The Unison™ platform of optimized IP services is installed in the network's core data path. It monitors all traffic and enables operators to offer multiple data services while simplifying and consolidating the mobile network infrastructure. One-time processing of data packets ensures constant latency, no matter how many services are added.
Solving the Point Product Problem
While striving to enhance network performance, operators continually add new IP and data services as a way to fuel growth and differentiation in an extremely competitive market. However, adding more services also makes a network more complex and — when new services consist of point products — more redundant and less efficient. As a result, network performance can suffer, degrading subscribers' online experience and creating customer dissatisfaction. Adding more services also tends to increase capital expenditures and operating expenses (CAPEX and OPEX), leading to higher total cost of ownership.
Figure 1. The Unison Multi-Service Platform resides in the core data path of the operator's network.
Operators can resolve this difficult balancing act with Bytemobile's Unison solution, which avoids the point product problem by offering multiple IP services from a single platform. The Unison Multi-Service Architecture also reduces computational redundancy by efficiently consolidating IP services and integrating data functions, such as optimization, content adaptation, and content filtering (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Unison multi-service deployment.
Unison technology makes core IP services (such as TCP and protocol handling), subscriber services (such as Unison Web Fidelity™ Service), and management services (such as configuration, subscriber, session, and system management) available through a single data services platform.
As shown in Figure 2, the Unison data services platform consolidates multiple processing functions at the front end of the data path. Only subscriber traffic that requires service treatment is passed up the services hierarchy for processing.
Addressing Latency and Inefficiency
The Unison solution addresses the problems of latency and inefficiency in the operator's network. "For example, to process data packets, the typical IP service must perform a series of basic processing functions, which typically include packet inspection, flow characterization, service selection, load balancing, and TCP processing." Some services may also need to access a subscriber database.
Unfortunately, each processing function adds latency to the network. And if each function must be repeated for every service that an operator offers, then problems quickly arise (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Latency effects as a result of IP service additions.
Computational redundancies, operational inefficiencies and latencies are all compounded until a latency threshold is reached. After that, new services can no longer be deployed efficiently.
In contrast, the Unison solution results in a streamlined network with constant, minimal latency, easier service deployment and more efficient operations. Because the Unison data services platform classifies packets only once, operators can add services at any time without increasing overall network latency.
Unison Benefits Summary
Bytemobile's Unison solution benefits operators in four key ways:
- Reduces operating expenses (OPEX). As a multi-service solution, the Unison platform offers multiple IP and data services from a single platform. Consolidating services makes more efficient use of hardware and network resources and helps operators reduce OPEX.
- Enables market-leading data services. These include Optimization Services Node (OSN) Monaco™ Edition for both handset and laptop traffic, Web Fidelity Service for content adaptation, Media Fidelity™ Service for multimedia optimization, ACCESS Mobile™ Content Filtering Service, and WAP Gateway Service.
- Ensures a more usable, subscriber-friendly network. With Unison technology, operators can add services without increasing network latency. Each service processes only the required data — not the entire data stream, as in competitive solutions. The result is a more positive user experience.
- Enables accelerated service deployment and delivery. The Unison modular software approach enables operators to deploy new services quickly and easily. In many cases, they can add a service by simply installing a software package on the Unison cluster.
