Method and system for wireless admission control based on fixed or mobile nature of wireless communication devices

• US 7,437,157 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Satapathy, Durga P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/860,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 455/452, 455/435, 455/68, 455/456.6, 455/512
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

A method and system for wireless admission control. The system monitors the air interface load in various wireless coverage areas, such as sectors for instance. When the load exceeds a designated level, the system begins making call admission decisions based on whether the calls involve mobile wireless devices (such as handheld cell phones) or fixed wireless devices (such as wall-mounted cell phones or wireless local loop hubs). Further, the system may additionally base its admission decisions on the type of bearer traffic carried by the calls, such as whether the calls carry voice, fax or data traffic.

Claims

1. A method of controlling call admission in a wireless coverage area, the method comprising:

monitoring air interface load in the wireless coverage area;

detecting that the air interface load reaches a first threshold level, and

receiving a request to initiate a call to or from a wireless communication device operating in the wireless coverage area and responsively executing admission-control logic for operation in a first mode that allows admission of the call in the wireless coverage area if the wireless communication device is a fixed wireless device, but that blocks admission of the call in the wireless coverage area by holding the call in a queue if the wireless communication device is a mobile wireless device, and that subsequently, based on the air interface load in the wireless coverage area, allows the call in queue to proceed in the wireless coverage area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

carrying out the monitoring, detecting, receiving and executing functions in a radio access network that provides the wireless coverage area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein carrying out the monitoring, detecting, receiving and executing functions in a radio access network comprises carrying out one or all of the functions at a base station controller (BSC), mobile switching center (MSC), or combination BSC/MSC.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless coverage area is a cell sector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the air interface load comprises an extent of air interface capacity currently in use.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the air interface load reaches a second threshold level, and responsively executing admission-control logic for operation in a second mode in which blocking or allowing calls into the wireless coverage area is based at least in part on a type of bearer traffic carried by the calls.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the admission-control logic for operation in the second mode differentiates between calls based on whether the calls are fax calls, data calls or voice calls.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting that the air interface load reaches the second threshold level after detecting that the air interface load reaches the first threshold level,

wherein executing the admission-control logic for operation in the second mode comprises executing the admission-control logic for operation in the second mode to a call that the admission-control logic for operation in the first mode would allow in the wireless coverage area.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting that the air interface load reaches the first threshold level after detecting that the air interface load reaches the second threshold level,

wherein executing the admission-control logic for operation in the first mode comprises executing the admission-control logic for operation in the first mode to a call that the admission-control logic for operation in the second mode would allow in the wireless coverage area.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the admission-control logic an indication of whether the wireless communication device is the fixed wireless device or the mobile wireless device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the received indication is within an origination request from the wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the air interface load is a measure of Erlangs.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the air interface load comprises an extent of available power consumed.

10. A wireless admission system comprising:

a base station radiating to provide a wireless coverage area in which one or more wireless communication devices can wirelessly communicate with the base station;

a load-monitor for monitoring air interface load in the wireless coverage area, and

an admission-controller having (i) a first mode in which the admission-controller decides whether to allow or block admission of calls into the wireless coverage area regardless of whether the calls involve fixed wireless devices or mobile wireless devices, and (ii) a second mode in which the admission-controller decides whether to allow or block admission of calls into the wireless coverage area based at least in part on whether the calls involve mobile wireless devices or fixed wireless devices;

wherein the admission-controller normally operates in the first mode but operates in the second mode when the air interface load exceeds a first threshold level, and

wherein, in the second mode, the admission-controller applies admission-control logic allowing admission of a call in the wireless coverage area if the call is to or from a fixed wireless device, but blocking admission of the call in the wireless coverage area by holding the call in a queue if the call is to or from a mobile wireless device, and subsequently, based on the air interface load in the wireless coverage area, allowing the call in the queue to proceed in the wireless coverage area.

11. The wireless admission system of claim 10, wherein the wireless coverage area is a cell sector.

12. The wireless admission system of claim 10, wherein:

the admission-controller comprises executable program instructions; and

the load-monitor comprises executable program instructions.

13. The wireless admission system of claim 10, wherein the air interface load comprises an extent of air interface capacity currently in use.

14. The wireless admission system of claim 10, wherein, in the second mode, the admission-controller decides whether to allow or block admission of calls into the wireless coverage area based at least in part on (i) whether the calls are to or from mobile wireless devices or fixed wireless devices, and (ii) bearer type of the calls.

15. The wireless admission system of claim 14, wherein, in the second mode, the admission-controller decides whether to allow or block admission of calls into the wireless coverage area based at least in part on whether the calls are voice calls, fax calls or data calls.

16. The wireless admission system of claim 10,

wherein the admission-controller has a third mode in which the admission-controller decides whether to allow or block admission of calls into the wireless coverage area based at least in part on (i) whether the calls are to or from mobile wireless devices or fixed wireless devices, and (ii) bearer type of the calls;

wherein the admission-controller normally operates in the first mode, operates in the second mode when the air interface load exceeds the first threshold level, and operates in the third mode when the air interface load exceeds a second threshold level.

17. The wireless admission system of claim 16, wherein the second threshold level is greater than the first threshold level.