Long Term Evolution Radio Network Application-Level Load Balancing

• US 20130290537A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0861 between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0942 based on measured or predicted load of entities- or links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/095 based on usage history, e.g. usage history of devices

Abstract

A network device may receive an application level load balancing factor, and instruct another network device to load balance data packets based on an analysis of the application level load balancing factor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an application level load balancing factor;

ranking a communication link based on the application level load balancing factor; and

providing instructions to distribute data packets based on the rank of the communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises at least one of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises a combination of at least two of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the application identifier identifies different types of video streaming applications.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the traffic status/condition index includes one of a packet delay information, error information, historic traffic pattern information, or processor information of a network device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user profile includes one of a bandwidth allowance indicator or a service permission indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device capability identifier is based on at least one of a device category, a device frame rate, or a device display resolution.

8. A network device comprising:

a transmitter configured to;

receive an application level load balancing factor; and

a processor configured to;

calculate a ranking for a communication link based on the application level load balancing factor; and

provide instructions to distribute data packets based on the calculated rank of the communication link.

9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises at least one of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

10. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises a combination of at least two of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user profile includes one of a bandwidth allowance indicator or a service permission indicator.

12. The network device of claim 9, wherein the traffic status/condition index includes one of a packet delay information, error information, historic traffic pattern information, or processor information of a network device.

13. The network device of claim 9, wherein the device capability identifier is based on at least one of a device category, a device frame rate, or a device display resolution.

14. A system comprising:

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that sends or receives data packets; and

a network device configured to;

receive an application level load balancing factor;

calculate a ranking for a communication link based on the application level load balancing factor; and

provide instructions to distribute data packets based on the calculated rank of the communication link.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises at least one of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises at least two of an application identifier, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the application identifier identifies different types of video streaming applications.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the traffic status/condition index includes one of a packet delay information, error information, historic traffic pattern information, or processor information of a network device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the user profile includes one of a bandwidth allowance indicator or a service permission indicator.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the device capability identifier is based on at least one of a device category, a device frame rate, or a device display resolution.