Method and system for imposing air interface service level

• US 20050232222A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Jones, Bryce A., McConnell, Von K., Jackson, Kenneth C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/24 in which the allocation is indicated by an address the different channels being transmitted sequentiallyH04J3/17 takes precedence; in computers G06F12/00, G06F13/00 code multiplex systems H04J13/00; selecting techniques H04Q; relay systems H04B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application

Abstract

A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving into a wireless access node, via an air interface from a portable subscriber terminal, a request to initiate a communication session;

responsive to the request, sending information about the communication session to a service agent layer;

receiving the information at the service agent layer, and determining at the service agent layer an air interface service-level to be applied; and

sending from the service agent layer to the wireless access node a directive to apply the determined air interface service-level for the communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access node comprises a node selected from the group consisting of a gateway, a base station controller, and a base transceiver station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access node comprises a wireless access point residing on a local area network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the air interface permits variations in bandwidth per communication session, and wherein the determined air interface service-level comprises a highest level bandwidth possible.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the wireless access node applying the determined air interface service-level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending information about the communication session to the service agent layer comprises:

sending a signaling message from the wireless access node to a session manager; and

forwarding the signaling message from the session manager to the service agent layer,

wherein the signaling message carries the information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the signaling message comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the information includes a first air interface service-level, and wherein the determined air interface service-level is different than the first air interface service-level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the directive from the service agent layer to the wireless access node comprises:

sending the directive from the service agent layer to a session manager; and

sending the directive from the service manager to the wireless access node.

10. A method of managing air interface service-level for a wireless packet-data session, the method comprising:

upon initiation of the session, signaling from a wireless access gateway to a session manager and in turn to a service agent layer;

determining at the service agent layer that a particular air interface service-level should be imposed for the session, and responsively sending from the service agent layer to the session manager a directive indicating that the particular air interface service level should be imposed for the session; and

forwarding the directive from the session manager to an enforcement engine, wherein the enforcement engine sets the particular air interface service-level for the session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the enforcement engine comprises the wireless access gateway.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless access gateway comprises a wireless access point residing on a local area network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the enforcement engine comprises a node selected from the group consisting of a base station controller and a base transceiver station.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the particular air interface service-level comprises a bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein sending the directive from the from the service agent layer to the session manager comprises sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from the service agent layer to the session manager.

16. A system comprising:

a base transceiver station (BTS) arranged to communicate over an air interface with a mobile station;

a base station controller (BSC) communicatively linked with the BTS;

a gateway communicatively linked with the BSC, the gateway providing connectivity with a packet-switched network;

a session manager disposed on the packet-switched network; and

a service agent disposed on the packet-switched network,

wherein, when the gateway receives a signaling message indicative of a wireless packet data session involving the mobile station, (i) the gateway responsively signals to the session manager, and the session manager responsively signals to the service agent, (ii) the service agent then determines an air interface service level that should be imposed for the wireless packet data session, (iii) the service agent sends an indication of the determined air interface service level to the session manager, and (iv) the session manager sends an indication of the determined air interface service level to an enforcement engine, to facilitate imposition of the determined air interface service level for the wireless packet data session.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the enforcement engine comprises a node selected from the group consisting of the BTS, the BSC, and the gateway.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless packet data session comprises a voice-over-IP session.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the determined air interface service level comprises a bandwidth level.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least the gateway, the session manager, and the service agent communicate with each other using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messaging.