Application specific traffic optimization in a wireless link

• US 7,944,845 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farley, Kevin L., Proctor, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Man
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mansoury; Nourali
• Application Number:
  US11/193,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235, 370/252, 370/395.52, 370/913
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0015 characterised by the adaptation strategy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0017 where the mode-switching is based on Quality of Service requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/087 Jitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A packet data system such as a TCP/IP network transmits packets containing a variety of data types along links in the network. Packets are transmitted in a stream between nodes interconnected by the links, which conform to a transport layer protocol such as TCP, UDP, and RSTP, and include wireless links, which transmit packets using a radio frequency (RF) medium. Typical protocols, however, are usually developed to optimize throughput and minimize data error and loss over wired links, and do not lend themselves well to a wireless link. By examining the data in a packet, performance characteristics such as a port number are determined. The performance characteristics indicate the application type, and therefore, the data type, of the packets carried on the connection. Since certain data types, such as streaming audio and video, are more loss tolerant, determination of the data type is used to compute link control parameters for the wireless link that are optimal to the type of data being transmitted over the link.

Claims

1. A base station for controlling communication parameters of a wireless communication link between a local node and the base station, comprising:

a link controller operable to analyze link performance characteristics indicative of the transmission quality of a message received from a remote node on a remote link that conforms to a protocol different than that used for the wireless communication link, and further operable to apply link control parameters received from a transfer model database to the wireless communication link;

a flow model database including stored performance metrics defined to enumerate sets of performance characteristics corresponding to the remote link; and

the transfer model database comprising the link control parameters corresponding to a particular flow model entry in the flow model database.

2. The base station of claim 1 wherein the link controller is further operable to compute a flow model database entry by determining a port number corresponding to the message.

3. The base station of claim 1 wherein the link controller is operable to determine a port number indicative of a particular application.

4. The base station of claim 3 wherein the port number is predefined for the particular application.

5. The base station of claim 4 wherein the particular application is indicative of a type of data included in the message.

6. The base station of claim 1 wherein the link controller is further operable to determine the performance characteristics based on a data type of the message.

7. The base station of claim 2 wherein the link controller is further operable to apply the link control parameters corresponding to the transfer model based on the type of data on the link.

8. The base station of claim 1 wherein the wireless link is part of a logical connection.

9. The base station of claim 8 wherein the logical connection conforms to a protocol.

10. The base station of claim 9 wherein the protocol is UDP/IP.

11. The base station of claim 9 wherein the protocol is TCP/IP.