Long term evolution radio network application-level load balancing

• US 9,961,137 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• 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: Shaw, Venson M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Chen-Liang
• Application Number:
  US13/457,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 370237, 709226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0861 between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0942 based on measured or predicted load of entities- or links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/095 based on usage history, e.g. usage history of devices

Abstract

A network device may receive an application level load balancing factor, and instruct another network device to load balance data packets based on an analysis of the application level load balancing factor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting a mobile device with at least a first base station via a first communication link and second base station via a second communication link;

receiving, by the mobile device, an application level load balancing factor, the application level load balancing factor based on;

an amount of data traffic historically traversing a first communication link during a first period, the first period on a previous date,

remaining download usage available for the mobile device,

type of service permitted for the mobile device, and

different types of video streaming applications;

providing a rank to each communication link of a plurality of communication links comprising the first communication link and the second communication link for a second period based on the application level load balancing factor, the second period being in the future and corresponding to the first period; and

providing instructions to distribute data packets during the second period based on the ranking of each communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the mobile device, video data to a first base station and non-video data to a second base station based on the application level load balancing factor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor is further based on a combination of at least two of, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the rank was done by a secondary application level load balancer of the mobile device based on a primary application level load balance of a network device not being available.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor is further based on processor information of a network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor is further based on a service permission indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application level load balancing factor is further based on a device display resolution.

8. A network device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

connecting the network device with at least a first mobile device via a first communication link and a second communication link;

receiving an application level load balancing factor, the application level load balancing factor based on;

an amount of data traffic historically traversing a first communication link during a first period, the first period on a previous date,

remaining download usage available for the mobile device,

type of service permitted for the mobile device, and

different types of video streaming applications;

providing a rank to each communication link of a plurality of communication links comprising the first communication link and the second communication link for a second period based on the application level load balancing factor, the second period being in the future and corresponding to the first period; and

providing instructions to distribute data packets during the second period based on the ranking of each communication link.

9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a device capability identifier.

10. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a combination of at least two of, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

11. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a service permission indicator.

12. The network device of claim 8, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on error information.

13. The network device of claim 9, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a device category.

14. A system comprising:

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that sends or receives data packets; and

a network device communicatively connected with the WTRU, the network device comprising;

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

connecting the network device with at least a first mobile device via a first communication link and a second communication link;

receiving an application level load balancing factor, the application level load balancing factor based on;

an amount of data traffic historically traversing a first communication link during a first period, the first period on a previous date,

remaining download usage available for the WTRU,

type of service permitted for the WTRU, and

different types of video streaming applications;

providing a rank to each communication link of a plurality of communication links comprising the first communication link and the second communication link for a second period based on the application level load balancing factor, the second period being in the future and corresponding to the first period; and

providing instructions to distribute data packets during the second period based on the ranking of the communication link.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a device capability identifier.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on at least two of, a traffic status/condition index, a user profile, or a device capability identifier.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the providing the rank was done by a secondary application level load balancer of the network device based on a primary application level load balance of a network device not being available.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor based on error information of the WTRU.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor comprises a user profile that comprises at a bandwidth allowance indicator.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the application level load balancing factor further based on a device display resolution.