MULTICHANNEL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20170127417A1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Andreoli-Fang, Jennifer, Babaei, Alireza
• Granted Patent: US 10,327,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/082 among bearers or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein provide for multichannel communications. In one embodiment, a communication system includes a plurality of traffic channels operable to link to a UE via one or more communication networks. The communication system also includes a traffic processor operable to receive a request for data from the UE, to evaluate the traffic channels based on the requested data, to select a first and a second of the traffic channels based on the evaluation, and to convey the data over the first and second traffic channels to the UE.

Claims

1. A multichannel communication system, comprising:

a plurality of traffic channels operable to link to a user equipment (UE) via one or more communication networks; and

a traffic processor operable to receive a request for data from the UE, to evaluate the traffic channels based on the requested data, to select a first and a second of the traffic channels based on the evaluation, and to convey the data over the first and second traffic channels to the UE.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the traffic processor is further operable to identify first and second components of the data, to separate the first and second components of the data, to convey the first component of the data to the UE over the first traffic channel, to convey the second component of the data to the UE over the second traffic channel.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the traffic processor is further operable to receive data from the UE over a third of the traffic channels, to receive data from the UE over a fourth of the traffic channels, to determine that the data over the third traffic channel is associated with the data over the fourth traffic channel, and to combine the data of the third and fourth traffic channels.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the traffic processor is further operable to identify first and second components of the data, to prioritize the first and second components of the data into first and second priorities respectively, to convey the first component of data to the UE over the first traffic channel, to convey the second component of data to the UE over the second traffic channel, to duplicate the second component of data, and to convey the duplicated second component of data to the UE over a third traffic channel.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the traffic processor is further operable to evaluate the traffic channels according to traffic speed, cost, and reliability of the traffic channels.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the first traffic channel is a Long Term Evolution traffic channel and the second traffic channel is a WiFi traffic channel.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the traffic processor is further operable to continually monitor the traffic channels to adapt to changing conditions of the traffic channels.

8. A method of transferring data to a user equipment (UE) over a plurality of traffic channels, the method comprising:

receiving a request for data from the UE;

evaluating the traffic channels based on the requested data;

selecting a first and a second of the traffic channels based on the evaluation; and

conveying the data to the UE over the first and second traffic channels.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying first and second components of the data;

separating the first and second components of the data;

conveying the first component of the data to the UE over the first traffic channel; and

conveying the second component of the data to the UE over the second traffic channel.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving data from the UE over a third of the traffic channels;

receiving data from the UE over a fourth of the traffic channels;

determining that the data over the fourth traffic channel is associated with the data over the third traffic channel; and

combining the data of the third and fourth traffic channels.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying first and second components of the data;

prioritizing the first and second components of the data into first and second priorities respectively;

conveying the first component of data to the UE over the first traffic channel;

conveying the second component of data to the UE over the second traffic channel;

duplicating the second component of data; and

conveying the duplicated second component of data to the UE over a third traffic channel.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

evaluating the traffic channels according to traffic speed, cost, and reliability of the traffic channels.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first traffic channel is a Long Term Evolution traffic channel and the second traffic channel is a WiFi traffic channel.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

continually monitoring the traffic channels to adapt to changing conditions of the traffic channels; and

selecting a third of the traffic channels based on the changing conditions.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising instructions that direct the processor to:

continually monitor the traffic channels to adapt to changing conditions of the traffic channels; and

select a third of the traffic channels based on the changing conditions.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor in a communication network, direct the processor to transfer data to a user equipment (UE) over a plurality of traffic channels, the instructions further directing the processor to:

receive a request for data from the UE;

evaluate the traffic channels based on the requested data;

select a first and a second of the traffic channels based on the evaluation; and

convey the data to the UE over the first and second traffic channels.

16. The computer readable medium 15, further comprising instructions that direct the processor to:

identify first and second components of the data;

separate the first and second components of the data;

convey the first component of the data to the UE over the first traffic channel; and

convey the second component of the data to the UE over the second traffic channel.

17. The computer readable medium 15, further comprising instructions that direct the processor to:

receive data from the UE over a third of the traffic channels;

receive data from the UE over a fourth of the traffic channels;

determine that the data over the fourth traffic channel is associated with the data over the third traffic channel; and

combine the data of the third and fourth traffic channels.

18. The computer readable medium 15, further comprising instructions that direct the processor to:

identify first and second components of the data;

prioritize the first and second components of the data into first and second priorities respectively;

convey the first component of data to the UE over the first traffic channel;

convey the second component of data to the UE over the second traffic channel;

duplicate the second component of data; and

convey the duplicated second component of data to the UE over a third traffic channel.

19. The computer readable medium 15, further comprising instructions that direct the processor to:

evaluate the traffic channels according to traffic speed, cost, and reliability of the traffic channels.