Prediction of Quality of Service of a Possible Future Connection of a Device to a Wireless Network

• US 20180227787A1
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Wilhelmsson, Leif, Mestanov, Filip, Zee, Oscar
• Granted Patent: US 10,652,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• 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

The disclosure relates to wireless networks, and more specifically to multiple access networks. This present disclosure provides for a method in a wireless device, for predicting Quality of Service of a possible future connection between the wireless device and one or more wireless networks. The predicted Quality of Service may be used e.g. for making a handover decision. The disclosed method comprises detecting an access point of a first wireless network within range of the wireless device. The method further comprises determining the number of devices already being connected to the access point and calculating the predicted Quality of Service based on the determined number of devices already being connected to the access point. The disclosure further relates to a wireless device and to a computer program.

Claims

1. A method, in a wireless device, for predicting Quality of Service of a possible future connection between the wireless device and one or more wireless networks, the method comprising:

detecting an access point of a first wireless network within range of the wireless device;

estimating channel utilization of the access point;

determining a number of devices already being connected to the access point; and

calculating the predicted Quality of Service based on the estimated channel utilization of the access point and the determined number of devices being connected to the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating channel utilization of the access point comprises estimating traffic load per device and wherein calculation of predicted Quality of Service is further based on the estimated traffic load per connected device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the number of connected devices comprises signal analysis in the analog domain of one or several channels, over which devices connected to the access point communicate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal analysis comprises identifying the presence of different signal levels on one or several channels over which devices connected to the access point communicate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the number of connected devices comprises packet inspection of packets exchanged between the devices and the access point.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the packet inspection involves Media Access Control (MAC) address analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the number of connected devices comprises receiving signaling information from the wireless network comprising information about the number of devices connected to the access point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the channel utilization is estimated per device;

and wherein the calculation of predicted Quality of Service is further based on the estimated channel utilization per connected device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising deciding whether to connect to the first wireless network or not based on the predicted Quality of Service.

10. The method of claim 9:

wherein the wireless device is connected to a second wireless network; and

wherein the future connection to the first network comprises a handover to the first wireless network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the decision to handover to the first wireless network is further based on connection characteristics of the connection to the second wireless network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second wireless network is a Cellular Network.

14. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for predicting Quality of Service of a possible future connection between a wireless device and one or more wireless networks, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on one or more processors of the wireless device, causes the wireless device to:

detect an access point of a first wireless network within range of the wireless device;

estimate channel utilization of the access point;

determine a number of devices already being connected to the access point; and

calculate the predicted Quality of Service based on the estimated channel utilization of the access point and the determined number of devices being connected to the access point.

15. A wireless device configured to predict Quality of Service of a possible future connection between the wireless device and one or more wireless networks, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit configured to communicate with a node of the one or more wireless networks;

processing circuitry configured to;

detect an access point of a first wireless network within range of the wireless device;

estimate channel utilization of the access point;

determine a number of devices already being connected to access point; and

calculate the predicted Quality of Service based on the estimated channel utilization of the access point and the determined number of devices being connected to the access point.

16. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein estimating channel utilization of the access point comprises estimating traffic load per device and wherein calculation of predicted Quality of Service is further based on the estimated traffic load per connected device.