Multi-tier quality of service wireless communications networks
First Claim
1. A method of providing telecommunication service in a multi-tier wireless communication network, comprising:
- providing, by the wireless communication network, a plurality of Quality-of-Service (“
QoS”
) levels, each of the plurality of QoS levels corresponding to a different QoS level of communication between a wireless mobile station and a base station of the wireless communication network, and each of the plurality of QoS levels also corresponds to a different tier of service in the multi-tier wireless communication network;
receiving, by the wireless communication network, a selection from the wireless mobile station, during communication between the wireless mobile station and another mobile station, of one of the plurality of QoS levels for use with the wireless mobile station; and
storing, by the wireless communication network, the selected QoS level in a computerized customer record associated with the wireless mobile station in a computer-operated database;
wherein the selected QoS level corresponds to a predetermined level of network protection between the wireless mobile station and the other mobile station involved in the communication, the predetermined level of network protection supporting availability of a particular vocoder rate exceeding a threshold amount; and
wherein the received selected one of the plurality of QoS levels for use with the wireless mobile station includes an indication to globally change services levels for other devices of the customer so that the wireless mobile station and the other devices of the customer are provided a common service level of guaranteed resources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to improved communication quality of service in communication networks. A customer may pay different fees for different tiers of service relating to voice quality and bandwidth access. Higher service tiers may guarantee that a specific vocoder or bit rate is used; or guarantee that communication is supported by parameters such as maximum allowed dropped calls rate, jitter and latency. Availability may be guaranteed per the contract between subscribers and service providers. Different tiers may be associated with customers'"'"' records for billing purposes. High end devices may be afforded higher voice quality by comparing a given device to a look up table indicating what service level is associated therewith. A calling device or a receiving device may ask the other device to change the vocoder or bit rate to ensure a higher quality call. The user may also change the quality level before or during a call.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of providing telecommunication service in a multi-tier wireless communication network, comprising:
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providing, by the wireless communication network, a plurality of Quality-of-Service (“
QoS”
) levels, each of the plurality of QoS levels corresponding to a different QoS level of communication between a wireless mobile station and a base station of the wireless communication network, and each of the plurality of QoS levels also corresponds to a different tier of service in the multi-tier wireless communication network;receiving, by the wireless communication network, a selection from the wireless mobile station, during communication between the wireless mobile station and another mobile station, of one of the plurality of QoS levels for use with the wireless mobile station; and storing, by the wireless communication network, the selected QoS level in a computerized customer record associated with the wireless mobile station in a computer-operated database; wherein the selected QoS level corresponds to a predetermined level of network protection between the wireless mobile station and the other mobile station involved in the communication, the predetermined level of network protection supporting availability of a particular vocoder rate exceeding a threshold amount; and wherein the received selected one of the plurality of QoS levels for use with the wireless mobile station includes an indication to globally change services levels for other devices of the customer so that the wireless mobile station and the other devices of the customer are provided a common service level of guaranteed resources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-tier wireless communication system, comprising:
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at least one base station including a receiver, a transmitter and an antenna operatively connected to the receiver and the transmitter; at least one network server operatively connected to the at least one base station; a data storage device operatively connected to the at least one network server; a customer record database stored on the storage device for maintaining records of a plurality of customers of the multi-tier wireless communication system and for identifying at least one wireless mobile station associated with each of the plurality of customers; and wherein the multi-tier wireless communication system is configured to have a plurality of QoS levels, each of the plurality of QoS levels corresponding to a different quality level of communication and to a different tier in an overall multi-tier service structure; wherein each quality level of communication is a quality level of an audio signal to be sent or received by a mobile station of a given customer that corresponds to a predetermined value on a speech quality scale; wherein the quality level of the audio signal is adjustable, at the mobile station during communication with another mobile station, in accordance with a particular tier of service chosen by the given customer for the mobile station; and wherein, upon adjustment of the quality level of the audio signal during the communication with the other mobile station according to an instruction received from the given customer, the customer record database is updatable to reflect the chosen tier of service for the mobile station, and when the customer record database is updated, the chosen tier of service applies to the mobile station and one or more other devices associated with a record of the given customer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification