Method and apparatus for providing layered wireless networks

• US 8,626,234 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Rosemarie B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MONG-THUY THI
• Application Number:
  US12/640,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/435.1, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/423, 455/426.1, 709/217, 709/224, 709/225, 379/106.02
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A capability is provided for supporting a layered wireless network. A method for supporting a service session for a wireless user device includes receiving a service request associated with the wireless user device, determining at least one characteristic of the service request, and selecting, using the at least one characteristic of the service request, one of a plurality of network layers available for supporting a service session for the service request. A network layer has a wireless access technology associated therewith and, optionally, also may have a core network technology associated therewith. The selection of the network layer for a service request may be performed within the network or performed at the wireless user device under the control of the network.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a medical monitoring service for a user, the method comprising:

receiving a request for use of the medical monitoring service;

selecting, based on a network layer selection policy associated with the medical monitoring service, a first wireless network layer of a plurality of wireless network layers;

initiating, via the first wireless network layer, establishment of a first service session between a first wireless user device of the user and an application server associated with the medical monitoring service; and

initiating, based on detection of a medical condition associated with the user via monitoring of content of the first service session, establishment of a second service session via a second wireless network layer of the plurality of wireless network layers, wherein establishment of the second service session is initiated for the first wireless user device of the user or a second wireless user device of the user;

wherein each of the wireless network layers has a respective wireless access technology associated therewith.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the medical monitoring service comprises a heart monitoring service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the wireless network layers, the wireless access technology comprises one of a Fourth Generation (4G) wireless access technology, a Third Generation (3G) wireless access technology, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless access technology network, a ZigBee access technology, or a wireless broadcast access technology.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for use of the medical monitoring service is received by a network element, wherein the network element selects the first and second wireless network layers using network layer selection information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for use of the medical monitoring service is received at the first wireless user device from an application available on the first wireless user device, wherein the first wireless user device selects the first wireless network layer based on the network layer selection policy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the wireless network layers, the wireless network layer comprises a wireless access network and a core network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network layer comprises a first wireless access network and the second wireless network layer comprises a second wireless access network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service session is configured for medical monitoring for the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service session is configured for at least one of audio communications related to the medical monitoring for the user in the first service session or video communications related to the medical monitoring for the user in the first service session.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishment of the second service session is based on at least one of an application-related characteristic of the request for use of the medical monitoring service, a user-related characteristic of the request for use of the medical monitoring service, or a Service Level Agreement (SLA)-related characteristic of the first wireless user device or the second wireless user device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the second wireless network layer for the second service session based on information associated with the medical monitoring service.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the second wireless network layer for the second service session based on network layer selection information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the network layer selection information comprises a policy indicative that the the second wireless network layer is to be selected for the second service session.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the network layer selection information comprises at least one of service provider preferences, network status information, user preferences, behavioral characteristics, or application preferences.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the network layer selection information comprises a plurality of network layer selection policies, wherein selecting the second wireless network layer comprises:

accessing one of the network layer selection policies based on at least one characteristic of the request for use of the medical monitoring service; and

selecting the second wireless network layer based on the accessed network layer selection policy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the accessed network layer selection policy identifies at least two of the wireless network layers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least two of the wireless network layers are prioritized.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a trigger condition associated with at least one of the first service session or the second service session; and

propagating at least one reconfiguration message toward at least one of the first wireless network layer or the second wireless network layer.

19. An apparatus for supporting a service for a user, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to;

receive a request for use of the medical monitoring service;

select, based on a network layer selection policy associated with the medical monitoring service, a first wireless network layer of a plurality of wireless network layers;

initiate, via the first wireless network layer, establishment of a first service session between a first wireless user device of the user and an application server associated with the medical monitoring service; and

initiate, based on detection of a medical condition associated with the user via monitoring of content of the first service session, establishment of a second service session via a second wireless network layer of the plurality of wireless network layers, wherein establishment of the second service session is initiated for the first wireless user device of the user or a second wireless user device of the user;

wherein each of the wireless network layers has a respective wireless access technology associated therewith.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for supporting a service for a user, the method comprising:

receiving a request for use of the medical monitoring service;

selecting, based on a network layer selection policy associated with the medical monitoring service, a first wireless network layer of a plurality of wireless network layers;

initiating, via the first wireless network layer, establishment of a first service session between a first wireless user device of the user and an application server associated with the medical monitoring service; and

initiating, based on detection of a medical condition associated with the user via monitoring of content of the first service session, establishment of a second service session via a second wireless network layer of the plurality of wireless network layers, wherein establishment of the second service session is initiated for the first wireless user device of the user or a second wireless user device of the user;

wherein each of the wireless network layers has a respective wireless access technology associated therewith.