Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for providing broad quality of service optimization using policy-based selective quality degradation

• US 8,320,927 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey, Streijl, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): VIANA DI PRISCO, GERMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/253,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

Devices, methods and computer-readable media for providing broad quality of service optimization using policy-based selective quality degradation. Data associated with a quality of service for customers and QoS policy rules are stored. Customers are grouped for potential degradation. Levels of degradation are defined for each type of user device. Degradation for the group of customers is optimized using policy rules. Degradation is adjusted to account for variations in user treatment within the group. The adjusted degradation is then implemented.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

memory for storing data associated with a quality of service and for storing quality of service policy rules; and

a controller, coupled to the memory, the controller configured to;

form a group of devices that share a quality limiting resource;

define levels of degradation for each type of device in the group based on the shared quality limiting resource;

optimize degradation of a quality of service provided to the group based on policy rules governing levels of degradation for each type of device;

determine an order for selective degradation quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices; and

conforming to the optimized degradation, selectively degrade quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller groups devices by grouping all members of a household that use the service.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller groups devices by grouping all workers at a business location that use the service.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a degradation of quality of service based upon at least one of an application, a service, a customer profile, a group profile, or customer preferences.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores information regarding levels of degradation that are based upon a percentage of a maximum device resolution.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts degradation by determining an order of degradations, determining acceptability of a degradation, and determining acceptability of an amount of degradation.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts degradation using a preference setting, a user profile, and inferences derived from usage history.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a query when acceptable results are not obtained automatically.

9. A tangible computer-readable storage medium, having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

forming a group of devices that share a quality limiting resource;

defining levels of degradation for each type of device in the group based on the shared quality limiting resource;

optimizing degradation of a quality of service provided to the group based on policy rules governing levels of degradation for each type of device;

determining an order for selective degradation quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices; and

conforming to the optimized degradation, selectively degrading quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the forming a group of devices further comprises grouping all members of a household that use the service.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the forming a group of devices further comprises grouping all workers at a business location that use the service.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operations further comprise at least one of adjusting a degradation of quality of service based upon applications, adjusting a degradation of quality of service for services provided by a service provider, adjusting a degradation of quality of service based upon a mix of applications and services, adjusting a degradation of quality of service based upon a customer profile, adjusting a degradation of quality of service based upon a group profile, or adjusting a degradation of quality of service based upon customer preferences.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operations further including storing information regarding levels of degradation that are based upon a percentage of a maximum device resolution.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising adjusting degradation by determining an order of degradations, determining acceptability of a degradation, and determining acceptability of an amount of degradation.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising adjusting degradation using preference setting by a customer, profiling of the customer, and inferences derived from usage history of a customer.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operations further including providing a query when acceptable results are not obtained automatically.

17. A method comprising:

forming a group of devices that share a quality limiting resource;

defining levels of degradation for each type of device in the group based on the shared quality limiting resource;

optimizing degradation of a quality of service provided to the group based on policy rules governing levels of degradation for each type of device;

determining an order for selective degradation quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices; and

conforming to the optimized degradation, selectively degrading quality of service of individual devices in the group of devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the degradation of the service is based upon at least one of applications, profiles, identified preferences, degradation sensitivity, or inferences derived from usage history.