Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing bandwidth management services

• US 20060251116A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A., Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing bandwidth management services are provided. The method includes associating a service session of a connection with at least one of a device and a user of the device for an account. The method also includes evaluating the service session for an event. The evaluation factors in capabilities associated with the device and/or service session. The method further includes notifying the account upon an occurrence of the event.

Claims

1. A method for implementing bandwidth management services, comprising:

associating a service session of a connection with at least one of a device and a user of the device for an account;

evaluating the service session for an event, the evaluating factoring in capabilities associated with the at least one of the device and the service session; and

notifying the account upon an occurrence of the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes an actual or predicted situation that is determined to unfavorably impact a user experience with the service session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a notification preference to the account, wherein the notifying includes generating and transmitting an alert to the account in accordance with the notification preference, the notification preference including a manner of notification and a notification trigger.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting an alert to the account includes determining availability of devices to receive the alert and transmitting the alert to at least one of:

the user of the device affected by the event via the associating; and

an other device for the account based upon the determining availability.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the generating and transmitting an alert includes determining an alert type and format based upon the capabilities.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the evaluating includes comparing gathered service session measurements to at least one threshold;

wherein the event occurs when the gathered service session measurements exceed the at least one threshold, the at least one threshold determined by at least one of;

the notification trigger; and

characteristics and capabilities of the at least one of the device and the service session resulting in a minimum acceptable service level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating another service session occurring simultaneously with the service session over the connection, the other service session associated with an other at least one of a device and a user of the device for the account, wherein the evaluating the service session for an occurrence of an event includes evaluating the other service session, factoring in capabilities of both of the service session and the other service session;

and wherein further the event occurs when simultaneous occurrences of the service session and the other service session cause an unfavorable impact on at least one of the service session and the other service session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service session is a communications session utilizing bandwidth including at least one of:

video content;

audio content;

generic data;

gaming interactions;

encrypted data;

graphical content;

pictorial content;

interactive media content; and

multi-media content; and

wherein the device includes at least one of;

a television;

a gaming system;

a handheld device;

a computer device; and

a cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

a request for periodic notification;

a request for random notification; and

a condition including at least one of;

an amount of bandwidth usage;

a quality of service level;

a threshold bandwidth value;

a usage bandwidth value by user;

a usage bandwidth value by device;

a usage bandwidth value by sub-account, the account broken down into sub-accounts; and

a usage bandwidth value by situation.

10. A system for implementing bandwidth management services, comprising:

a processor;

a bandwidth management application executing on the processor and receiving data from at least one monitoring device monitoring the service session, the bandwidth management application performing;

associating the service session with at least one of a device and a user of the device for an account;

evaluating the service session for an event including the data received from the monitoring device, the evaluating factoring in capabilities associated with the at least one of the device and the service session; and

notifying the account upon an occurrence of the event.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the event includes an actual or predicted situation that is determined to unfavorably impact a user experience with the service session.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the bandwidth management application further performs:

assigning a notification preference to the account, wherein the notifying includes generating and transmitting an alert to the account in accordance with the notification preference, the notification preference including a manner of notification and a notification trigger.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitting an alert to the account includes determining availability of devices to receive the alert and transmitting the alert to at least one of:

the user of the device affected by the event via the associating; and

an other device for the account based upon the determining availability.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the generating and transmitting an alert includes determining an alert type and format based upon the capabilities.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the evaluating includes comparing gathered service session measurements to at least one threshold;

wherein the event occurs when the gathered service session measurements exceed the at least one threshold, the at least one threshold determined by at least one of;

the notification trigger; and

characteristics and capabilities of the at least one of the device and the service session resulting in a minimum acceptable service level.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the bandwidth management application further performs:

evaluating another service session occurring simultaneously with the service session over the connection, the other service session associated with an other at least one of a device and a user of the device for the account, wherein the evaluating the service session for an occurrence of an event includes evaluating the other service session, factoring in capabilities of both of the service session and the other service session; and

wherein further the event occurs when simultaneous occurrences of the service session and the other service session cause an unfavorable impact on at least one of the service session and the other service session.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the service session is a communications session utilizing bandwidth including at least one of:

video content;

audio content;

generic data;

gaming interactions;

encrypted data;

graphical content;

pictorial content;

interactive media content; and

multi-media content; and

wherein the device includes at least one of;

a television;

a gaming system;

a handheld device;

a computer device; and

a cell phone.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

a request for periodic notification;

a request for random notification; and

a condition including at least one of;

an amount of bandwidth usage;

a quality of service level;

a threshold bandwidth value;

a usage bandwidth value by user;

a usage bandwidth value by device;

a usage bandwidth value by sub-account, the account broken down into sub-accounts; and

a usage bandwidth value by situation.

19. A computer program product for implementing bandwidth management services, the computer program product including instructions for implementing a method comprising the steps of:

associating a service session of a connection with at least one of a device and a user of the device for an account;

evaluating the service session for an event, the evaluating factoring in capabilities associated with the at least one of the device and the service session; and

notifying the account upon an occurrence of the event.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the event includes an actual or predicted situation that is determined to unfavorably impact a user experience with the service session.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising instructions for implementing:

assigning a notification preference to the account, wherein the notifying includes generating and transmitting an alert to the account in accordance with the notification preference, the notification preference including a manner of notification and a notification trigger.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the transmitting an alert to the account includes determining availability of devices to receive the alert and transmitting the alert to at least one of:

the user of the device affected by the event via the associating; and

an other device for the account based upon the determining availability.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generating and transmitting an alert includes determining an alert type and format based upon the capabilities.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the evaluating includes comparing gathered service session measurements to at least one threshold;

wherein the event occurs when the gathered service session measurements exceed the at least one threshold, the at least one threshold determined by at least one of;

the notification trigger; and

characteristics and capabilities of the at least one of the device and the service session resulting in a minimum acceptable service level.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising instructions for implementing evaluating another service session occurring simultaneously with the service session over the connection, the other service session associated with an other at least one of a device and a user of the device for the account, wherein the evaluating the service session for an occurrence of an event includes evaluating the other service session, factoring in capabilities of both of the service session and the other service session;

and wherein further the event occurs when simultaneous occurrences of the service session and the other service session cause an unfavorable impact on at least one of the service session and the other service session.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the service session is a communications session utilizing bandwidth including at least one of:

video content;

audio content;

generic data;

gaming interactions;

encrypted data;

graphical content;

pictorial content;

interactive media content; and

multi-media content; and

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

a request for periodic notification;

a request for random notification; and

a condition including at least one of;

an amount of bandwidth usage;

a quality of service level;

a threshold bandwidth value;

a usage bandwidth value by user;

a usage bandwidth value by device;

a usage bandwidth value by sub-account, the account broken down into sub-accounts; and

a usage bandwidth value by situation.