METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUALITY OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT IN A MULTI-STANDARD MESH OF NETWORKS

• US 20090022061A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behzad, Arya, MacInnis, Alexander G., Walley, John, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Buer, Mark, Quigley, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for quality of service management in a multi-standard mesh of networks are provided. In a wireless mobile communication device (WMCD) enabled to communicate utilizing a variety of communication networks, QoS information, such as latency, available bandwidth, and/or throughput, communicated to the WMCD may enable the coordination of data transfers to and/or from the WMCD. In this regard, the WMCD and each of the networks may comprise a QoS management entity. A QoS management entity may be enabled to poll other QoS management entities to discover QoS information. Similarly, a QoS management entity may be enabled to receive QoS information broadcast by other QoS management entities. A QoS management entity may enable selecting a network and/or communication protocol for the transmission and/or reception of data based on exchanged QoS information.

Claims

1. A method for providing network communication, the method comprising:

in a wireless mobile communication device (WMCD) comprising a QoS management entity that manages QoS for a plurality of disparate wireless protocols handled by said WMCD, coordinating transfer of data to and/or from said WMCD based on QoS information communicated between said QoS management entity and a plurality of wireless networks that utilize at least one of said plurality of wireless protocols.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said QoS information from one or more QoS management entities residing in one or more of said plurality of wireless networks.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising reporting QoS information only for network routes which meet minimum QoS requirements, wherein said QoS management entity in said WMCD communicates said QoS requirements.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of QoS management entities communicates QoS information for a network in which it resides as well for down-stream networks, wherein said down-stream networks are along a route from said WMCD to a source and/or destination of said data.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising polling one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to receive said QoS information to enable said coordination of said transfer of data.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising requesting one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to transmit said QoS information to enable said coordination of transfer of data.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising negotiating with said one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to enable said coordination of transfer of said data.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting one or more of said plurality of wireless networks for handling said transfer of data based on one or more of:

latency, throughput, power dissipation, guarantee of delivery, monetary cost, and available bandwidth.

9. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for providing network communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

in a wireless mobile communication device (WMCD) comprising a QoS management entity that manages QoS for a plurality of disparate wireless protocols handled by said WMCD, coordinating transfer of data to and/or from said WMCD based on QoS information communicated between said QoS management entity and a plurality of wireless networks that utilize at least one of said plurality of wireless protocols.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for receiving said QoS information from one or more QoS management entities residing in one or more of said plurality of wireless networks.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for reporting QoS information only for network routes which meet minimum QoS requirements, wherein said QoS management entity in said WMCD communicates said QoS requirements.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of QoS management entities communicates QoS information for a network in which it resides as well for down-stream networks, wherein said down-stream networks are along a route from said WMCD to a source and/or destination of said data.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for polling one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to receive said QoS information to enable said coordination of said transfer of data.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for requesting one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to transmit said QoS information to enable said coordination of transfer of data.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for negotiating with said one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to enable said coordination of transfer of said data.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting one or more of said plurality of wireless networks for handling said transfer of data based on one or more of:

latency, throughput, power dissipation, guarantee of delivery, monetary cost, and available bandwidth.

17. A system for providing network communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits comprising a QoS management entity that, at least;

in a wireless mobile communication device (WMCD) comprising said QoS management entity, manage QoS for a plurality of disparate wireless protocols handled by said WMCD, and coordinate transfer of data to and/or from said WMCD based on QoS information communicated between said QoS management entity and a plurality of wireless networks that utilize at least one of said plurality of wireless protocols.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits receive said QoS information from one or more QoS management entities residing in one or more of said plurality of wireless networks.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits report QoS information only for network routes which meet minimum QoS requirements, wherein said QoS management entity in said WMCD communicates said QoS requirements.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of QoS management entities communicates QoS information for a network in which it resides as well for down-stream networks, wherein said down-stream networks are along a route from said WMCD to a source and/or destination of said data.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits poll one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to receive said QoS information to enable said coordination of said transfer of data.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits request one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to transmit said QoS information to enable said coordination of transfer of data.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits negotiate with said one or more remote entities in each of said corresponding plurality of wireless networks to enable said coordination of transfer of said data.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits select one or more of said plurality of wireless networks for handling said transfer of data based on one or more of:

latency, throughput, power dissipation, guarantee of delivery, monetary cost, and available bandwidth.