Cooperative data mules

• US 9,338,726 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Dilip, Das, Soumya, Soliman, Samir Salib, Bhushan, Naga
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roudani, Oussama
• Application Number:
  US13/652,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/230, 370/329, 370/235, 370/338, 370/315
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus provides or enables dynamic cooperative wireless data delivery service based on dynamic proximate locations of mobile nodes in wireless networks. A source wireless terminal may offload data for delayed transmission by a neighboring wireless terminal. The source may attempt delayed data transmission via any cooperating neighboring node (mule), whether mobile or stationary. A utility function may be used to compare costs of communicating via direct links or through opportunistically available links provided by mules. The mule may advertise availability of indirect data delivery service including probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving information from a plurality of proximate user equipments (UEs) advertising availability of an indirect data delivery service provided by the plurality of UEs;

determining a probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service;

receiving, from each of the plurality of UEs, a probability of delivery within the probable latency time;

transmitting a data packet to the plurality of UEs for delivery to a packet data network using the indirect delivery service when a characteristic of the indirect data delivery service satisfies one or more performance optimization criteria, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprise a threshold probability of delivery of one or more data packets within the probable latency time, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria is satisfied when a combined probability of delivery calculated for the plurality of UEs exceeds the threshold probability of delivery; and

directly delivering the data packet to the packet data network when the characteristic of the indirect data delivery service does not satisfy the one or more performance optimization criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the probable latency time allows a delivery deadline associated with the data packet to be satisfied.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the probable latency time is provided in the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service that is received from the plurality of UEs.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the probable latency time is further based on an expected access by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the probable latency time is determined further based on a statistical analysis of prior accesses by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted using the indirect delivery service when transmitting through the indirect delivery service reduces channel overhead of a wireless network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs indicates that one or more packets from other transmitters are already scheduled for transmission to the packet data network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises an aggregation service that permits transmission of data packets from a plurality of source devices through an established channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that operates at lower transmission power than the transmission power of a local wireless network transmitter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network channel that provides higher data throughput or lower channel cost than a collocated transmitter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that has established a higher quality channel to a wireless base station than a corresponding channel of a local wireless network transmitter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a radio access network (RAN) that is different from a locally available RAN.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises future access to the packet data network through a RAN that is different from a currently available RAN.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a WiFi network, wherein the probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service is calculated based on an expected connection between the plurality of UEs and the WiFi network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the probable latency time corresponds to a latest delivery time.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is one of a plurality of data packets transmitted to the packet data network through the plurality of UEs.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises battery life, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network using the indirect delivery service in order to prolong local battery power.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises network loading criteria, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network at a time when network loading is expected to be lower than current network loading.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more data packets received from at least one of the plurality of UEs to the packet data network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service is provided by the plurality of UEs through a peer-to-peer network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a Bluetooth network or a long term evolution (LTE) network.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a discovery channel embedded in a wireless network.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the data packet to the plurality of UEs includes communicating the data packet through a device-to-device communication channel embedded in a wireless network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless network comprises an LTE network.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet comprises encrypted data.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance optimization criteria comprises a pricing incentive associated with a reduction in channel overhead of a wireless network associated with transmitting the data packet to the packet data network through the plurality of UEs.

27. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving information from a plurality of nearby user equipments (UEs) advertising availability of an indirect data delivery service provided by the plurality of UEs;

means for determining a probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service;

means for receiving, from each of the plurality of UEs, a probability of delivery within the probable latency time;

means for transmitting a data packet to the plurality of UEs for delivery to a packet data network using the indirect delivery service when a characteristic of the indirect data delivery service satisfies one or more performance optimization criteria, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprise a threshold probability of delivery of one or more data packets within the probable latency time, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria is satisfied when a combined probability of delivery calculated for the plurality of UEs exceeds the threshold probability of delivery; and

means for delivering the data packet directly to the packet data network when the characteristic of the indirect data delivery service does not satisfy the one or more performance optimization criteria.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the probable latency time allows a delivery deadline associated with the data packet to be satisfied.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the probable latency time is provided in the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service that is received from the plurality of UEs.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the probable latency time is further based on an expected access by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the probable latency time is determined further based on a statistical analysis of prior accesses by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet using the indirect delivery service when transmitting through the indirect delivery service reduces channel overhead of a wireless network.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs indicates that one or more packets from other transmitters are already scheduled for transmission to the packet data network.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises an aggregation service that permits transmission of data packets from a plurality of source devices through an established channel.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that operates at lower transmission power than the transmission power of a local wireless network transmitter.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network channel that provides higher data throughput or lower channel cost than a collocated transmitter.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that has established a higher quality channel to a wireless base station than a corresponding channel of a local wireless network transmitter.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a radio access network (RAN) that is different from a locally available RAN.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises future access to the packet data network through a RAN that is different from a currently available RAN.

40. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet transmits the data packet to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a WiFi network, wherein the probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service is calculated based on an expected connection between the plurality of UEs and the WiFi network.

41. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the probable latency time corresponds to a latest delivery time.

42. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the data packet is one of a plurality of data packets transmitted to the packet data network through the plurality of UEs.

43. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises battery life, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network using the indirect delivery service in order to prolong local battery power.

44. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises network loading criteria, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network at a time when network loading is expected to be lower than current network loading.

45. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for transmitting one or more data packets received from at least one of the plurality of UEs to the packet data network.

46. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service is provided by the plurality of UEs through a peer-to-peer network.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a Bluetooth network or a long term evolution (LTE) network.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a discovery channel embedded in a wireless network.

49. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the data packet to the plurality of UEs utilizes a device-to-device communication channel embedded in a wireless network.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the wireless network comprises an LTE network.

51. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the data packet comprises encrypted data.

52. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the performance optimization criteria comprises a pricing incentive associated with a reduction in channel overhead of a wireless network associated with transmitting the data packet to the packet data network through the plurality of UEs.

53. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive information from a plurality of proximate user equipments (UEs) advertising availability of an indirect data delivery service provided by the plurality of UEs;

determine a probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service;

receive, from each of the plurality of UEs, a probability of delivery within the probable latency time;

transmit a data packet to the plurality of UEs for delivery to a packet data network using the indirect delivery service when a characteristic of the indirect data delivery service satisfies one or more performance optimization criteria, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprise a threshold probability of delivery of one or more data packets within the probable latency time, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria is satisfied when a combined probability of delivery calculated for the plurality of UEs exceeds the threshold probability of delivery; and

directly deliver the data packet to the packet data network when the characteristic of the indirect data delivery service does not satisfy the one or more performance optimization criteria.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the probable latency time allows a delivery deadline associated with the data packet to be satisfied.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the probable latency time is provided in the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service that is received from the plurality of UEs.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the probable latency time is further based on an expected access by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the probable latency time is determined further based on a statistical analysis of prior accesses by the plurality of UEs of the packet data network.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted using the indirect delivery service when transmitting through the indirect delivery service reduces channel overhead of a wireless network.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs indicates that one or more packets from other transmitters are already scheduled for transmission to the packet data network.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises an aggregation service that permits transmission of data packets from a plurality of source devices through an established channel.

62. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that operates at lower transmission power than the transmission power of a local wireless network transmitter.

63. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network channel that provides higher data throughput or lower channel cost than a collocated transmitter.

64. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a wireless network transmitter that has established a higher quality channel to a wireless base station than a corresponding channel of a local wireless network transmitter.

65. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a radio access network (RAN) that is different from a locally available RAN.

66. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises future access to the packet data network through a RAN that is different from a currently available RAN.

67. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs when the plurality of UEs advertises access to the packet data network through a WiFi network, wherein the probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service is calculated based on an expected connection between the plurality of UEs and the WiFi network.

68. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the probable latency time corresponds to a latest delivery time.

69. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises battery life, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network using the indirect delivery service in order to prolong local battery power.

70. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprises network loading criteria, and wherein the data packet is transmitted to the plurality of UEs for delivery to the packet data network at a time when network loading is expected to be lower than current network loading.

71. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the information advertising availability of the indirect data delivery service is provided by the plurality of UEs through a peer-to-peer network.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a Bluetooth network or a long term evolution (LTE) network.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the peer-to-peer network comprises a discovery channel embedded in a wireless network.

74. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein, to transmit the data packet to the plurality of UEs, the at least one processor is configured to communicate the data packet through a device-to-device communication channel embedded in a wireless network, wherein the wireless network comprises an LTE network.

75. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the performance optimization criteria comprises a pricing incentive associated with a reduction in channel overhead of a wireless network associated with transmitting the data packet to the packet data network through the plurality of UEs.

54. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for;

receiving information from a plurality of proximate user equipments (UEs) advertising availability of an indirect data delivery service provided by the plurality of UEs;

determining a probable latency time associated with the indirect delivery service;

receiving, from each of the plurality of UEs, a probability of delivery within the probable latency time;

transmitting a data packet to the plurality of UEs for delivery to a packet data network using the indirect delivery service when a characteristic of the indirect data delivery service satisfies one or more performance optimization criteria, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria comprise a threshold probability of delivery of one or more data packets within the probable latency time, wherein the one or more performance optimization criteria is satisfied when a combined probability of delivery calculated for the plurality of UEs exceeds the threshold probability of delivery; and

directly delivering the data packet to the packet data network when the characteristic of the indirect data delivery service does not satisfy the one or more performance optimization criteria.