Methods and apparatus for controlling IP applications during resource shortages
First Claim
1. A method of operating a basestation in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:
- receiving a message requesting allocation of a communications resource;
identifying an existing communications session using the requested resource;
reallocating the requested resource from the existing communications session; and
placing the existing communications session in a session hold state by continuing to support session control signaling for the existing communications session while denying resources for a data portion of the existing communications session.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention describes how combined session and resource tracking in a mobile node (MN) and/or basestation in a dynamic network resource environment can be used to control reactions to resource shortages. The session that is to experience a resource shortage is detected either by the MN, or communicated to the MN where session signaling is used to modify the session according to MN and basestation policy/configuration. The basestation can alternatively modify the session itself with all the session peers, on behalf of the MN. The specific new reaction to resource shortages that is then enabled is to place the session on hold such that the resources are freed, but so that the session state is maintained in the peers. This is preferable to dropping the session, as is generally the case in dynamic environments, if the likely period of resource loss is short and the session modifications require less overhead than restarting the session when the resources return after dropping the session. In addition, before having resources removed, the basestation can provide the MN with an opportunity to upgrade the priority of its resource request compared to other users in the cell, so that a resource auction is conducted to decide which MN actually loses its resources.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a basestation in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving a message requesting allocation of a communications resource; identifying an existing communications session using the requested resource; reallocating the requested resource from the existing communications session; and placing the existing communications session in a session hold state by continuing to support session control signaling for the existing communications session while denying resources for a data portion of the existing communications session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a basestation in a mobile communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving a message requesting allocation of a communications resource; identifying an existing communications session using the requested resource; reallocating the requested resource from the existing communications session; placing the existing communications session in a session hold state, wherein placing the existing communications session in a session hold state includes storing a session identifier corresponding to the existing communications session in a hold queue; and wherein said hold queue includes, for each identified session in said hold queue, a session hold start time and a session priority level indicator. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A basestation in a mobile communications system, the basestation comprising:
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a receiver circuit for receiving a message requesting allocation of a communications resource; means for identifying an existing communications session using the requested resource; means for reallocating the requested resource from the existing communications session; and means for placing the existing communications session in a session hold state in which resources are provided to support session control signaling while denying resources for a data portion of the communications session. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a basestation in a communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for a communications resource; identifying an existing communications session utilizing said resource; transmitting a priority upgrade option message to a mobile device associated with said identified existing communications session; receiving a priority upgrade option reply message from said mobile device; and determining whether to reallocate the requested communications resource from said identified existing communications session in response to said request as a function of the received priority upgrade option reply message.
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17. A method of operating a basestation in a communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for a communications resource; identifying an existing communications session utilizing said resource; transmitting a priority upgrade option message to a mobile device associated with said identified existing communications session; receiving a priority upgrade option reply message from said mobile device; determining whether to reallocate the requested communications resource from said identified existing communications session in response to said request as a function of the received priority upgrade option reply message; and wherein determining whether to reallocate the requested communications resource from said identified existing communications session in response to said request as a function of the received priority upgrade option reply message includes; processing said priority upgrade option reply message to upgrade a priority level associated with the identified existing communications session when said reply message indicates that a priority upgrade option has been selected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification