System and Method for Adapting an Application Source Rate to a Load Condition

• US 20100318670A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Alok, Al-Shalash, Mazin, Yang, Yunsong
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A system and method for adapting an application source rate to a load condition are provided. A method for forming a connection includes receiving a service authorization request for service between the first device and the second device, requesting a formation of a first bearer at a first data rate between the first device and the second device, and determining if the first bearer was formed. The method also includes transmitting a first positive response if the first bearer was formed, forming a second bearer at a second data rate if the first bearer was not formed, and completing the connection. The service authorization request includes a request to establish a connection at the first data rate, and the second data rate is different from the first data rate.

Claims

1. A method for forming a connection, the method comprising:

receiving a service authorization request for service between a first device and a second device, wherein the service authorization request comprises a request to establish a connection at a first data rate;

requesting a formation of a first bearer at the first data rate between the first device and the second device;

determining if the first bearer was formed;

transmitting a first positive response if the first bearer was formed;

forming a second bearer at a second data rate between the first device and the second device if the first bearer was not formed, wherein the second data rate is different from the first data rate; and

completing the connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data rate is based on communications system load.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data rate is less than the first data rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the bearer at a second data rate comprises transmitting a negative response, wherein the negative response comprises the second data rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the bearer at a second data rate comprises:

requesting a formation of the second bearer between the first device and the second device;

determining if the second bearer was formed;

transmitting a second positive response if the second bearer was formed; and

forming a third bearer at a third data rate between the first device and the second device if the second bearer was not formed, wherein the third data rate is different from second data rate and the first data rate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein requesting a formation of the second bearer, the determining if the second bearer was formed, the transmitting a second positive response, and the forming a third bearer at a third data rate occurs at an applications function of a communications system.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein requesting a formation of the second bearer, the determining if the second bearer was formed, the transmitting a second positive response, and the forming a third bearer at a third data rate occurs at policy and charging rules function of a communications system.

8. A method for forming a connection including a communications device, the method comprising:

setting up a subscription for signalling path information, wherein the signalling path originates or terminates at the communications device;

receiving signalling path information upon an occurrence of a trigger event;

determining acceptable service information based on the signalling path information; and

completing the connection based on the acceptable service information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein setting up a subscription comprises:

sending a request for subscription to notification of signalling path status to an anchor of the communications device; and

receiving a response.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the request includes a specification of the trigger event.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein setting a subscription occurs during an initial connection setup for the communications device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining acceptable service information comprises determining an acceptable data rate for the connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining an acceptable data rate comprises finding a highest supportable data rate based on the signalling path information.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the signalling path information comprises cell load information.

15. A method for communications device operations, the method comprising:

receiving congestion information related to a communications controller serving a communications device;

processing the received congestion information;

requesting a formation of a connection in response to determining that the communications device is to participate in the connection, wherein the connection has a data rate based on the accumulated congestion information; and

adjusting an active data rate of an active connection to an adjusted data rate in response to determining that the communications device is participating in the active connection, wherein the active data rate is adjusted based on the accumulated congestion information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the congestion information is broadcast to communications devices served by the communications controller periodically or upon an occurrence of an event.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein processing the received congestion information comprises accumulating the received congestion information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the accumulating occurs over an accumulation window.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjusting an active data rate occurs with a probability associated with a transition between the active data rate of the active connection and to the adjusted data rate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the adjusted data rate is less than or equal to an initial data rate of the active connection at formation of the active connection.