QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES

• US 20100195503A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]

Abstract

Quality of Service (QoS) for Device Assisted Services (DAS) are provided. In some embodiments, QoS for DAS includes providing a wireless communications device configures to determine a QoS request for a service over a wireless network; and verify the QoS request for the service over the wireless network using one or more verification techniques.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of a communications device configured to;

determine a quality of service (QoS) request for a service over a wireless network; and

verify the QoS request for the service over the wireless network;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device is a mobile communications device or an intermediate networking device, and the service includes one or more Internet based services.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device is a mobile communications device, and the service includes one or more Internet based services, and wherein the mobile communications device includes one or more of the following:

a mobile phone, a PDA, an eBook reader, a music device, an entertainment/gaming device, a computer, laptop, a netbook, a tablet, and a home networking system.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the service supports one or more of the following service levels:

conversational, streaming, interactive data, and background data.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the QoS request is verified based on verified QoS access rules and/or based on verified service usage monitoring.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the QoS request through a QoS application programming interface (API).

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor use of the service; and

determine the QoS request based on the monitored use of the service.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor use of the service using a service processor; and

determine the QoS request based on the monitored use of the service, wherein the QoS request is determined based on one or more of the following;

an application activity, a service activity, and a pattern of application or service activity.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor use of the service using a service processor;

determine the QoS request based on the monitored use of the service; and

execute a user interface notification if the QoS request is determined, wherein the user notification includes one or more of the following;

a confirmation of the QoS request, a global confirmation for the QoS request and potential future similar types of QoS requests;

an option to purchase a new service level for the QoS request, and an option to upgrade to a new service plan.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor use of the service to determine an incoming QoS request or an outgoing QoS request.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

is implement a service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of the service on the wireless network, wherein the service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the service profile is associated with a service plan that specifies access to the service;

monitor use of the service based on the service profile; and

determine the QoS request based on the monitored use of the service.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the QoS request is authorized based on a service plan associated with the communications device.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the QoS request is authorized based on verified QoS access rules, wherein the verified QoS access rules are associated with a service plan for the communications device.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive QoS access rules from a service controller, wherein the QoS access rules are associated with a service plan for the communications device.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive QoS access rules from a service controller, wherein the QoS access rules include a QoS activity map that associates service usage and/or application usage with one or more QoS classes.

16. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the QoS request is authorized based on verified QoS access rules; and

execute a user interface notification if the QoS request is not authorized, wherein the user notification includes one or more of the following;

a denial of the QoS request, information explaining reason(s) for a denial of the QoS request, an option to purchase a new service level for the QoS request, and an option to upgrade to a new service plan.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a QoS session if the QoS request is determined to be authorized based on is verified QoS access rules.

18. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a QoS session if the QoS request is determined to be authorized based on verified QoS access rules; and

periodically verify the QoS session, wherein the QoS session is verified at least in part by comparing one or more device assisted service usage measures with one or more network based service usage measures.

19. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a QoS session if the QoS request is determined to be authorized based on verified QoS access rules; and

periodically verify the QoS session, wherein the QoS session is verified at least in part by performing one or more of the following;

compare a network based service usage measure with a first service policy associated with the communications device, compare a device assisted service usage measure with the first service policy, compare the network based service usage measure to the device assisted service usage measure, and perform a test and confirm a device assisted service usage measure based on the test.

20. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a QoS session if the QoS request is determined to be authorized based on verified QoS access rules; and

periodically verify the QoS session to verify one or more of the following;

the communications device is still authorized to perform the QoS session, the QoS session is communication at an authorized QoS level, and charging is accurate for the QoS session.

21. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to an access point if the QoS request is determined to be authorized based on verified QoS access rules, wherein the access point facilitates a QoS session for the QoS request based on network capacity.

22. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to an access point if the QoS request is determined to be authorized is based on verified QoS access rules, wherein the access point facilitates a QoS session for the QoS request based on network capacity, wherein the access point includes a base station.

23. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller, wherein the service controller coordinates a plurality of QoS requests for a plurality of communications devices in wireless communication with an access point, and wherein the service controller communicates with the access point to facilitate the QoS request for the communications device if the QoS request is determined to be authorized.

24. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller, wherein the service controller coordinates a plurality of QoS requests for a plurality of communications devices in wireless communication with one or more base stations, and wherein the service controller communicates with the one or more base stations to determine an available base station based on network capacity to facilitate the QoS request for the communications device if the QoS request is determined to be authorized; and

receive a response to the QoS request, wherein the response includes an indication of which base station is available to facilitate the QoS request.

25. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller, wherein the service controller coordinates a plurality of QoS requests for a plurality of communications devices in wireless communication with one or more base stations or other access point, wherein the service controller communicates with the one or more base stations to determine an available base station based on network capacity to facilitate the QoS request for the communications device if the QoS request is determined to be authorized, wherein the other access point includes a WiFi access point; and

receive a response to the QoS request, wherein the response includes an indication of which base station or other access point is available to facilitate the QoS request.

26. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller;

receive a QoS approval authorization from the service controller if the QoS request is determined to be authorized and network capacity is determined to be available for the QoS request;

send the QoS request to a base station, wherein the approved QoS request includes the QoS approval authorization for one or more QoS links for a QoS channel.

27. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller;

receive a QoS approval authorization from the service controller if the QoS request is determined to be authorized and network capacity is determined to be available for the QoS request, wherein the service controller communicates the QoS approval authorization to a base station;

send the QoS request to the base station to initiate a QoS channel, wherein the QoS channel includes one or more QoS links.

28. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller, wherein the service controller communicates with the one or more network devices to provision a QoS channel, wherein the QoS channel includes one or more QoS links; and

the service controller returns a QoS reservation for the provisioned QoS channel.

29. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the QoS request to a service controller, wherein the service controller communicates with the one or more network devices to provision a QoS channel through a carrier core network and/or an IPX network, wherein the QoS channel includes one or more QoS links.

30. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a QoS session if the QoS request is determined to be authorized; and

determine charging for the QoS session.

31. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a plurality of QoS sessions; and

determine charging for each of the plurality of QoS sessions, wherein the charging for is each of the plurality of QoS sessions is periodically verified.

32. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a plurality of QoS sessions; and

determine charging for each of the plurality of QoS sessions, wherein the charging for each of the plurality of QoS sessions is periodically verified at least in part using network based charging information.

33. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a QoS router for dynamically managing one or more QoS sessions for the communications device.

34. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a QoS router for dynamically managing one or more QoS channels for the communications device; and

send network capacity information to a service controller, wherein the service controller provides a policy decision point for QoS management for a plurality of communications devices in communication with one or more base stations.

35. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a QoS router for dynamically managing one or more QoS channels for the communications device;

send network capacity information to a service controller, wherein the service controller provides a policy decision point for QoS management for a plurality of communications devices in communication with one or more base stations; and

receive QoS router throttling instructions from the service controller, wherein the service controller provides the QoS router throttling instructions to assist in dynamically manage network capacity for the plurality of communications devices in communication with the one or is more base stations.

36. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a QoS router for dynamically managing one or more QoS sessions and one or more non-QoS sessions for the communications device, and wherein the QoS router upgrades QoS classes, downgrades QoS classes, deallocates QoS classes, and/or throttles service level usage for one or more QoS and/or non-QoS sessions based on wireless network bandwidth access.

37. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a QoS router for dynamically managing one or more QoS sessions and one or more non-QoS sessions for the communications device, wherein the QoS router upgrades QoS classes, downgrades QoS classes, deallocates QoS classes, and/or throttles service level usage for one or more QoS and/or non-QoS sessions based on wireless network bandwidth access, and wherein the QoS router facilitates one or more of the following;

a non-QoS best effort service level, a QoS differentiated service level, and a QoS guaranteed service level.

38. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate a plurality of QoS sessions using a QoS router, wherein the QoS router allocates an authorized QoS class for each QoS request, and wherein the QoS router periodically modifies the QoS class allocations for one or more QoS sessions and/or throttles non-QoS sessions to facilitate the plurality of QoS sessions; and

determine charging for each of the plurality of QoS sessions, wherein the charging for each of the plurality of QoS sessions is periodically verified.

39. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive network capacity information from a base station; and

execute a QoS router for managing one or more QoS sessions for the communications device, wherein the QoS router periodically modifies QoS class allocations for the one or more QoS sessions and/or throttles non-QoS sessions based on the network capacity information.

40. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive network capacity information from a base station; and

execute a QoS router for managing one or more QoS sessions for the communications device, wherein the QoS router periodically modifies QoS class allocations for the one or more QoS sessions and/or throttles non-QoS sessions based on the network capacity information; and

wherein the QoS router does not downgrade QoS class allocations if the communications device is associated with a service plan that provides for a non-throttled QoS service level.

41. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

executing a QoS router, wherein the user is offered a choice of whether or not to allow the QoS router to dynamically manage QoS and/or non-QoS services.

42. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine charging for a QoS session, wherein the charging is determined based on one or more of the following;

a QoS class, an allocated network bandwidth, a router queue priority, and per allocated radio access bearer (RAB), and wherein the charging for the QoS session is verified.

43. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a service processor for implementing verified DAS QoS in a secure hardware partition of the processor.

44. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a service processor for implementing verified DAS QoS, wherein the service processor is executed in a kernel of an operating system.

45. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a service processor for implementing verified DAS QoS, wherein the processor is in a secure modem.

46. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send a QoS request for network resources for an end to end coordinated QoS service channel control for a conversational class session between the communications device and another communications device, wherein the request for network resources is directed to one or more of the following networks;

a base station, a transport core network, an IPX network, and a GRX network.

47. A method, comprising:

determining a quality of service (QoS) request for a service over a wireless network; and

verifying the QoS request for the service over the wireless network.

48. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

determining a quality of service (QoS) request for a service over a wireless network; and

verifying the QoS request for the service over the wireless network.

49. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

receive a quality of service (QoS) request for a service over a wireless network from one or more communications devices; and

determine if the QoS request for the service over the wireless network is authorized and/or available based on network capacity;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

50. The system recited in claim 49, wherein the processor is further configured to:

setup an end to end coordinated QoS service channel control for a conversational class session between a first communications device and a second communications device.