Wireless communication link bandwidth utilization monitoring
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a wireless link node device comprising;
a wireless interface that enables communications over a wireless communication link;
a utilization monitor, operatively coupled to the wireless interface, that monitors utilization of bandwidth on the wireless communication link and generates bandwidth utilization information associated with the wireless communication link, and a monitor interface, operatively coupled to the utilization monitor, that provides access to the bandwidth utilization information, at least one of the wireless interface, the utilization monitor, and the monitor interface being implemented using hardware, firmware, components which execute software, or a combination thereof; and
a management system, the management system comprising;
a monitor interface that enables access to the bandwidth utilization information from the wireless link node;
a utilization information collector, operatively coupled to the monitor interface, that collects the bandwidth utilization information for the wireless communication link from the wireless link node; and
a utilization information processor that processes the collected bandwidth utilization information to determine usage charges to be assessed to a customer for usage of bandwidth on the wireless communication link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wireless communication link bandwidth utilization monitoring apparatus and methods are disclosed. Utilization of bandwidth on a wireless communication link is monitored to generate bandwidth utilization information. In order to provide a record of the distribution of bandwidth utilization, durations of bandwidth utilization above respective different thresholds might be determined. Such distributions could be useful for such purposes as network analysis and/or customer billing based on actual wireless bandwidth usage. Bandwidth utilization information may be collected from multiple wireless link nodes, illustratively the wireless link nodes at both ends of monitored wireless communication links, to allow total bandwidth utilization for bi-directional communications over the monitored links to be determined.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
- a wireless link node device comprising;
a wireless interface that enables communications over a wireless communication link;
a utilization monitor, operatively coupled to the wireless interface, that monitors utilization of bandwidth on the wireless communication link and generates bandwidth utilization information associated with the wireless communication link, and a monitor interface, operatively coupled to the utilization monitor, that provides access to the bandwidth utilization information, at least one of the wireless interface, the utilization monitor, and the monitor interface being implemented using hardware, firmware, components which execute software, or a combination thereof; and
a management system, the management system comprising;
a monitor interface that enables access to the bandwidth utilization information from the wireless link node;
a utilization information collector, operatively coupled to the monitor interface, that collects the bandwidth utilization information for the wireless communication link from the wireless link node; and
a utilization information processor that processes the collected bandwidth utilization information to determine usage charges to be assessed to a customer for usage of bandwidth on the wireless communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a wireless link node device comprising;
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a monitor interface that enables access to respective bandwidth utilization information generated at wireless link nodes on the basis of monitoring utilization of bandwidth on respective wireless communication links associated with the wireless link nodes; a utilization information collector, operatively coupled to the monitor interface, that collects the respective bandwidth utilization information for one or more of the wireless communication links from the wireless link nodes associated with the one or more wireless communication links; and a utilization information processor that processes the collected respective bandwidth utilization information to determine usage charges to be assessed to one or more customers for usage of bandwidth on the one or more wireless communication links, at least one of the monitor interface, the utilization information collector, and the utilization information processor being implemented using hardware, firmware, components which execute software, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification