System for load balancing based on class of service for wireless communication networks

• US 7,177,649 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Nielsen, Georgene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US09/560,294
• Time in Patent Office: 2,483 Days
• Field of Search: 455/512, 455/517, 455/453, 455/445, 455/446, 455/436, 455/437, 455/433, 455/443, 455/422, 455/450, 455/90.1, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/66.1, 455/74, 455/452.1, 455/432.1, 455/452.2, 455/435, 455/67.11, 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

The system for load balancing based on class of service for wireless communication networks dynamically balances the traffic load among a plurality of cell sites by using multiple criteria to determine which cell site is selected to provide service to a mobile subscriber station. The load balancing process is executed in response to the wireless communication network assigning a cell site to provide service to a mobile subscriber station based upon a first criteria. It is then determined whether this cell site assignment results in secondary criteria being exceeded. If secondary criteria are exceeded by the assignment, the load balancing process is activated to reallocate mobile subscriber stations among the cell sites as a function of both the traffic load that exists in the cell sites as well as the class of service of the mobile subscriber stations served by the cell sites. Thus, the subscribers can pay a premium price for a higher quality of service, which gives preference to this mobile subscriber station in being assigned to a cell that has a greater signal strength and therefore a higher quality of service.

Claims

1. A system for load balancing for wireless communication networks having a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to serve a plurality of mobile subscriber stations, comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of a service request from a mobile subscriber station, for establishing a communication connection for said requesting mobile subscriber station via at least one of said plurality of cells;

means for determining when assignment of said mobile subscriber station to a cell results in a predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, comprising;

means for measuring a traffic load in said cell,

means for comparing said measured traffic load to a predetermined traffic load threshold;

means, responsive to said predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, for selecting at least one of a plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell for reassignment to another cell, comprising;

means for identifying at least one of said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell with the lowest class of service,

means for arbitrating among said identified mobile subscriber stations, using additional criteria selected from call management factors, including;

duration of call connection, location of mobile subscriber station within the cell, proximity to an adjacent cell, and signal strength in adjacent cells; and

means for initiating a handoff of said selected at least one mobile subscriber station to another cell in said wireless communication network.

2. The system for load balancing of claim 1 wherein said means for selecting further comprises:

means for determining a class of service for said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell; and

means for identifying another cell capable of serving said selected at least one mobile subscriber station.

3. The system of load balancing of claim 1 further comprising:

means for effecting a handoff of a communication connection that serves said selected at least one mobile subscriber station from said cell to said another cell.

4. The system for load balancing of claim 1 further comprising:

means, responsive to said means for effecting, for reviewing the additional criteria to determine whether additional handoffs of mobile subscriber stations to other cell sites is advisable.

5. A method of load balancing for wireless communication networks having a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to serve a plurality of mobile subscriber stations, comprising the steps of:

establishing, in response to receipt of a service request from a mobile subscriber station, a communication connection for said requesting mobile subscriber station via at least one of said plurality of cells;

determining when assignment of said mobile subscriber station to a cell results in a predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, comprising;

measuring a traffic load in said cell,

comparing said measured traffic load to a predetermined traffic load threshold;

selecting, in response to said predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, at least one of a plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell for reassignment to another cell, comprising;

identifying at least one of said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell with the lower class of service,

arbitrating among said identified mobile subscriber stations, using additional criteria selected from call management factors, including;

duration of call connection, location of mobile subscriber station within the cell, proximity to an adjacent cell, and signal strength in adjacent cells; and

initiating a handoff of said selected at least one mobile subscriber stations to another cell in said wireless communication network.

6. The method of load balancing of claim 5 wherein the steps of selecting further comprises:

determining a class of service for said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell; and

identifying another cell capable of serving said selected at least one mobile subscriber station.

7. The method of load balancing of claim 5 further comprising:

effecting a handoff of a communication connection that serves said selected at least one mobile subscriber station from said cell to said another cell.

8. The method of load balancing of claim 5 further comprising:

reviewing, in response to said step of effecting, the additional criteria to determine whether additional handoffs of mobile subscriber stations to other cell sites is advisable.

9. A system for load balancing for wireless communication networks having a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to serve a plurality of mobile subscriber stations, comprising:

service request processing means, responsive to receipt of a service request from a mobile subscriber station, for establishing a communication connection for said requesting mobile subscriber station via at least one of said plurality of cells;

traffic load determining means for determining when assignment of said mobile subscriber station to a cell results in a predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, comprising;

traffic load measurement means for measuring a traffic load in said cell,

traffic threshold means for comparing said measured traffic load to a predetermined traffic load threshold;

subscriber class of service identification means, responsive to said predetermined traffic load threshold being exceeded, for selecting at least one of a plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell for reassignment to another cell, comprising;

mobile subscriber station identification means for identifying at least one of said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell with the lower class of service,

additional criteria determining means for arbitrating among said identified mobile subscriber stations, using additional criteria selected from call management factors, including;

duration of call connection, location of mobile subscriber station within the cell, proximity to an adjacent cell, and signal strength in adjacent cells; and

handoff means for initiating a handoff of said selected mobile subscriber stations to another cell in said wireless communication network.

10. The system for load balancing of claim 9 wherein said subscriber class of service identification means comprises:

class of service means for determining a class of service for said plurality of mobile subscriber stations served by said cell; and

candidate cell means for identifying another cell capable of serving said selected at least one mobile subscriber station.

11. The system for load balancing of claim 9 wherein said subscriber class of service identification means further comprises:

handoff activation means for effecting a handoff of a communication connection that serves said selected at least one mobile subscriber station from said cell to said another cell.

12. The system for load balancing of claim 9 wherein said subscriber class of service identification means further comprises:

threshold review means, responsive to said handoff activation means, for reviewing the additional criteria to determine whether additional handoffs of mobile subscriber stations to other cell sites is advisable.