METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING QUALITY-OF-SERVICE IN RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method for providing quality-of-service in a radio access network (RAN), comprising:
- receiving packets of a packet flow at a first network element of the RAN, wherein the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN, wherein each packet of the packet flow comprises an indication of a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, wherein the quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN is based on at least one characteristic of the packet flow; and
applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes a method and apparatus adapted for providing quality-of-service to a packet flow within a Radio Access Network (RAN). In one embodiment, a method includes receiving packets of a packet flow at a first network element of the RAN, where the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN and each packet of the packet flow comprises an indication of a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, and, applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN. The quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN is based on at least one characteristic of the packet flow, which may be determined in any manner, such as using information included in the packet headers, using deep packet inspection techniques, and the like. The indication of the quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN may be set either inside the RAN or outside the RAN.
63 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for providing quality-of-service in a radio access network (RAN), comprising:
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receiving packets of a packet flow at a first network element of the RAN, wherein the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN, wherein each packet of the packet flow comprises an indication of a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, wherein the quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN is based on at least one characteristic of the packet flow; and applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for providing quality-of-service in a radio access network (RAN), comprising:
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means for receiving packets of a packet flow at a first network element of the RAN, wherein the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN, wherein each packet of the packet flow comprises an indication of a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, wherein the quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN is based on at least one characteristic of the packet flow; and means for applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN.
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24. A method for providing quality-of-service in a radio access network (RAN), comprising:
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receiving packets of a packet flow, wherein the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN; determining a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, wherein the quality-of-service policy is based on at least one characteristic associated with the packet flow; and applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for providing quality-of-service in a radio access network (RAN), comprising:
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means for receiving packets of a packet flow, wherein the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN; means for determining a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, wherein the quality-of-service policy is based on at least one characteristic associated with the packet flow; and means for applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN.
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Specification