Dynamic reclassification of client devices in a network

Abstract

One or more devices may store attribute information identifying multiple attributes associated with a client device that is associated with a particular classification; reclassify the client device based on the attribute information; and provide, based on reclassifying the client device, classification information to a network device to cause the network device to associate a particular policy set, of multiple policy sets, with the client device. The classification information may identify an updated classification of the client device. The updated classification may be different from the particular classification. The particular policy set may be based on the updated classification of the client device. The particular policy set may include an instruction used to process a data flow provided to or provided from the client device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method comprising:
 determining, by one or more devices of a network, one or more attributes of a client device that is associated with a particular classification; 
 determining, by the one or more devices, subscription information associated with the client device; 
 reclassifying, by the one or more devices, the client device based on the one or more attributes of the client device and based on the subscription information associated with the client device,
 the one or more attributes including at least one of a hardware profile, a software profile, a function, a geographic location, or a subscription profile; 
 
 determining, by the one or more devices, classification information based on reclassifying the client device; and 
 providing, by the one or more devices and to a network device of the network, the classification information to cause the network device to associate a particular policy set, of a plurality of policy sets, with the client device,
 the classification information identifying an updated classification of the client device, 
 the updated classification being different from the particular classification, 
 the particular policy set being based on the updated classification of the client device, and 
 the particular policy set including an instruction used to process a data flow provided to or provided from the client device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an update to a classification matrix used to reclassify the client device,
 where reclassifying the client device comprises:
 reclassifying the client device based on the one or more attributes of the client device, based on the subscription information associated with the client device, and based on receiving the update to the classification matrix. 
 
 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 ,
 where determining the subscription information comprises:
 receiving, from a subscription server, an update to the subscription information associated with the client device, and 
 
 where reclassifying the client device comprises:
 reclassifying the client device based on the one or more attributes of the client device and based on receiving the update to the subscription information. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the client device, updated attribute information that includes information identifying the one or more attributes of the client device,
 where reclassifying the client device comprises:
 reclassifying the client device based on the updated attribute information and based on the subscription information associated with the client device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , where the one or more attributes further include an internet protocol (IP) address of the client device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , where the instruction used to process the data flow causes the network device to provide the data flow with a particular network resource. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 ,
 where the classification information includes an identifier of the client device, and 
 where the network device associates the client device with the particular policy set based on the identifier of the client device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an acknowledgement from the network device after the network device associates the particular policy set with the client device; and 
 providing the acknowledgement to the client device to cause the client device to provide or receive the data flow. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , where the client device is a machine-to-machine (M2M) device that includes at least one of a sensor or an application. 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 one or more devices to:
 determine a plurality of attributes of a client device that is associated with a particular classification; 
 determine subscription information associated with the client device; 
 reclassify the client device based on the plurality of attributes of the client device and based on the subscription information associated with the client device,
 the plurality of attributes including at least one of a hardware profile, a software profile, a function, a geographic location, or a subscription profile; 
 
 determine classification information based on reclassifying the client device; and 
 provide, to a network device of a network, the classification information to cause the network device to associate a particular policy set, of a plurality of policy sets, with the client device,
 the classification information identifying an updated classification of the client device, 
 the updated classification being different than the particular classification, 
 the particular policy set being based on the updated classification of the client device, and 
 the particular policy set including an instruction used to process a data flow provided to or provided from the client device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 ,
 where the one or more devices are further to:
 receive an update to a classification matrix used to reclassify the client device, and 
 
 where, when reclassifying the client device, the one or more devices are to:
 reclassify the client device based on the plurality of attributes of the client device, based on the subscription information associated with the client device, and based on receiving the update to the classification matrix. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 ,
 where, when determining the subscription information, the one or more devices are to:
 receive an update to the subscription information associated with the client device, and 
 
 where, when reclassifying the client device, the one or more devices are to:
 reclassify the client device based on the one or more attributes of the client device and based on receiving the update to the subscription information. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 ,
 where the one or more devices are further to:
 receive updated attribute information that includes information identifying the plurality of attributes of the client device, and 
 
 where, when reclassifying the client device, the one or more devices are to:
 reclassify the client device based on the updated attribute information and based on the subscription information associated with the client device. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , where the plurality of attributes further include an internet protocol (IP) address of the client device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , where the instruction used to process the data flow causes the network device to provide the data flow with a particular network resource. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , where the client device is a machine-to-machine (M2M) device that includes at least one of a sensor or an application. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
 a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a plurality of attributes of a client device that is associated with a particular classification; 
 determine subscription information associated with the client device; 
 reclassify the client device based on the plurality of attributes of the client device and based on the subscription information associated with the client device,
 the plurality of attributes including at least one of a hardware profile, a software profile, a function, a geographic location, or a subscription profile; 
 
 determine classification information based on reclassifying the client device; and 
 provide, to a network device of a network, the classification information to a network device to cause the network device to associate a particular policy set, of a plurality of policy sets, with the client device,
 the classification information identifying an updated classification of the client device, 
 the updated classification being different than the particular classification; 
 the particular policy set being based on the updated classification of the client device, 
 the particular policy set including an instruction used to process a data flow provided to or provided from the client device, and 
 the instruction to process the data flow causing the network device to provide the data flow with a particular network resource. 
 
 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 ,
 where the plurality of instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive an update to a classification matrix used to reclassify the client device; and 
 
 where one or more instructions, of the plurality of instructions, to reclassify the client device, cause the one or more processors to:
 reclassify the client device further based on the plurality of attributes of the client device, based on the subscription information associated with the client device, and base on receiving the update to the classification matrix. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 ,
 where the plurality of instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive updated attribute information that includes information identifying the plurality of attributes of the client device, and 
 
 where one or more instructions, of the plurality of instructions, to reclassify the client device, further cause the one or more processors to:
 reclassify the client device based on the updated attribute information and based on the subscription information associated with the client device. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , where the plurality of attributes further include an internet protocol (IP) address of the client device.