Method and system for managing wireless bandwidth resources

• US 20050272438A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holur, Balaji S., Dantu, Ramanamurthy, Derrick, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation

Abstract

A method and system for managing wireless bandwidth resources include the capability to receive at a serving node a service request for a mobile unit and to communicate with a wireless network node to determine whether sufficient wireless bandwidth is available for the requested service. The method and system also include the capability to process the service request based on the availability of wireless bandwidth.

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61. A method for managing wireless bandwidth resources, comprising:

receiving a service request for a mobile unit at a serving node, the service request including an amount of bandwidth requested for a communication session involving the mobile unit;

determining whether sufficient wireless bandwidth is available for the requested service; and

processing the service request based on the availability of wireless bandwidth and current wireless bandwidth being used by the mobile unit.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

generating a message denying the service request if requested bandwidth is not available.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the service request is for service in a cell, and wherein determining whether sufficient wireless bandwidth is available includes using forward power estimation to determine bandwidth availability for the cell.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining whether the requested service is allowed based on a service level agreement for the mobile unit.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

generating a message requesting the mobile unit to degrade the requested service if sufficient bandwidth is not available.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein the serving node is operable to extract traffic information from a flow and to update a traffic information database for the communication session involving the mobile unit.

67. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining whether degradation of another service is allowed if there is not sufficient bandwidth for the requested service.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein the serving node includes a service queue and a scheduler, the service queue being dedicated to a service and being operable to store data of a micro flow destined for an application of the mobile unit.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the serving node is operable to verify session activity of the mobile unit.

70. The method of claim 61, wherein queuing of traffic is executed based on the availability of wireless resources and quality of service parameters associated with the communication session.

71. The method of claim 61, wherein the serving node includes a foreign agent that facilitates a communication session between the mobile unit and an endpoint.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the foreign agent includes a table that is operable to store binding information or tunneling characteristics related to the mobile unit.

73. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

performing access control for the mobile unit such that bandwidth requested by the mobile unit is managed.

74. A method for managing bandwidth, comprising:

enrolling one or more customers into a subscription for mobile unit use; and

generating one or more bills associated with the subscription, whereby the mobile unit is operable to communicate with a serving node, the serving node being operable to;

receive a service request for the mobile unit at a serving node, the service request including an amount of bandwidth requested for a communication session involving the mobile unit;

determine whether sufficient wireless bandwidth is available for the requested service; and

process the service request based on the availability of wireless bandwidth and current wireless bandwidth being used by the mobile unit.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

generate a message denying the service request if requested bandwidth is not available.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the service request is for service in a cell, and wherein determining whether sufficient wireless bandwidth is available includes using forward power estimation to determine bandwidth availability for the cell.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

determine whether the requested service is allowed based on a service level agreement for the mobile unit.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

generate a message requesting the mobile unit to degrade the requested service if sufficient bandwidth is not available.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

extract traffic information from a flow; and

update a traffic information database for the communication session involving the mobile unit.

80. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

determine whether degradation of another service is allowed if there is not sufficient bandwidth for the requested service.

81. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node includes a service queue and a scheduler, the service queue being dedicated to a service and being operable to store data of a micro flow destined for an application of the mobile unit.

82. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

verify session activity of the mobile unit.

83. The method of claim 74, wherein queuing of traffic is executed based on the availability of wireless resources and quality of service parameters associated with the communication session.

84. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node includes a foreign agent that facilitates a communication session between the mobile unit and an endpoint.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the foreign agent includes a table that is operable to store binding information or tunneling characteristics related to the mobile unit.

86. The method of claim 74, wherein the serving node is further operable to:

perform access control for the mobile unit such that bandwidth requested by the mobile unit is managed.