IP-flow identification in a wireless point to multi-point transmission system

• US 6,594,246 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Malibu Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Jacob W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang Bin
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US09/347,856
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/338, 370/328, 370/390-398, 370/399, 709/238-246, 709/210, 709/212-217, 709/226, 709/227, 709/200-204
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/27 Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0414 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0273 : adapting protocols for flow control or congestion control to wireless environment, e.g. adapting transmission control protocol [TCP] wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation, e.g. wireless application protocol H04W80/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• 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

A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system includes: a wireless base station coupled to a first data network; one or more host workstations coupled to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network; a resource allocation device optimizing end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocating shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations; device for analyzing and scheduling an internet protocol (IP) flow over the shared wireless bandwidth, wherein the analyzing device comprises: identifying device identifying the IP flow.

Claims

1. A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station coupled to a first data network;

one or more host workstations coupled to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with said wireless base station over a shared bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network;

resource allocation means optimizing end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocating shared bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations; and

means for analyzing and scheduling an internet protocol (IP) flow over said shared wireless bandwidth, wherein said analyzing means comprises;

identifying means identifying said IP flow.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said IP flow is a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) flow.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said IP flow is a user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP) flow.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises:

means for analyzing one or more packet header fields in said IP flow; and

means for distinguishing between a new and an existing IP flow.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein analyzing means is located at said subscriber CPE station for an uplink wireless connection from said subscriber CPE station to said wireless base station.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein distinguishing means is located at said subscriber CPE station for an uplink wireless connection from said subscriber CPE station to said wireless base station.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein analyzing means is located at said wireless base station for a downlink wireless connection from said wireless base station to said subscriber CPE station.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein distinguishing means is located at said wireless base station for a downlink wireless connection from said wireless base station to said subscriber CPE station.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for analyzing packet header fields comprises:

means for buffering packets of said IP flows;

means for extracting data from packet header fields of each of said packets; and

means for analyzing said packet header fields.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said means for extracting data from packet header fields of each of said packets comprises:

means for determining whether said packets are a packet version IPv.4 or IPv.6; and

means for parsing said packet header fields of said IP flows.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said analyzing means comprises:

means for determining a source application type.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for determining said source application type comprises:

means for storing and retrieving a source application type to and from a source application packet header table.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for determining said source application type comprises:

means for determining a source application from a type of service (TOS) packet header field.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for determining said source application type comprises:

means for determining a source application from a differentiated services (DiffServ) packet header field.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for determining said source application type comprises:

means for determining a source application from information provided by a direct application conduit.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for distinguishing between a new and an existing IP flow comprises:

means for storing and retrieving identification information for an existing IP flow to and from an IP flow identification data table.

17. A wireless point to multipoint telecommunication system for identifying an internet protocol (IP) flow, comprising:

means for determining whether the IP flow is known to the system based on a packet received over a wireless medium;

means for identifying a source application having transmitted said received packet.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a wireless base station; and

a subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) station in wireless communication with said wireless base station,

wherein said determining means is located at said wireless base station for a downlink wireless connection from said wireless base station to said subscriber CPE station.

19. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a wireless base station; and

a subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) station in wireless communication with said wireless base station,

wherein said determining means is located at said subscriber CPE station for an uplink wireless connection from said subscriber CPE station to said wireless base station.

20. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a wireless base station; and

a subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) station in wireless communication with said wireless base station,

wherein said identifying means is located at said wireless base station for a downlink wireless connection from said wireless base station to said subscriber CPE station.

21. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a wireless base station; and

a subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) station in wireless communication with said wireless base station,

wherein said identifying means is located at said subscriber CPE station for an uplink wireless connection from said subscriber CPE station to said wireless base station.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said determining means comprises:

means for buffering said packet;

means for extracting identification information from a packet header field of said packet;

means for performing a lookup of an existing IP flow identifier using said identification information in an existing IP flow data table to determine whether the IP flow is known to the system.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein said identifying means comprises:

means for buffering said packet;

means for extracting information from a packet header field of said packet;

means for performing a lookup of a source application type using said information in a source application data table to identify said source application.