Map indicating quality of service for delivery of video data to wireless device

• US 8,040,864 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Sherman Xuemin, Rosmann, David, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Quigley, Thomas J., Dove, Michael, Gordon, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US12/189,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64769 for rate control flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Providing Quality of Service (QoS) information regarding video content delivery to a requesting wireless device. QoS/position information is first collected by, for each wireless device of a plurality of serviced wireless devices operating within a service area, receiving position information regarding a wireless device during delivery of video content and determining QoS provided during delivery of the video content, the QoS provided during delivery of the video content delivery varying over time and respective to the position information. The collected QoS/position information is then consolidated and a QoS map for the service area is produced based upon the consolidated collected QoS/position information. Finally, the QoS map for the service area is downloaded to the requesting wireless device. The QoS map may be tailored for the requesting wireless device based upon a current position/mobility of the requesting wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for providing Quality of Service (QoS) information regarding video content delivery to a requesting wireless device, the method comprising:

for each wireless device of a plurality of serviced wireless devices operating within a service area;

receiving position information regarding a wireless device during delivery of video content;

determining QoS provided during delivery of the video content, the QoS provided during delivery of the video content delivery varying over time and respective to the position information;

consolidating collected QoS/position information;

producing a QoS map for the service area based upon the consolidated collected QoS/position information; and

downloading the QoS map for the service area to the requesting wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the QoS map includes:

indications of location areas within the service area; and

for each location area within the service area, corresponding QoS available for video content delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location area parameters respective to the requesting wireless device; and

producing the QoS map for the service area based upon the location area parameters respective to the requesting wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location area parameters identify a plurality of geographic areas of the service area; and

the QoS map indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations of the service area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the QoS map indicates relative QoS quality within differing portions of the service area.

6. The method of claim 1:

further comprising receiving motion information from at least some of the wireless devices during delivery of the video content; and

the QoS map further indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations relative to wireless device motion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the QoS map indicates QoS available within neighboring service areas.

8. A video processing system comprising:

a communication interface; and

processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface and operable, in conjunction with the communication interface to;

for each wireless device of a plurality of serviced wireless devices operating within a service area;

receive position information regarding a wireless device during delivery of video content;

determine QoS provided during delivery of the video content, the QoS provided during delivery of the video content varying over time and respective to the position information;

consolidate collected QoS/position information;

produce a QoS map for the service area based upon the consolidated collected QoS/position information; and

download the QoS map for the service area to a requesting wireless device.

9. The video processing system of claim 8, wherein the QoS map includes:

indications of location areas within the service area; and

for each location area within the service area, corresponding QoS available for video content delivery.

10. The video processing system of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

receive location area parameters respective to the requesting wireless device; and

produce the QoS map for the service area based upon the location area parameters respective to the requesting wireless device.

11. The video processing system of claim 10, wherein:

the location area parameters identify a plurality of geographic locations of the service area; and

the QoS map indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations of the service area.

12. The video processing system of claim 8, wherein the QoS map indicates relative QoS quality within differing portions of the service area.

13. The video processing system of claim 8:

wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to receive motion information from at least some of the wireless devices during delivery of the video content; and

the QoS map further indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations relative to wireless device motion.

14. The video processing system of claim 8, wherein the QoS map indicates QoS available within neighboring service areas.

15. A method for operating a wireless device to provide Quality of Service (QoS) information regarding video content delivery to a user, the method comprising:

requesting a QoS map for a service area from a servicing wireless network;

downloading the QoS map for the service area from the servicing wireless network, the QoS map including;

indications of location areas within the service area; and

for each indicated location area within the service area, corresponding QoS available for video stream delivery; and

displaying the QoS map upon a display of the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15:

further comprising transmitting location area parameters respective to the wireless device; and

wherein the QoS map for the service area is based upon the location area parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the location area parameters identify a plurality of geographic locations; and

the QoS map indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the QoS map indicates at least one of relative QoS quality within differing portions of the service area, video quality delivery supported within differing portions of the service area, and QoS available for video stream delivery within neighboring service areas.

19. A wireless device comprising:

a communication interface; and

processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface and operable, in conjunction with the communication interface to;

request a QoS map for a service area from a servicing wireless network;

download the QoS map for the service area from the servicing wireless network, the QoS map including;

indications of location areas within a service area; and

for each indicated location area within the service area, corresponding QoS available for video content delivery; and

display the QoS map upon a display of the wireless device.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein:

the processing circuitry is further operable to transmit location area parameters respective to the wireless device; and

the QoS map for the service area is based upon the location area parameters.

21. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein:

the location area parameters identify a plurality of geographic locations; and

the QoS map indicates video quality delivery supported within the plurality of geographic locations.

22. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the QoS map indicates at least one of relative QoS quality within differing portions of the service area, video quality delivery supported within differing portions of the service area, and QoS available within neighboring service areas.