Quality of service (QOS) control mechanisms using mediation devices in an asynchronous network

• US 7,440,462 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hester, Lance Eric, Callaway, Jr., Edgar Herbert, Huang, Jian, Shi, Qicai
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Kibrom T
• Application Number:
  US10/443,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,979 Days
• Field of Search: 370/304, 370/311, 370/235, 370/236.1, 370/252, 370/310, 370/313, 370/342, 370/349, 370/350, 370/395.2, 370/395.4, 370/401, 370/428, 370/429, 455/412, 455/500, 455/507, 455/515, 455/517, 455/522
• US Class Current: 370/395.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0202 Channel estimation

Abstract

Mediation devices in an asynchronous network of low power consumption communication devices are leveraged through the use of new protocols (2500) that analyze relevant QoS parameters (2520) in order to provide a better than best effort service in the network. These protocols invoke adaptive quality of service (QoS) mechanisms to capitalize on the strength and flexibility provided to the network by the presence of one or more MDs, as described above. Expanded functionality of the MD includes control information messaging and service differentiation for the purpose of improving QoS of the network.

Claims

1. A method of providing improved quality of service (QoS) control in an asynchronous network having a plurality of communication devices, at least one of which is operable to selectively function normally or as a non-dedicated mediation device when selected, comprising:

analyzing a plurality of quality of service (QoS) parameters relevant to a communication request received from a sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the asynchronous network to send a communication intended for a target communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

selecting the non-dedicated mediation device of the plurality of communication devices to provide a mediation function for the sender communication device and the target communication device, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device is selected based upon the analysis of the QoS parameters relevant to the communication request;

the non-dedicated mediation device making a determination on how to respond to the communication request based upon the analysis of the plurality of QoS parameters;

if the determination is that the communication request can be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device servicing the communication request based on a communication schedule of at least one of the sender and target communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the determination is that the communication request cannot be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device sending a service message to the sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the non-dedicated mediation device sending an acknowledgement to the sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices if the communication criteria can be satisfied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the plurality of QoS parameters further comprises:

analyzing a plurality of sender quality of service (SQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to communication criteria of the sender communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied, making the determination that the communication request can be serviced and servicing the communication request.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

analyzing a plurality of target quality of service (TQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the target communication device to receive the communication in accordance with the communication criteria.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters and the TQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the target communication device, making the determination that the communication request can be serviced and servicing the communication request.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

analyzing a plurality of mediation device quality of service (MDQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the non-dedicated mediation device to service the communication request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the MDQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the non-dedicated mediation device and the target communication device, making the determination that the communication request can be serviced and servicing the communication request.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

analyzing a plurality of network quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters, the MDQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network, the target communication device, and the non-dedicated mediation device, making the determination that the communication request can be serviced and servicing the communication request.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

analyzing a plurality of network quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network and the target communication device, making the determination that the communication request can be serviced and servicing the communication request.

14. An asynchronous communications network, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices of the asynchronous communications network;

a non-dedicated mediation device (MD) of the plurality of communication devices operable to provide improved quality of service (QoS) control and control of communications between the plurality of communication devices in the asynchronous communications network when selected and operable to function as a communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

wherein the mediation device analyzes a plurality of quality of service (QoS) parameters relevant to a communication request from a sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices to send a communication to a target communication device of the plurality of communication devices and makes a determination on how to respond to the communication request based upon the analysis of the plurality of QoS parameters and wherein if a determination to respond is made the mediation device responds to the communication request based on a communication schedule of at least one of the sender and target communication devices, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device is operable to selectively provide a mediation function between the sender communication device and the target communication device and is selected to provide the mediation function based upon analysis of the QoS parameters.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein if the non-dedicated mediation device makes the determination that the communication request can be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device services the communication request.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein prior to servicing the communication request the non-dedicated mediation device further sends an acknowledge message to at least one of the sender communication device and the target communication device that the non-dedicated mediation device will service the communication request.

17. The network of claim 14, wherein if the non-dedicated mediation device makes the determination that the communication request cannot be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device sends a service message to the sender communication device.

18. The network of claim 14, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device analyzes a plurality of sender quality of service (SQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters that are relevant to communication criteria of the sender communication device.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied, the non-dedicated mediation device determines that the communication request can be serviced and services the communication request.

