Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Adapting A Quality of Service Mechanism Based on Feedback

• US 20090088170A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for adapting a quality of service mechanism based on feedback. A condition that affects quality of service of a communications network is monitored. An adaptation of the quality of service mechanism is determined based on a change to the condition. The adaptation is implemented on the communications network to improve the quality of service.

Claims

1. A method for adapting a quality of service mechanism based on feedback, comprising:

monitoring a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network;

determining an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition; and

implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a cellular network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the condition comprises a radio frequency (RF) link condition between a cellular tower and a plurality of cellular devices in the cellular network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network comprises monitoring at least one of a signal level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, a noise level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, and a data loss level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition comprises:

comparing the change to the RF link condition to a threshold; and

determining the adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on whether the change to the RF link condition exceeds or falls below the threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service comprises in response to determining that the change to the RF link condition falls below the threshold, reallocating the cellular resource from a first group of the plurality of cellular devices in a cell to a second group of the plurality of cellular devices in the cell.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service comprises in response to determining that the change to the RF link condition falls below the threshold, terminating at least one RF link between the cellular tower and a first group of the plurality of cellular devices to free the cellular resource for allocation to a second group of the plurality of cellular devices.

8. A system for adapting a quality of service mechanism based on feedback, comprising:

a memory for storing a program containing code for adapting a quality of service mechanism based on feedback;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to;

monitor a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network,

determine an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition, and

implement the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications network comprises a cellular network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition comprises a radio frequency (RF) link condition between a cellular tower and a plurality of cellular devices in the cellular network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein to monitor a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network, the processor is further operative to monitor at least one of a signal level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, a noise level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, and a data loss level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein to determine an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition, the processor is further operative to:

compare the change to the RF link condition to a threshold, and

determine the adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on whether the change to the RF link condition exceeds or falls below the threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein to implement the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service, the processor is further operative to in response to determining that the change to the RF link condition falls below the threshold, reallocate the cellular resource from a first group of the plurality of cellular devices in a cell to a second group of the plurality of cellular devices in the cell.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to provide a method for adapting a quality of service mechanism based on feedback, the method comprising:

monitoring a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network;

determining an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition; and

implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the communications network comprises a cellular network.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the condition comprises a radio frequency (RF) link condition between a cellular tower and a plurality of cellular devices in the cellular network.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein monitoring a condition that affects quality of service of a communications network comprises monitoring at least one of a signal level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, a noise level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices, and a data loss level between the cellular tower and each of the plurality of cellular devices.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining an adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on a change to the condition comprises:

comparing the change to the RF link condition to a threshold; and

determining the adaptation of the quality of service mechanism based on whether the change to the RF link condition exceeds or falls below the threshold.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service comprises in response to determining that the change to the RF link condition falls below the threshold, reallocating the cellular resource from a first group of the plurality of cellular devices in a cell to a second group of the plurality of cellular devices in the cell.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein implementing the adaptation on the communications network to improve the quality of service comprises in response to determining that the change to the RF link condition falls below the threshold, terminating at least one RF link between the cellular tower and a first group of the plurality of cellular devices to free the cellular resource for allocation to a second group of the plurality of cellular devices.