Systems and methods for dynamic aggregation of bandwidth

• US 7,805,156 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Kevin W., Allen, Todd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/383,787
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/550.1, 455/426.1, 455/90.2, 370/329, 709/230
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for the dynamic aggregation of communications network bandwidth. Communication devices are bonded in a community in which the communication resources of a bonded device can be used to transfer data on behalf of another bonded device. In an exemplary embodiment, communication devices are bonded wirelessly to share wireless wide area network communication channels. Bandwidth aggregation is performed dynamically based on user communication requirements and the current states of the bonded communication devices. Methods are presented by which communication devices can be automatically bonded when a predetermined bonding condition is satisfied. The methods and systems of the invention optimize utilization of communication resources in a cost-effective manner that provides a user high quality service as well as location mobility.

Claims

1. A system for aggregating communication bandwidth, the system comprising:

a control network adapted to dynamically aggregate bandwidth within a community of bonded communication devices in accordance with a predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme;

a payload network communicatively coupled to said control network and adapted to receive data from and deliver data to said control network; and

an egress network communicatively coupled to said payload network and adapted to receive data from and deliver data to said payload network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said control network comprises at least two bonded communication devices adapted to send and receive data over a wide area communication network channel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said wide area communication network channel comprises a wireless wide area communication channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said control network comprises a network controller adapted to dynamically aggregate bandwidth among the community of bonded devices in accordance with said predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said network controller comprises at least one of said at least two bonded communication devices.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said network controller comprises a dedicated device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme is a geographical scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a geographical condition is satisfied.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme is a temporal scheme in which bandwidth is aggregated when a temporal condition is satisfied.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said egress network is adapted to dynamically aggregate bandwidth within said community of bonded devices in accordance with the predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said egress network comprises a network manager adapted to multiplex data among said community of bonded devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said network manager is adapted to receive multiplexed data from said payload network, process said multiplexed data, and deliver said processed data to an external network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said payload network comprises at least one wide area network communication channel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said at least one wide area network communication channel comprises a wireless wide area network communication channel.

14. A method for bonding a communication device, the method comprising:

determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied by said communication device; and

if said predetermined condition is satisfied, then bonding said communication device by communicatively coupling said communication device to a control network adapted to dynamically aggregate bandwidth within a community of bonded communication devices in accordance with a predetermined bandwidth aggregation scheme;

wherein said control network is communicatively coupled to a payload network adapted to receive data from and deliver data to said control network, and said payload network is communicatively coupled to an egress network adapted to receive data from and deliver data to said payload network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein communicatively coupling said communication device to the control network comprises wirelessly coupling said communication device to a control network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said bandwidth is wireless wide area communication channel bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition is a geographical condition.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition is a temporal condition.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition is a user identity condition.