20. The network of claim 14, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device analyzes a plurality of target quality of service (TQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the target communication device to receive the communication in accordance with the communication criteria.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters and the TQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the target communication device, the non-dedicated mediation device determines that the communication request can be serviced and services the communication request.

22. The network of claim 20, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device analyzes a plurality of mediation device quality of service (MDQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the non-dedicated mediation device to service the communication request.

23. The network of claim 22, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the MDQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the non-dedicated mediation device and the target communication device, the non-dedicated mediation device determines that the communication request can be serviced and services the communication request.

24. The network of claim 22, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device analyzes a plurality of quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters, the MDQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network, the target communication device, and the non-dedicated mediation device, the non-dedicated mediation device determines that the communication request can be serviced and services the communication request.

26. The network of claim 20, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device analyzes a plurality of network quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network and the target communication device, the non-dedicated mediation device determines that the communication request can be serviced and services the communication request.

28. A non-dedicated mediation communication device of a plurality of communication devices operable to provide improved quality of service (QoS) control in the asynchronous communications network, comprising:

a processing and control element operable to analyze a plurality of quality of service (QoS) parameters relevant to a communication request from a sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices to send a communication to a target communication device of the plurality of communication devices, control communications between the plurality of communication devices, and make a determination on how to respond to the communication request based upon the analysis of the plurality of QoS parameters;

a receiver, coupled to and controlled by the processing and control element, that receives the communication request from the sender communication device; and

a transmitter, coupled to and controlled by the processing and control element, wherein if the non-dedicated mediation device makes a determination to respond to the communication request the non-dedicated mediation device does so based on a communication schedule of at least one of the sender and target communication devices and wherein the non-dedicated mediation device is selectable to serve a mediation function between the sender and target communication devices based upon the QoS parameters relevant to the communication request.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein if the processing and control element makes the determination that the communication request can be serviced, the processing and control element causing the transmitter to transmit the communication to the target communication device.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein prior to servicing the communication request the processing and control element causes the transmitter to send an acknowledge message to at least one of the sender communication device and the target communication device that the mediation communication device will service the communication request.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein if the processing and control element makes the determination that the communication request cannot be serviced, the processing and control element causes the transmitter to send a service message to the sender communication device.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein the processing and control element analyzes a plurality of sender quality of service (SQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters that are relevant to communication criteria of the sender communication device.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied, the processing and control element determines that the communication request can be serviced and causes the transmitter to transmit the communication to the target communication device.

34. The device of claim 28, wherein the processing and control element analyzes a plurality of target quality of service (TQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the target communication device to receive the communication in accordance with the communication criteria.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters and the TQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the target communication device, the processing and control element determines that the communication request can be serviced and causes the transmitter to transit the communication to the target communication device.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the processing and control element analyzes a plurality of mediation device quality of service (MDQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the non-dedicated mediation device to service the communication request.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the MDQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the non-dedicated mediation device and the target communication device, the processing and control element determines that the communication request can be serviced and causes the transmitter to transmit the communication to the target communication device.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the processing and control element analyzes a plurality of quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters, the MDQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network, the target communication device, and the non-dedicated mediation device, the processing and control element determines that the communication request can be serviced and causes the transmitter to transmit the communication to the target communication device.

40. The device of claim 34, wherein the processing and control element analyzes a plurality of network quality of service (NQoS) parameters of the plurality of QoS parameters relevant to the ability of the network to service the communication request.

41. The device of claim 28, wherein if the analysis of the plurality of SQoS parameters, the TQoS parameters and the NQoS parameters indicates that the communication criteria of the sender communication device can be satisfied by the network and the target communication device, the processing and control element determines that the communication request can be serviced and causes the transmitter to transmit the communication to the target communication device.

42. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method to provide improved quality of service (QoS) control in an asynchronous network having a plurality of communication devices, at least one of which is operable to selectively function normally or as a non-dedicated mediation device when selected, the method comprising:

analyzing a plurality of quality of service (QoS) parameters relevant to a communication request received from a sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the asynchronous network to send a communication intended for a target communication device of the plurality of communication devices;

selecting the non-dedicated mediation device of the plurality of communication devices to provide a mediation function for the sender communication device and the target communication device, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device is selected based upon the analysis of the QoS parameters relevant to the communication request;

the non-dedicated mediation device making a determination on how to respond to the communication request based upon the analysis of the plurality of QoS parameters; and

if the determination is that the communication request can be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device servicing the communication request based on a communication schedule of at least one of the sender and target communication devices.