Smart RAN

• US 20130044705A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Akhtar, Haseeb, Mildh, Gunnar, Rimbark, Mattias
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A smart RAN for wireless distributed cloud computing with a UE, the RAN in communication with a Wi-Fi network, an LTE network and a 3G network. The RAN includes a network interface unit that communicates with the LTE in 3G networks. The RAN includes a processing unit which chooses which of the Wi-Fi, LTE and 3G networks to use to send and receive data at a given time based on loading condition of each radio access network technology, user'"'"'s application/service requirements and user'"'"'s policy. A method for sending and receiving data of a smart RAN for wireless distributed cloud computing with an UE and the RAN that is simultaneously in communication with a Wi-Fi network, an LTE network and a 3G network.

Claims

1. A smart Radio Access Network (RAN) for wireless distributed cloud computing with a User Equipment (UE), the RAN in communication with a Wi-Fi network, an LTE network and a 3G network, the RAN comprising:

a network interface unit that communicates with the Wi-Fi, LTE and 3G networks; and

a processing unit which chooses which of the Wi-Fi, LTE and 3G networks to use to send and receive data at a given time based on loading condition of each radio access network technology, user'"'"'s application/service requirements and user'"'"'s policy.

2. The RAN of claim 1 wherein the data is sent and received as packets and the processing unit performs packet inspection and enforces filtering/quality of service in regard to the packets.

3. The RAN of claim 2 wherein the processing unit performs Serving Gateway (SGW) function, PDN Gateway (PGW) function and Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) function.

4. The RAN of claim 3 wherein the processing unit performs AD insertion, multiservice proxy, firewall and security and SIPTO/LIPA functions.

5. The RAN of claim 4 wherein the processing unit performs multiservice proxy to identify services and then map these services down on different QoS bearers based on policies.

6. The RAN of claim 4 wherein the processing unit performs setup or modification of radio bearers is triggered via Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Web Services AS (Application Server), API Gateway or any other Application Function (AF) servers.

7. The RAN of claim 4 wherein the processing unit establishes QoS granularity by performing packet inspection with either SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) or DPI (DEEP Packet Inspection).

8. The RAN of claim 4 wherein the processing unit provides feedback to a video coder through the network interface for the video coder to adapt the video coder'"'"'s service rate to radio/transport loading condition at any given instance.

9. The RAN of claim 7 wherein the processing unit causes the AD Insertion function to interact with an operator'"'"'s Mobile Marketing and Advertising components to receive an advertisement impression that needs to be sent to the UE.

10. The RAN of claim 9 wherein the processing unit causes the DPI function to inform the AD Selection and Campaign Management function about specific user behaviors in order to assist an operator to develop target advertisements for the UE.

11. A method for sending and receiving data of a smart Radio Access Network (RAN) for wireless distributed cloud computing with a User Equipment (UE), the RAN in communication with a Wi-Fi network, an LTE network and a 3G network, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating with the Wi-Fi, LTE in 3G networks through a network interface unit of the RAN; and

choosing with a processing unit of the RAN which of the Wi-Fi, LTE and 3G networks to use to send and receive data at a given time based on loading condition of each radio access network technology, user'"'"'s application/service requirements and user'"'"'s policy.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data is sent and received as packets and including the step of the processing unit performing packet inspection and enforces filtering/quality of service in regard to the packets.

13. The method of claim 12 including the step of the processing unit performs Serving Gateway (SGW) function, PDN Gateway (PGW) function and Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) function.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of the processing unit performing AD insertion, multiservice proxy, firewall and security and SIPTO/LIPA.

15. The method of claim 14 including the step of the processing unit performing multiservice proxy to identify services and then map these services down on different QoS bearers based on policies.

16. The method of claim 14 including the step of the processing unit performing setup or modification of radio bearers is triggered via Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Web Services AS (Application Server), API Gateway or any other Application Function (AF) servers.

17. The method of claim 14 including the step of the processing unit establishing QoS granularity by performing packet inspection with either SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) or DPI (Deep Packet Inspection).

18. The method of claim 14 including the step of the processing unit providing feedback to a video coder through the network interface for the video coder to adapt the video coder'"'"'s service rate to accommodate the radio/transport loading condition at any given instance.

19. The method of claim 17 including the step of the processing unit causing the AD Insertion function to interact with an operator'"'"'s Mobile Marketing and Advertising components to receive an advertisement impression that needs to be sent to the UE.

20. The method of claim 19 including the step of the processing unit causing the DPI function to inform the AD Selection and Campaign Management function about specific user behaviors in order to assist an operator to develop target advertisements for the UE.