Network node for controlling transport of data in a wireless communication network

• US 9,832,133 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Arvidsson, ke
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/892,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0273 adapting protocols for flow control or congestion control to wireless environment, e.g. adapting transmission control protocol [TCP] wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation, e.g. wireless application protocol H04W80/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A first network node, for supporting transport of data in a wireless communication network. One or more first data transmission connections, for first data flows, are established between the first network node and one or more service providing entities. One or more second data transmission connections, for second data flows associated with the first data flows, are established between the first network node and one or more wireless terminals via a target node. The first network node obtains a buffer measure that is indicative of a buffering degree at the target node for a first group of the second data flows. The first network node controls, based on the obtained buffer measure, a transmission pace between the first network node and the target node for a second group of the second data flows.

Claims

1. A method for supporting transport of data in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising a first network node and a target node, wherein the transport of data is based on

one or more first data transmission connections for transmission of one or more first data flows, which one or more first data transmission connections are established between the first network node and one or more service providing entities, and

one or more second data transmission connections for transport of one or more second data flows, which one or more second data transmission connections are established between the first network node and one or more wireless terminals via the target node, the one or more second data flows being associated with the one or more first data flows,

wherein the method comprises:

obtaining, by the first network node, a buffer measure that is indicative of a buffering degree of a buffer used by the target node to buffer data for a first group of the one or more second data flows, and

controlling, by the first network node, a transmission pace between the first network node and the target node for a second group of the one or more second data flows based on the obtained buffer measure.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with one and the same wireless terminal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with an area in which the one or more wireless terminals are served by a second network node.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with one and the same bearer of data.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission pace is controlled to decrease a delay indicated by the buffer measure.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission pace is controlled to keep the buffering degree at the target node at a non-empty level.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transmission pace is controlled to keep the buffering degree below a predetermined level.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission pace is further controlled based on awareness of service type associated with at least one of the one or more first data flows.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining information identifying one or more limits associated with the one or more second data flows; and

controlling, based on the obtained information, one or more transmission rates associated with the one or more second data flows.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more limits are received from at least one wireless terminal of the one or more wireless terminals.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the information identifying the one or more limits is information identifying one or more receiver or congestion windows associated with the one or more second data flows.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more transmission rates are controlled to maximise the one or more transmission rates without exceeding said one or more limits.

13. A computer program comprising instructions which when executed by a processor causes the first network node to perform the method according to claim 1.

14. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim 13.

15. A first network node for supporting transport of data in a wireless communication network comprising the first network node and a target node, wherein the transport of data is based on

one or more first data transmission connections for transmission of one or more first data flows, which one or more first data transmission connections are established between the first network node and one or more service providing entities, and

one or more second data transmission connections for transport of one or more second data flows, which one or more second data transmission connections are established between the first network node and one or more wireless terminals via the target node, the one or more second data flows being associated with the one or more first data flows,

the first network node comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

obtain a buffer measure that is indicative of a buffering degree of a buffer used by the target node to buffer data for a first group of the one or more second data flows, and

control, based on the obtained buffer measure, a transmission pace between the first network node and the target node for a second group of the one or more second data flows.

16. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with one and the same wireless terminal.

17. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with an area in which the one or more wireless terminals are served by a second network node.

18. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first group and/or the second group comprises only second data flows associated with one and the same bearer of data.

19. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to control the transmission pace to decrease a delay indicated by the buffer measure.

20. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to control the transmission pace to keep the buffering degree at the target node at a non-empty level.

21. The first network node as claimed in claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to control the transmission pace to keep the buffering degree below a predetermined level.

22. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to further control the transmission pace based on awareness of service type associated with at least one of the one or more first data flows.

23. The first network node as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

obtain information identifying one or more limits associated with the one or more second data flows; and

control, based on the obtained information, one or more transmission rates associated with the one or more second data flows.

24. The first network node as claimed in claim 23, wherein the one or more limits are received from at least one terminal of the one or more wireless terminals.

25. The first network node as claimed in claim 23, wherein the information identifying the one or more limits is information identifying one or more receiver or congestion windows associated with the one or more second data flows.

26. The first network node as claimed in claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to control the one or more transmission rates to maximise the one or more transmission rates without exceeding the one or more limits.