ENSURING QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR PRIVATE SHORT-RANGE WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20120314571A1
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: FORSSELL, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system manages the integration of a private short-range wireless network into a service/mobility domain with ensured quality of service. A server provides to wireless terminal devices, connection information including at least one of available quality of service (QoS), an indication of the access points, or an indication of services provided by one or more access points registered with the server. The server maintains information specifying a minimum quality of service (QoS) for first wireless terminal devices authorized for private network access, and rules for granting access to second wireless terminal devices authorized for shared network access, for one or more access points registered with the server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining by a network server, connection information, including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the server in a network;

receiving at the server, a request from a wireless terminal device, requesting information on accessing wireless resources available from one or more access points;

providing by the server to the wireless terminal device, connection information including at least one of available quality of service, an indication of the access points, or an indication of services provided by one or more access points registered with the server; and

allowing by the server, the wireless terminal device to select one of the available access points.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting by the server, a command to the wireless terminal device to select one of the access points.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server receives the request from the wireless terminal device over at least one of a long-range wireless communications link or over a short-range wireless communications link via an access point.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the network server maintains information specifying a minimum quality of service for first wireless terminal devices authorized for private network access, and rules for granting access to second wireless terminal devices authorized for shared network access, for one or more access points registered with the server;

denying by the server, access to one or more access points for the wireless terminal device upon detection of at least one of a security condition, a lack of sufficient credentials for the user of the wireless terminal device to access the one or more access points, or insufficient availability of quality of service, based on the rules, if the wireless terminal device is a second wireless terminal device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a short-range communications network including at least a Bluetooth network, BluLite network, WLAN network, UWB network, Zigbee network, UHF RFID network, or Wireless USB.

6. A method, comprising:

enabling by a server, a wireless network to deliver resources for at least two classes of devices including home devices and visitor devices;

detecting by the server, one or more wireless devices within a coverage area of the wireless network;

identifying by the server, each of the one or more detected wireless devices as a home device or a visitor device;

determining by the server, admission behavior for the wireless network, the admission behavior ensuring minimum quality of service for home devices, comprising how wireless resources will be allocated between home and visitor devices based on predetermined rules requiring a minimum quality of service level for home devices; and

reducing by the server, quality of service for visitor devices when at least one home device is present and not receiving the minimum quality of service.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

increasing by the server, quality of service for visitor devices when home devices are not using the wireless network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the network is a short-range communications network including at least a Bluetooth network, BluLite network, WLAN network, UWB network, Zigbee network, UHF RFID network, or Wireless USB.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

maintain connection information, including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the apparatus in a network;

receive a request from a wireless terminal device, requesting information on accessing wireless resources available from one or more access points;

provide to the wireless terminal device, connection information including at least one of available quality of service, an indication of the access points, or an indication of services provided by one or more access points registered with the apparatus; and

allow the wireless terminal device to select one of the available access points.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit a command to the wireless terminal device to select one of the access points.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus receives the request from the wireless terminal device over at least one of a long-range wireless communications link or over a short-range wireless communications link via an access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein the apparatus maintains information specifying a minimum quality of service for first wireless terminal devices authorized for private network access, and rules for granting access to second wireless terminal devices authorized for shared network access, for one or more access points registered with the apparatus;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

deny access to one or more access points for the wireless terminal device upon detection of at least one of a security condition, a lack of sufficient credentials for the user of the wireless terminal device to access the one or more access points, or insufficient availability of quality of service, based on the rules, if the wireless terminal device is a second wireless terminal device.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

enable a wireless network to deliver resources for at least two classes of devices including home devices and visitor devices;

detect one or more wireless devices within a coverage area of the wireless network;

identify each of the one or more detected wireless devices as a home device or a visitor device;

determine admission behavior for the wireless network, the admission behavior ensuring minimum quality of service for home devices, comprising how wireless resources will be allocated between home and visitor devices based on predetermined rules requiring a minimum quality of service level for home devices; and

reduce quality of service for visitor devices when at least one home device is present and not receiving the minimum quality of service.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

increase quality of service for visitor devices when home devices are not using the wireless network.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a wireless terminal device, through an access point to a network management server, a request for information on accessing wireless resources available from one or more access points in a network;

receiving by the wireless terminal device, connection information including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the server, if the wireless terminal device is a first device and a quality of service is available for the one or more access points, that is equal to or greater than a minimum quality of service;

receiving by the wireless terminal device, connection information including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the server, if the wireless terminal device is a second device, based on rules for granting access to second wireless terminal devices; and

receiving by the wireless terminal device, a denial by the server, of access to one or more access points upon detection of at least one of a security condition, a lack of sufficient credentials for the user of the wireless terminal device to access the one or more access points, or insufficient availability of quality of service, based on the rules, if the wireless terminal device is a second device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless terminal device transmits the request to the server over at least one of a long-range wireless communications link or over a short-range wireless communications link via an access point.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the minimum quality of service is provided by an access point for first wireless terminal devices connected to the access point and a remaining portion of available bandwidth is provided by the access point for second wireless terminal devices connected to the access point, based on at least one of rules or an agreement between an owner of the access point and a service provider.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the network is a short-range communications network including at least a Bluetooth network, BluLite network, WLAN network, UWB network, Zigbee network, UHF RFID network, or Wireless USB.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one communication module;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit through an access point to a network management server, a request for information on accessing wireless resources available from one or more access points;

receive connection information including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the server, if the apparatus is a first device and a quality of service is available for the one or more access points, that is equal to or greater than a minimum quality of service;

receive connection information including at least one of available quality of service, a record of access points, or a record of services provided, for one or more access points registered with the server, if the apparatus is a second device, based on rules for granting access to second wireless terminal devices; and

receive a denial by the server, of access to one or more access points upon detection of at least one of a security condition, a lack of sufficient credentials for the user of the wireless terminal device to access the one or more access points, or insufficient availability of quality of service, based on the rules, if the wireless terminal device is a second device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus transmits the request to the server over at least one of a long-range wireless communications link or over a short-range wireless communications link via an access point.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the minimum quality of service is provided by an access point for first wireless terminal devices connected to the access point and a remaining portion of available bandwidth is provided by the access point for second wireless terminal devices connected to the access point, based on at least one of rules or an agreement between an owner of the access point and a service provider.