Systems and Methods for Dynamic Aggregation of Bandwidth

• US 20100316028A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Kevin W., Allen, Todd W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for the dynamic aggregation of communications network bandwidth. Communication devices are bonded in a community in which the communication resources of a bonded device can be used to transfer data on behalf of another bonded device. In an exemplary embodiment, communication devices are bonded wirelessly to share wireless wide area network communication channels. Bandwidth aggregation is performed dynamically based on user communication requirements and the current states of the bonded communication devices. Methods are presented by which communication devices can be automatically bonded when a predetermined bonding condition is satisfied. The methods and systems of the invention optimize utilization of communication resources in a cost-effective manner that provides a user high quality service as well as location mobility.

Claims

1. A system for aggregating communication bandwidth, the system comprising:

at least two bonded communication devices, each configured to transmit and receive data over a wide area network communication channel; and

a network controller configured to dynamically aggregate bandwidth among the bonded communication devices in accordance with a predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network controller is configured to dynamically aggregate bandwidth further in accordance with communication requirements and communication states of the bonded communication devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network controller is configured to multiplex data among the bonded communication devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network controller comprises one of:

at least one of the bonded communication devices; and

a dedicated device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme comprises a geographical scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a geographical condition is satisfied.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined scheme comprises a temporal scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a temporal condition is satisfied.

7. A system for aggregating bandwidth, the system comprising:

a network manager configured to communicate over a wide area communication channel; and

at least two bonded communication devices configured to receive data from and deliver data to the network manager over the wide area communication channel;

wherein the network manager is further configured to dynamically aggregate bandwidth in accordance with a predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wide area communication channel is a wireless wide area communication channel.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme comprises a geographical scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a geographical condition is satisfied.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme comprises a temporal scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a temporal condition is satisfied.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the network manager is further configured to multiplex data according to communication requirements and communication states of the bonded communication devices.

12. A method for dynamically aggregating communications channels, the method comprising:

bonding at least two communication devices, each communication device being configured to communicate over a unique wide area network communication channel; and

dynamically aggregating the wide area network communication channels of the bonded communication devices in accordance with a predetermined scheme.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bonding comprises communicatively coupling the communication devices in a control network configured to aggregate bandwidth of coupled devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein communicatively coupling comprises wirelessly communicatively coupling.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined scheme comprises a geographical scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a geographical condition is satisfied.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined scheme comprises a temporal scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a temporal condition is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein dynamically aggregating the wide area network communication channels comprises dynamically aggregating the wide area network communication channels based upon communication requirements and communication states of the bonded communication devices.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein dynamically aggregating the wide area network communication channels comprises using the unique wide area network communication channel corresponding to a first bonded communication device of the bonded communication devices to transfer data on behalf of a second bonded communication device of the bonded communication devices.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising dynamically releasing the aggregated communication channels so that the wide area network communication channel corresponding to the first bonded communication device of the bonded communication devices is no longer used to transfer data on behalf of the second bonded communication device of the bonded communication devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein dynamically releasing the communication channels comprises dynamically releasing communication channels according to communication requirements and states of the bonded communication devices.