APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTELLIGENT SCHEDULING IN HYBRID NETWORKS BASED ON CLIENT IDENTITY

• US 20130294417A1
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yerrabommanahalli, Vikram B., Vashi, Prashant H., Shi, Jianxiong, Vallath, Sreevalsan
• Granted Patent: US 10,327,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for intelligent scheduling in hybrid networks based on client identity. For example, in one embodiment, the hybrid networks are cellular networks (e.g., LTE and CDMA 1X), and a cellular device uses a single-radio solution to support circuit-switched calls on a CDMA 1X network and packet-switched calls on LTE. Periodically, the cellular device tunes away from LTE and monitors CDMA 1X activity, and vice versa. The LTE network can infer the cellular device'"'"'s tune away schedule, based on the device'"'"'s identity, and the paging schedule algorithm of the CDMA 1X network.

Claims

1. A network apparatus that comprises an Evolved Node B (eNB) configured to operate in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the network apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a wireless interface in data communication with the processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed, cause the network apparatus to;

receive information identifying a client device that is in communication with the apparatus via the wireless interface;

based at least in part on the received information, identify at least one other wireless network with which the client device can operate, wherein the at least one other wireless network comprises a 3GPP2 Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) network;

based at least in part on the identified at least one other wireless network, determine at least one scheduled tune-away event to be conducted by the client device; and

during the at least one tune-away event, modify the operation of at least one of (i) the client device relative to the network apparatus, or (ii) the network apparatus relative to the client device.

2. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification of the at least one other wireless network is based at least on a type or model of the identified client device.

3. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification of the at least one other wireless network is based at least on a communication or message sent by the client device, the communication or message comprising information enabling identification of the one or more other networks.

4. The network apparatus of claim 3, wherein the determination of at least one scheduled tune-away event to be conducted by the client device is based at least on a communication or message sent by the client device.

5. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of at least one scheduled tune-away event to be conducted by the client device is based on a communication or message sent by the client device.

6. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of at least one scheduled tune-away event to be conducted by the client device is based at least on historical operational data of client device.

7. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises placing at least one aspect of the client device in a suspended or frozen state.

8. The network apparatus of claim 7, wherein the suspended or frozen state is maintained for a prescribed period of time, after expiration of which the at least one aspect is returned to normal operation.

9. The network apparatus of claim 7, wherein the suspended or frozen state is maintained until a prescribed message or communication is received from the client device.

10. The network apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises not servicing at least one aspect of the operation of the client device so as to reduce wasted network resource allocation during the at least one tune-away event.

11. A method for intelligent scheduling based on client identity, comprising:

identifying a client device;

determining one or more tune-away events associated with the identified client device;

during the one or more tune-away events, suspending at least one aspect of the operation of the client device; and

otherwise servicing the client device normally.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification of the client device comprises an identification of a user or subscriber identity associated with the client device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification of the client device further comprises accessing an account associated with the identified user or subscriber identity, the account indicating a client device type.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification of the client device comprises determination of an identification parameter uniquely associated with the client device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the one or more tune-away events comprises determining one or more scheduled tune-away events from a schedule for the client device provided to a network base station.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the one or more tune-away events comprises inferring one or more tune-away events from a technology type associated with a wireless network with which the client device is capable of operating.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the inferring one or more tune-away events from a technology type associated with a wireless network with which the client device is capable of operating comprises evaluation of a QoS (Quality of Service) Class Identifier (QCI) for hybrid type devices.

18. A non-volatile computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by a host device, cause the host device to:

receive information enabling identification of a client device that is in communication with the host device via a wireless interface thereof;

based at least in part on the received information, identify at least one other wireless technology which the client device can utilize;

based at least in part on the identified at least one other wireless network, determine at least one tune-away event to be conducted by the client device at a future time; and

during the at least one tune-away event, suspend at least one aspect of operation between the client device and the host device so as to reduce wasting of resources.

19. The non-volatile computer readable medium of claim 18, where the determination of the at least one tune-away event to be conducted by the client device is based on a communication or message sent by the client device.

20. The non-volatile computer readable medium of claim 18, where the determination of the at least one tune-away event to be conducted by the client device is based at least on historical operational data of the client device.