COMMUNICATION LINK ALLOCATION BASED ON DYNAMIC TREND ANALYSIS

• US 20080310443A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gage, Kenneth Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,817,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/26 Route discovery packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/32 Flooding denial of service attacks H04L63/1458

Abstract

A method and/or apparatus is provided for performing traffic allocation based on dynamic trend analysis of communication links between two devices. Devices monitor the performance of their available communication links to determine which communication link is best to receive transmissions on. A device selects the best communication link on which to receive from another device and informs that other device to use that communication link when transmitting to it. Link information is obtained from both the transmitting device and receiving device to perform traffic allocation for communications between the two devices. This method may be performed by a low-level communication module transparent to applications and/or network transmission protocols.

Claims

1. A method operational on a first device, comprising:

receiving heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second device;

obtaining one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

selecting a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

informing the second device to use the preferred communication link to send data; and

receiving data from the second device over the preferred communication link.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

monitoring one or more communication link characteristics from the received heartbeats;

determining whether a better communication link is available to receive data from the second device; and

selecting a second communication link to receive data from the second device if one or more of its link characteristics is better than corresponding link characteristics for the preferred communication link.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

informing the second device to use the second communication link to send data to the first device; and

receiving data from the second device over the second communication link.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a communication tunnel with the second device through the preferred communication link.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

decompressing the received data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more communication link characteristics includes at least one of bandwidth, delay, and jitter.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links to the second device; and

receiving a message from the second device indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

establishing a communication tunnel with the second device through the third communication link.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transmitting data to the second device over the third communication link.

10. A first communication module comprising:

means for receiving heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second communication module;

means for obtaining one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

means for selecting a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

means for informing the second communication module to use the preferred communication link to send data to the first communication module; and

means for receiving data from the second communication module over the preferred communication link.

11. The first communication module of claim 10 further comprising:

means for receiving additional heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second communication module;

means for monitoring one or more communication link characteristics from the received heartbeats;

means for determining whether a better communication link is available to receive data from the second communication module; and

means for selecting a second communication link to receive data from the second communication module if one or more of its link characteristics is better than corresponding link characteristics for the preferred communication link.

12. The first communication module of claim 11 further comprising:

means for informing the second communication module to use the second communication link to send data to the first communication module; and

means for receiving data from the second communication module over the second communication link.

13. The first communication module of claim 10 further comprising:

means for establishing a communication tunnel with the second communication module through the preferred communication link.

14. The first communication module of claim 10 further comprising:

means for sending heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links to the second communication module;

means for receiving a message from the second communication module indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second communication module; and

means for transmitting data to the second communication module over the third communication link.

15. A first communication module comprising:

a communication link analyzer configured to

receive heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second communication module, and

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

a link selector coupled to the communication link analyzer, the link selector configured to

select a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception, and

inform the second communication module to use the preferred communication link to send data to the first communication module; and

a receiver to receive data from the second communication module over the preferred communication link.

16. The first communication module of claim 15 wherein the communication link analyzer may be further configured to

receive additional heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second communication module,

monitor one or more communication link characteristics from the received heartbeats, and

determine whether a better communication link is available to receive data from the second communication module.

17. The first communication module of claim 16 wherein the link selector is further configured to select a second communication link to

receive data from the second communication module if one or more of its link characteristics is better than corresponding link characteristics for the preferred communication link;

and

inform the second communication module to use the second communication link to send data to the first communication module.

18. The first communication module of claim 17 wherein the receiver is further configured to

receive data from the second communication module over the second communication link.

19. The first communication module of claim 15 further comprising:

a transmitter for sending heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links to the second communication module;

a link indicator storage device for receiving a message from the second communication module indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second communication module; and

a demultiplexer module coupled to the transmitter, the demultiplexer module to route data to the second communication module over the third communication link.

20. A computer-readable medium having one or more instructions operational on a first device for dynamic communication link allocation, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second device;

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

select a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

inform the second device to use the preferred communication link to send data; and

receive data from the second device over the preferred communication link.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive additional heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

monitor one or more communication link characteristics from the received heartbeats;

determine whether a better communication link is available to receive data from the second device; and

select a second communication link to receive data from the second device if one or more of its link characteristics is better than corresponding link characteristics for the preferred communication link.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

inform the second device to use the second communication link to send data to the first device; and

receive data from the second device over the second communication link.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

send heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links to the second device; and

receive a message from the second device indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second device.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

transmit data to the second device over the third communication link.

25. A processor comprising:

a circuit configured to

receive heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second device;

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

select a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

inform the second device to use the preferred communication link to send data; and

receive data from the second device over the preferred communication link.

