The context-based values for the mobile device may include at least one of position or velocity for the mobile device. The operational features for the mobile device may include at least one enabled component or disabled component at the mobile device. The at least one context-based data source may include a position or velocity sensor for the mobile device.

Selecting the first network policy may include accessing a dynamic policy function that relates the first context-based values to an enablement or disablement status for one or more hardware or software elements at the mobile device.

The endpoint policy management unit may send instructions corresponding to the first network policy to a mobile-device control unit that controls software and hardware operations at the mobile device.

The context-based values for the mobile device may include at least one performance characteristic within the mobile device or within network infrastructure that supports operations of the mobile device in the communications network.

The operational features for the mobile device may include at least one enabled function or disabled function within the mobile device or within network infrastructure that supports operations of the mobile device in the communications network.

The at least one context-based data source may include at least one performance measurement device within the mobile device or within network infrastructure that supports operations of the mobile device in the communications network.

The operational features for the mobile device may include an enablement or disablement for at least one function of network infrastructure that supports operations of the mobile device in the communications network, and the method may further include: sending network-infrastructure configuration values for the first network policy to a network infrastructure policy management unit to enforce the first network policy at the network infrastructure. Additionally, the network-infrastructure policy-management unit may send instructions corresponding to the first network policy to a network control unit that controls software and hardware operations at the network infrastructure.

Another embodiment relates to a method of implementing a network policy for a mobile device that operates as an endpoint in a communications network. The method includes receiving context-based values for the mobile device from at least one context-based data source. The method further includes sending the context-based values to a dynamic policy unit that determines network policies related to the mobile device from the context-based values. The method further includes receiving values for a network policy from the dynamic policy unit. The method further includes sending instructions to a control unit that enforces the network policy for at least a portion of the communications network.

The method may further include logging events including the context-based values and the network policy values in a storage system. The method may further include autonomously revising the network policy on the mobile device or within the network infrastructure based on the received context-based values.

The at least one context-based data source may be included in the mobile device, and the control unit may be a mobile-device control unit that controls at least some hardware or software of the mobile device.

The at least one context-based data source may be included in network infrastructure that supports operations of the mobile device in the communications network, and the control unit may be a network infrastructure control unit that controls at least some hardware or software of the network infrastructure.

Another embodiment relates to a computer-readable medium that stores (e.g., tangibly embodies) a computer program for carrying out the any one of the above-described methods with a computer. At least some values for the results of the method can be saved for later use in a computer-readable medium, including memory units and storage devices.

Another embodiment relates to an apparatus for carrying out any one of the above-described methods, where the apparatus includes a computer for executing instructions related to the method. For example, the computer may include a processor for executing at least some of the instructions. Additionally or alternatively the computer may include circuitry or other specialized hardware for executing at least some of the instructions. In some operational settings, the apparatus may be configured as a system that includes one or more units, each of which is configured to carry out some aspects of the method either in software, in hardware or in some combination thereof.

For example, another embodiment relates to an apparatus for selecting a first network policy for a mobile device that operates as an endpoint in a communications network, the apparatus comprising at least one computer to perform operations for a policy-storage module, a value-receiving module, a policy-selection module, and a value-sending module. The policy-storage module stores network policy values for the mobile device in a storage system, the network policy values relating context-based values for the mobile device to operational features for the mobile device. The value-receiving module receives first context-based values for the mobile device from at least one context-based data source. The policy-selection module uses the first context-based values to select the first network policy for the mobile device from the stored network policy values, the first network policy specifying first operational features for the mobile device. The value-sending module that sends endpoint values for the first network policy to an endpoint policy management unit to enforce the first network policy at the mobile device.

Another embodiment relates to an apparatus for implementing a network policy for a mobile device that operates as an endpoint in a communications network, the apparatus comprising at least one computer to perform operations for a data-retrieval module, and a dynamic-policy-enforcement module. The data-retrieval module receives context-based values for the mobile device from at least one context-based data source and sends the context-based values to a dynamic policy unit that determines network policies related to the mobile device from the context-based values. The dynamic-policy-enforcement module receives values for a network policy from the dynamic policy unit and sends instructions to a control unit that enforces the network policy for at least a portion of the communications network. The apparatus may further include an event-logging module that logs events including the context-based values and the network policy values in a storage system or an autonomous-configuration module that autonomously revises the network policy based on the received context-based values.

In these ways, aspects of the disclosed embodiments enable communications networks where system resources and policies can dynamically adapt to mobile devices.

