Method and apparatus for class based transmission control of data connections based on real-time external feedback estimates obtained using messaging from a wireless network

• US 6,697,378 B1
• Filed: 10/16/1998
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Achal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/174,273
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329-330, 370/341, 370/349, 370/468, 370/465, 370/469, 370/477, 370/252, 370/331, 370/415-419, 370/428, 370/429
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints

Abstract

A system of wireless network with capabilities of transporting data packets, wherein the data transmission activity of each data connection is determined using the localized air interface capacity threshold and available bandwidth estimates obtained via the messages sent by the wireless network (FIG. 3). The system provides a unique and efficient way of providing control over data packet transmissions over a wireless network. The localized wireless network capacity threshold and available bandwidth estimates are obtained via use of empirical formulae and are improved upon via the use of messaging obtained from the wireless network by the Bandwidth Estimator (302) (FIG. 5 and 6). The data transmission activity factors of all data connections are determined by the Bandwidth Estimator using the localized capacity threshold and available bandwidth estimates, along with the priority/class of traffic of specific data calls (FIG. 7). The data transmission activity factors are implemented using the transmission window size update and local queuing by the Data Controller (300) (FIG. 8). Various implementations and interconnectivities of the Bandwidth Estimator and Data Controller functions are outlined (FIGS. 9-13).

Claims

1. A method for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters;

determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector;

determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector, the capacity threshold and the usage estimate comprising real-time values.

2. A method for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters;

determining the capacity threshold based on static and variable parameters;

determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector;

determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the static parameters comprise at least one of data rate, bit energy to noise ratio target, provisioned channel, time-slot, code, frequency channel, pilot channel power, and overhead channel power parameters.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the variable parameters comprise at least one of frequency reuse factor, loading factor and average traffic channel power parameters.

5. A method for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters, wherein the capacity threshold is determined based on at least one of call origination, call termination, handoff update, call failure message, and data packet loss parameters;

determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector;

determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the capacity threshold estimate is further determined based on relative loading in neighboring wireless sectors.

7. A method for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters;

determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector based on at least one of a number of active users and class-dependent parameters;

determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector.

8. A method for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

determining a real-time capacity estimate for a wireless sector;

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector;

wherein the data traffic comprises traffic transmitted over transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connections; and

dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic in the TCP/IP connections by performing TCP/IP layer queuing based on the capacity estimate.

9. A system for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

means for receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

means for obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters;

means for determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector;

means for determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

means for dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sectors wherein the capacity threshold and the usage estimate comprise real-time values.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the capacity threshold is determined based on at least one of call origination, call termination, handoff update, call failure message, and data packet parameters.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the capacity threshold estimate is further determined based on relative loading in neighboring wireless sectors.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining the usage estimate based on at least one of a number of active users and class-dependent parameters.

10. A system for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

means for receiving input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

means for obtaining a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters;

means for determining the capacity threshold based on static and variable parameters;

means for determining a usage estimate for the wireless sector;

means for determining a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate; and

means for dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the static parameters comprise at least one of data rate, bit energy to noise ratio target, provisioned channel, time-slot, code, frequency channel, pilot channel power, and overhead channel power parameters.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the variable parameters comprise at least one or more of frequency reuse factor, loading factor and average traffic channel power parameters.

16. A system for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

means for determining a real-time capacity estimate for a wireless sector;

means for dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sector;

wherein the data traffic comprises traffic transmitted over transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connections; and

means for dynamically controlling transmission activity of data traffic in the TCP/IP connections by performing TCP/IP layer queuing based on the capacity estimate.

17. A system for transmission control of data connections over a wireless network, comprising:

logic encoded on media; and

the logic operable to receive input parameters specific to a wireless sector;

obtain a capacity threshold for the wireless sector based on the input parameters, determine a usage estimate for the wireless sector, determine a real-time capacity estimate based on the capacity threshold and the usage estimate and dynamically control transmission activity of data traffic over the wireless sector based on the real-time capacity estimate for the wireless sectors, the capacity threshold and the usage estimate comprising real-time values.