Apparatus and methods for network resource allocation

• US 20090180430A1
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for allocating resources (such as communications bandwidth) using a network access device. In one embodiment, the network comprises a wireless (e.g., WiFi) network, and the access device comprises a wireless router or gateway in communication with a plurality of wireless users. The device comprises an administrator function which allows the network administrator to implement one or more resource allocation policies or rules. Using this approach, resources such as bandwidth can be allocated based on any number of different parameters or use classifications, including for example: (i) public versus private use; (ii) security level; (iii) user range from the access device; (iv) type of PHY or air interface; (v) type of channel coding; (vi) air interface mode or application (e.g., data versus voice). In one variant, the allocation policies are manually controlled by the administrator. In another variant, substantially automatic resource allocation is performed by the administrator program.

Claims

1. A method of allocating network bandwidth between at least first and second uses, said first and second uses being substantially heterogeneous, the method comprising:

providing available bandwidth;

allocating a first portion of said available bandwidth to said first use; and

allocating a second portion of said available bandwidth to said second use;

wherein at least one of said acts of allocating is performed dynamically during operation of said network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a wireless network, and said act of providing available bandwidth comprises providing at least a portion of available forward link or reverse link bandwidth associated with an air interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses comprise (i) a public use, and (ii) a private or user-specific use.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said available bandwidth is associated with a wireless gateway or router device within said network, and said dynamic allocation comprises dynamically allocating using an allocation algorithm running on said device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said wireless network comprises an IEEE-Std. 802.11 compliant wireless network, and said available forward link or reverse link bandwidth is associated with a gateway or router device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different wireless air interfaces.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said different wireless air interfaces comprises a WiFi interface, and a second of said different interfaces comprises a WiMAX interface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said different wireless air interfaces comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) interface, and a second of said different interfaces comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different ranges from a wireless gateway or router device that is part of said network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are further associated with different wireless air interfaces, one of said different wireless air interfaces comprises a WiFi interface that is used for a shorter one of said ranges, and a second of said different interfaces comprises a WiMAX interface that is used for a longer one of said ranges.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different frequency bands.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a first of said different frequency bands comprises a band with a center frequency below 2 GHz, and a second of said different frequency bands comprises a band with a center frequency above 2 GHz.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a first of said different frequency bands comprises a band with a center frequency below 3 GHz, and a second of said different frequency bands comprises a band with a center frequency above 3 GHz.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different quality of service (QoS) requirements for data carried over said first and second portions of said available bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different channel coding schemes for data carried over said first and second portions of available bandwidth.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said different channel coding schemes comprise (i) turbo coding, and (ii) Viterbi coding.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a plurality of network devices to provide said available bandwidth.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said using a plurality of network devices to provide said available bandwidth comprises using two or more WiFi access points (APs) to supply said available bandwidth.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second substantially heterogeneous uses are associated with different levels of network security.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said different levels of network security comprise (i) symmetric key encryption, and (ii) asymmetric key encryption.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of said different levels of network security comprises authentication, encryption, and data integrity protection.

22. Apparatus for the allocation of network bandwidth, said apparatus comprising:

first apparatus adapted to provide network bandwidth; and

second apparatus in data communication with said first apparatus and adapted to run a computer program, said computer program adapted to;

(i) generate a user interface to enable a user to view bandwidth allocation of said first apparatus; and

(ii) specify a desired bandwidth allocation scheme for said apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first apparatus comprises a network access point or gateway.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said network access point or gateway comprises a wireless air interface compliant with IEEE Std. 802.11.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said specification of a desired bandwidth allocation scheme comprises an allocation scheme that allocates at least portions of said network bandwidth between at least (i) a public use, and (ii) a private or user-specific use.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said network bandwidth varies as a function of time, and said scheme is further adapted to dynamically vary said allocation of said bandwidth between said public use and said private or user-specific use so as to maintain the bandwidth available to at least one of said uses substantially constant.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said network bandwidth varies as a function of time, and said scheme is further adapted to dynamically vary said allocation of said bandwidth between said public use and said private or user-specific use so as to enforce at least one quality-of-service (QoS) policy for at least one of said uses.

28. Apparatus adapted to allocate network bandwidth between first and second uses, said first and second uses being substantially heterogeneous, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to provide access to an external network, said interface having available bandwidth associated therewith;

at least one wireless interface adapted to communicate data with one or more mobile devices; and

computer program apparatus adapted to allocate a first portion of said available bandwidth to said first use, and a second portion of said available bandwidth to said second use, based at least in part on user input.

29. A computer-readable apparatus comprising a storage medium adapted to store a computer program thereon, said computer program adapted to:

communicate with said at least one apparatus adapted to provide available bandwidth;

enable a user to view bandwidth allocation of said at least one apparatus adapted to provide available bandwidth; and

enable a user to set a desired bandwidth allocation arrangement of said at least one apparatus adapted to provide available bandwidth.

30. A method of allocating network resources between at least first and second uses, said first and second uses being substantially different, the method comprising:

providing available resources;

allocating a first portion of said available resources to said first use; and

allocating a second portion of said available resources to said second use;

wherein at least one of said acts of allocating is performed dynamically during operation of said network based at least in part on the demand for said first use and said second use.

31. Mobile apparatus for administering a wireless network, comprising:

a digital processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor;

a first wireless interface adapted for communicating with a network access device; and

a computer program stored at least partly within said storage device, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed on said processor;

generate a user interface;

receive inputs regarding administering said network access device from a user via said user interface; and

transmit data relating at least in part to said inputs to said access device via said interface.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said apparatus further comprises a second wireless interface, said second interface comprising a cellular air interface, and said first wireless interface comprises a wireless LAN interface.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said cellular air interface comprises a 3G air interface, and said first wireless interface comprises a WiFi interface.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said administering said network access device comprises implementing one or more policies for allocating at least one resource of said access device.