System and Method for Dynamic Allocation of Capacity on Wireless Networks

• US 20150117331A1
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• 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: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/566 of the information or information source or recipient
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

A wireless communication system is described for allocating limited network access according to priorities designated for requested transactions of wireless communications. The wireless network has a number of access links for transmitting transactions for wireless communications. A plurality of wireless communications devices requests transmission of transactions on the wireless network. A designated priority level is associated with each transaction. In response to the transaction requests, an access control manager in the wireless network schedules transmission of transactions when all of the plurality of access links are occupied, by authorizing a transmission of a transaction of higher priority than another transaction that is being transmitted, and discontinuing the transmission of the transaction of lower priority.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

an application; and

a communications manager for

receiving, from the application, a transaction request for a transaction, the transaction associated with a priority level, wherein the priority level effects a quality of service across a wireless network and a wired network, and

generating a control packet to request transmission of the transaction, the control packet comprising the priority level for the transaction and at least one of a desired data rate for transmission of the transaction, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is a symmetric transmission or an asymmetric transmission, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is associated with an encryption on or an encryption off, an acceptable delay for transmission of the transaction, an estimated quantity of data for transmission of the transaction, an expected duration for transmission of the transaction, or a destination point of session for transmission of the transaction.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a queue that stores data of the transaction to be transmitted.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications manager is further for reconfiguring the control packet associated with the transaction to associate a remaining portion of the data of the transaction stored within the queue with a higher priority level.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications manager is further for transmitting the control packet to the wireless network to request transmission of the transaction.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 5, wherein the communications manager is further for waiting to receive a broadcast message from the wireless network describing a current capacity of the wireless network before retransmitting the control packet to request transmission of the transaction, in response to a denial of access from the wireless network denying transmission of the transaction.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to operate at a plurality of priority levels.

3. The wireless communications device of 2, wherein the transaction is scheduled within the queue based on the priority level.

8. A method comprising receiving, at an access control manager of a wireless network, a control packet requesting transmission of a first transaction associated with a first priority level, wherein the first priority level effects a quality of service across the wireless network and a wired network and wherein the control packet comprises the first priority level for the first transaction and at least one of a desired data rate for transmission of the transaction, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is a symmetric transmission or an asymmetric transmission, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is associated with an encryption on or an encryption off, an acceptable delay for transmission of the transaction, an estimated quantity of data for transmission of the transaction, an expected duration for transmission of the transaction, or a destination point of session for transmission of the transaction.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control packet, determining whether access to the wireless network at the first priority level is available; and

in response to determining that access to the wireless network at the first priority level is available, providing authorization to transmit the first transaction.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control packet, determining whether access to the wireless network at the first priority level is available; and

in response to determining that access to the wireless network at the first priority level is unavailable, sending a denial of access denying transmission of the first transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that access to the wireless network at the first priority level has been unavailable for an amount of time; and

providing a warning message that access to the wireless network at the first priority level is unavailable.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, after providing the warning message, a reconfigured control packet requesting transmission of the first transaction, wherein the reconfigured control packet comprises a second priority level for the first transaction, the second priority level higher than the first priority level.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control packet, identifying a second transaction associated with a second priority level being transmitted, the second priority level lower than the first priority level; and

discontinuing transmission of the second transaction to allow transmission of the first transaction associated with the first priority level.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising broadcasting a message describing a current capacity of the wireless network.

15. A method comprising receiving, at an access control manager of a wireless network, a control packet requesting transmission of a first transaction associated with a first priority level, the control packet comprising the first priority level for the first transaction and at least one of a desired data rate for transmission of the transaction, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is a symmetric transmission or an asymmetric transmission, information indicating whether transmission of the transaction is associated with an encryption on or an encryption off, an acceptable delay for transmission of the transaction, an estimated quantity of data for transmission of the transaction, an expected duration for transmission of the transaction, or a destination point of session for transmission of the transaction.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control packet, determining whether access to the wireless network at the first priority level is available; and

in response to determining that access to the wireless network at the first priority level is unavailable, sending a denial of access denying transmission of the first transaction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that access to the wireless network at the first priority level has been unavailable for an amount of time; and

providing a warning message that access to the wireless network at the first priority level is unavailable.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, after providing the warning message, a reconfigured control packet requesting transmission of the first transaction, wherein the reconfigured control packet comprises a second priority level for the first transaction, the second priority level higher than the first priority level.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control packet, identifying a second transaction associated with a second priority level being transmitted, the second priority level lower than the first priority level; and

discontinuing transmission of the second transaction to allow transmission of the first transaction associated with the first priority level.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising broadcasting a message describing a current capacity of the wireless network.