System and Method for Adaptive Fair Usage Controls in Wireless Networks

• US 20100216424A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Canadian Managed Services Inc. (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgewater Systems Corp. (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: GANS, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system and method to determine excessive usage across a base station coverage region for the purpose of ensuring fair usage for all wireless data subscribers. During a configurable time window, subscriber usage is monitored. Subscriber usage above a threshold level is deemed excessive and triggers an operator-defined business rule. Based on the business rule, the subscriber'"'"'s service may be reduced. The system and method adapts to the number of subscribers within the base station coverage region when making an excessive usage determination. This approach enables bursty data protocols to be fully supported, while detecting excessive usage patterns.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an adaptive fair usage module configured to;

receive, over a defined time period, a set of accounting messages associated with wireless network usage of a mobile subscriber, wherein the accounting message identifies a base station accessed by the mobile subscriber,

determine a usage value for the mobile subscriber based on the set of received accounting messages,

determine a fair usage threshold value for the base station, compare the usage value and the fair usage threshold value, and

execute a business rule if the usage value exceeds the fair usage threshold level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the business rule includes the logging of an event.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fair usage threshold value is based, in part, on a response from a real-time session database, and wherein the response is indicative of the number of active users of the base station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the usage value is determined based on at least one of a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber, a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber between adjacent accounting messages, a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber including bytes for a prior session, and a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber during a current billing cycle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fair usage threshold value is determined based on at least one of a static pre-configured value, a pre-configured value that is associated with a time of day, the number of active users, and a pre-configured value associated with the mobile subscriber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adaptive fair usage module is further configured to:

perform a corrective action if the usage value exceeds the fair usage threshold value.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving, over a defined time period, a set of accounting messages associated with wireless network usage of a mobile subscriber, wherein the accounting message identifies a base station accessed by the mobile subscriber;

determining a usage value for the mobile subscriber based on the set of received accounting messages;

determining a fair usage threshold value for the base station;

comparing the usage value and the fair usage threshold value; and

performing a corrective action if the usage value exceeds the fair usage threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber between adjacent accounting messages.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber including bytes for a prior session.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining by an adaptive fair usage module a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber during a current billing cycle.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a fair usage threshold value includes querying a real-time session database to receive the number of active users serviced by a base station coverage area.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including control logic stored therein, the control logic comprising:

receiving, over a defined time period, a set of accounting messages associated with wireless network usage of a mobile subscriber, wherein the accounting message identifies a base station accessed by the mobile subscriber;

determining a usage value for the mobile subscriber based on the set of received accounting messages;

determining a fair usage threshold value for the base station, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining by an adaptive fair usage module a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber during a current billing cycle;

comparing the usage value and the fair usage threshold value; and

performing a corrective action if the usage value exceeds the fair usage threshold value.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber between adjacent accounting messages.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber including bytes for a prior session.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determining a usage value includes determining by an adaptive fair usage module a total number of bytes transferred to the mobile subscriber during a current billing cycle.