26. The processor of claim 25, wherein the circuit is further configured to receive additional heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

monitor one or more communication link characteristics from the received heartbeats;

determine whether a better communication link is available to receive data from the second device; and

select a second communication link to receive data from the second device if one or more of its link characteristics is better than corresponding link characteristics for the preferred communication link.

27. The processor of claim 25 wherein the circuit is further configured to

informing the second device to use the second communication link to send data to the first device;

and

receiving data from the second device over the second communication link.

28. The processor of claim 25 wherein the circuit is further configured to

send heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links to the second device;

receive a message from the second device indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

establish a communication tunnel with the second device through the third communication link.

29. The processor of claim 28 wherein the circuit is further configured to

transmit data to the second device over the third communication link.

30. A method operational on a first device, comprising:

sending heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links to a second device;

receiving a message from the second device indicating a preferred communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

transmitting data to the second device over the third communication link.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the preferred communication link is selected by the second device using the heartbeat signals to ascertain one or more communication link characteristics.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

establishing a communication tunnel with the second device through the preferred communication link.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

receiving a second message from the second device indicating a second communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

transmitting data to the second device over the second communication link instead of the preferred communication link.

34. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

receiving heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

obtaining one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

selecting a third communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

informing the second device to use the third communication link to send data to the first device; and

receiving data from the second device over the third communication link.

35. A first communication module comprising:

means for sending heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links to a second device;

means for receiving a message from the second device indicating a preferred communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

means for transmitting data to the second device over the third communication link.

36. The first communication module of claim 35 wherein the preferred communication link is selected by the second device using the heartbeat signals to ascertain one or more communication link characteristics.

37. The first communication module of claim 35 further comprising:

means for receiving a second message from the second device indicating a second communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

means for transmitting data to the second device over the second communication link instead of the preferred communication link.

38. The first communication module of claim 35 further comprising:

means for receiving heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

means for obtaining one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

means for selecting a third communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

means for informing the second device to use the third communication link to send data to the first device; and

means for receiving data from the second device over the third communication link.

39. A first communication module comprising:

a transmitter for sending heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links to a second communication module;

a link indicator storage device for receiving a message from the second communication module indicating a third communication link to transmit data to the second communication module; and

a demultiplexer module coupled to the transmitter, the demultiplexer module to route data to the second communication module over the third communication link.

40. The first communication module of claim 39 wherein the link indicator is further configured to

receive a second message from the second device indicating a second communication link to transmit data to the second device.

41. The first communication module of claim 40 wherein the demultiplexer module is further configured to

route data to the second device over the second communication link instead of the preferred communication link.

42. The first communication module of claim 39 further comprising:

a communication link analyzer configured to

receive heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links from a second communication module, and

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

a link selector coupled to the communication link analyzer, the link selector configured to

select a preferred communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception, and

inform the second communication module to use the preferred communication link to send data to the first communication module; and

a receiver to receive data from the second communication module over the preferred communication link.

43. A computer-readable medium having one or more instructions operational on a first device for dynamic communication link allocation, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

send heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links to a second device;

receive a message from the second device indicating a preferred communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

transmit data to the second device over the third communication link.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein the preferred communication link is selected by the second device using the heartbeat signals to ascertain one or more communication link characteristics.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive a second message from the second device indicating a second communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

transmit data to the second device over the second communication link instead of the preferred communication link.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 further having one or more instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

select a third communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

inform the second device to use the third communication link to send data to the first device; and

receive data from the second device over the third communication link.

47. A processor comprising:

a circuit configured to

send heartbeat signals over a plurality of communication links to a second device;

receive a message from the second device indicating a preferred communication link to transmit data to the second device; and

transmit data to the second device over the third communication link.

48. The processor of claim 47 wherein the preferred communication link is selected by the second device using the heartbeat signals to ascertain one or more communication link characteristics.

49. The processor of claim 47 wherein the circuit is further configured to

establish a communication tunnel with the second device through the preferred communication link.

50. The processor of claim 47 wherein the circuit is further configured to

receive a second message from the second device indicating a second communication link to transmit data to the second device;

and

transmit data to the second device over the second communication link instead of the preferred communication link.

51. The processor of claim 47 wherein the circuit is further configured to

receive heartbeat signals over the plurality of communication links from the second device;

obtain one or more communication link characteristics for the plurality of communication links from the received heartbeat signals;

select a third communication link from the plurality of communication links having the best characteristics for reception;

inform the second device to use the third communication link to send data to the first device; and

receive data from the second device over the third communication link.