Method and Apparatus For Assigning Network Resource

• US 20150319053A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: HUANG, Vincent, HUBER, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,794,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/828 Allocation of resources per group of connections, e.g. per group of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method of assigning network resource between users of a network is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of monitoring a measure of user experience of users accessing a service within the network (step 120), determining a current level of user satisfaction with the service accessed for users within the network (step 130), and distributing network resource between users to minimise the number of users exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that is below a first threshold level (step 140). Also disclosed is a computer program product for carrying out a method of assigning network resource between users of a network and a system (200) configured to assign network resource between users of a network.

Claims

1. A method of assigning network resource between users of a network, comprising:

monitoring a measure of user experience of users accessing a service within the network;

determining a current level of user satisfaction with the service accessed for users within the network; and

distributing network resource between users to minimize the number of users exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that is below a first threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current level of user satisfaction comprises assessing the monitored measure of user experience against a satisfaction threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current level of user satisfaction comprises extracting a level of user satisfaction from the measure of user experience.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises extracting a current level of service functionality from the measure of user experience, and associating the level of service functionality and corresponding user satisfaction in a stored user profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises determining a current network resource allocation and associating the level of service functionality with the current network resource allocation in a service information database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current level of user satisfaction comprises reading a level of user satisfaction from an appropriate user profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current level of user satisfaction comprises:

reading a level of service functionality associated with the measure of user experience from a service information database; and

reading the level of user satisfaction associated with the level of service functionality from an appropriate user profile.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing network resource comprises:

identifying a first user exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that is below the threshold level;

identifying a second user exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that satisfies a high satisfaction criterion; and

reassigning network resource from the second user to the first user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein distributing network resource further comprises:

determining the amount of additional network resource required to increase the satisfaction level of the first user to above the threshold level; and

reassigning the determined amount of network resource.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining the new level of satisfaction of the first user;

assessing whether or not the new level of satisfaction is greater than the threshold level; and

if the satisfaction level is not greater than the threshold level, repeating the steps of identifying a second user and reassigning network resource.

11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a code configured, when run on a computer, to execute the method of claim 1.

12. A system for assigning network resource between users of a network, comprising:

a monitoring unit configured to monitor a measure of user experience of users accessing a service within the network;

a determining unit configured to determine a current level of user satisfaction with the service accessed for users within the network; and

a distributing unit configured to distribute network resource between users to minimize the number of users exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that is below a threshold level.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a user profile storage, configured to hold at least one user profile associating user satisfaction with service functionality.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a service information database configured to store network resource allocation and corresponding service functionality for services available on the network.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the distributing unit comprises a resource management unit and an allocation unit, wherein the resource management unit is configured to:

identify a first user exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that is below the threshold level;

identify a second user exhibiting a level of user satisfaction that satisfies a high satisfaction criterion; and

determine an amount of network resource for reallocation;

and wherein the allocation unit is configured to;

reassign the determined amount of network resource from the second user to the first user.