Method and system for selective buffering

• US 8,155,650 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Jayaraman R., Stammers, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US11/465,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/412, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/02 Buffering or recovering information during reselection ; Modification of the traffic flow during hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method for selective buffering includes establishing a first connection with a mobile endpoint. The first connection provides for an exchange of data with the mobile endpoint via a first point of connection. The mobile endpoint is coupled to the first point of connection via a second connection. The method also includes characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint, and determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data. The method further includes receiving a request to transfer the mobile endpoint from the first point of connection to a second point of connection. The method also includes determining whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection based on the characterization of the data.

Claims

1. A method for selective buffering, comprising:

establishing a first connection with a mobile endpoint, the first connection providing for an exchange of data with the mobile endpoint via a first point of connection, the mobile endpoint coupled to the first point of connection via a second connection;

characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint as time sensitive data;

determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

receiving a request to transfer the mobile endpoint from the first point of connection to a second point of connection; and

upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determining whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection based on the characterization of the data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

buffering the data locally; and

sending a request to the first point of connection requesting that the first point of connection buffer the data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises determining whether to buffer the data at the first point of connection and locally, or at the first point of connection, or locally, or neither locally nor at the first point of connection, based on the characterization of the data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises characterizing a type of service provided via the data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the buffered data is not forwarded based on the characterization of the data.

8. The method of claim 1:

further comprising characterizing a route associated with the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint;

wherein determining whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection is further based on the characterized route associated with the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint.

9. The method of claim 1:

further comprising characterizing a profile associated with the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint;

wherein determining whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection is further based on the characterized profile associated with the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint.

10. A method for selective buffering, comprising:

establishing a first connection with a mobility anchor point and a second connection with a mobile endpoint;

relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point;

characterizing the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point as time sensitive data;

determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

receiving a request to stop relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point; and

upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determining whether to forward the buffered data based on the characterization of the data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

buffering the data locally; and

sending a request to the mobility anchor point requesting that the mobility anchor point buffer the data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises determining whether to buffer the data locally and at a mobility anchor point, or locally, or at the mobility anchor point, or neither locally nor at the mobility anchor point, based on the characterization of the data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein characterizing the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point comprises characterizing a type of service provided via the data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

16. A system for selective buffering, comprising:

an interface operable to establish a first connection with a mobile endpoint, the first connection providing for an exchange of data with the mobile endpoint via a first point of connection, the mobile endpoint coupled to the first point of connection via a second connection;

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint as time sensitive data; and

determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

wherein the interface is further operable to receive a request to transfer the mobile endpoint from the first point of connection to a second point of connection and upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, the processor is further operable to determine whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection based on the characterization of the data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable to buffer the data locally and the interface is further operable to send a request to the first point of connection requesting that the first point of connection buffer the data.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor operable to determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises a processor operable to determine whether to buffer the data at the first point of connection and locally, or at the first point of connection, or locally, or neither locally nor at the first point of connection, based on the characterization of the data.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises a processor operable to characterize a type of service provided via the data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises a processor operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

22. A system for selective buffering, comprising:

an interface operable to;

establish a first connection with a mobility anchor point and a second connection with a mobile endpoint; and

relay data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to;

characterize the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point as time sensitive data; and

determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

wherein the interface is further operable to receive a request to stop relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point and upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, the processor is further operable to determine whether to forward the buffered data based on the characterization of the data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further operable to buffer the data locally and the interface is further operable to send a request to the mobility anchor point requesting that the mobility anchor point buffer the data.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor operable to determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises a processor operable to determine whether to buffer the data locally and at a mobility anchor point, or locally, or at the mobility anchor point, or neither locally nor at the mobility anchor point, based on the characterization of the data.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor operable to characterize the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point comprises a processor operable to characterize a type of service provided via the data.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises a processor operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

28. Logic embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

establish a first connection with a mobile endpoint, the first connection providing for an exchange of data with the mobile endpoint via a first point of connection, the mobile endpoint coupled to the first point of connection via a second connection;

characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint as time sensitive data;

determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

receive a request to transfer the mobile endpoint from the first point of connection to a second point of connection; and

upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determine whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection based on the characterization of the data.

29. The medium of claim 28, wherein the code is further operable to:

buffer the data locally; and

send a request to the first point of connection requesting that the first point of connection buffer the data.

30. The medium of claim 28, wherein the code operable to determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises code operable to determine whether to buffer the data at the first point of connection and locally, or at the first point of connection, or locally, or neither locally nor at the first point of connection, based on the characterization of the data.

31. The medium of claim 28, wherein the code operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises code operable to characterize a type of service provided via the data.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

33. The medium of claim 28, wherein the code operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises code operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

34. Logic embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

establish a first connection with a mobility anchor point and a second connection with a mobile endpoint;

relay data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point;

characterize the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point as time sensitive data;

determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

receive a request to stop relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point; and

upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determine whether to forward the buffered data based on the characterization of the data.

35. The medium of claim 34, wherein the code is further operable to:

buffer the data locally; and

send a request to the mobility anchor point requesting that the mobility anchor point buffer the data.

36. The medium of claim 34, wherein the code operable to determine whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data comprises code operable to determine whether to buffer the data locally and at a mobility anchor point, or locally, or at the mobility anchor point, or neither locally nor at the mobility anchor point, based on the characterization of the data.

37. The medium of claim 34, wherein the code operable to characterize the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point comprises code operable to characterize a type of service provided via the data.

38. The medium of claim 37, wherein the data is buffered if the type of service provided is a service selected from the group consisting of a time-insensitive service and a delay insensitive service.

39. The medium of claim 37, wherein the code operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint comprises code operable to characterize the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint using a resource selected from the group consisting of a link layer procedure, a policy lookup, and at least one local configuration decision.

40. A system for selective buffering, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection with a mobile endpoint, the first connection providing for an exchange of data with the mobile endpoint via a first point of connection, the mobile endpoint coupled to the first point of connection via a second connection;

means for characterizing the data exchanged with the mobile endpoint as time sensitive data;

means for determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

means for receiving a request to transfer the mobile endpoint from the first point of connection to a second point of connection; and

means for, upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determining whether to forward the buffered data to the second point of connection based on the characterization of the data.

41. A method for selective buffering, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection with a mobility anchor point and a second connection with a mobile endpoint;

means for relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point;

means for characterizing the data relayed between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point as time sensitive data;

means for determining whether to buffer the data based on the characterization of the data according to a policy configured at a network node distinct from the mobile endpoint;

means for receiving a request to stop relaying data between the mobile endpoint and the mobility anchor point; and

means for, upon the data being buffered based on the characterization of the data, determining whether to forward the buffered data based on the characterization of the data.