Method and apparatus for providing distinctive levels of access to resources on a high-speed wireless packet data network

• US 20040240383A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Walsh, Patrick Jay, Laha, Subhasis, Davolos, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing system resources in a data transmission system are disclosed herein. An adaptive packet inactivity timer can be associated with the data transmission system, wherein the adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on one or more customer attributes, such as, for example, of quality of service (QoS) level. The customer attribute is linked to a plurality of timer parameters that define the behavior of the adaptive packet inactivity timer for management of the data transmission system. Additionally, the customer attributes can be assigned to a customer based on a contract level associated with the customer, or based on an application type intended for use with the customer contract.

Claims

1. A method for managing system resources in a data transmission system, said method comprising the steps of:

associating an adaptive packet inactivity timer with said data transmission system, wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on at least one customer attribute; and

linking said at least one customer attribute to a plurality of timer parameters that define said behavior of said adaptive packet inactivity timer for management of said data transmission system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one customer attribute comprises a quality of service level.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

assigning said at least one customer attribute to a customer based on a contract level associated with said customer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

assigning said at least one customer attribute to a customer based on an application type intended for use with a contract associated with said customer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

instantiating said adaptive packet inactivity timer according to a plurality of varying parameters; and

automatically changing said behavior of said adaptive packet inactivity timer, in response to instantiating said adaptive packet inactivity timer according to said plurality of varying parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring said data transmission system to comprise an AAA for transmitting at least one customer attribute.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring said data transmission system to comprise:

at least one HLR for transmitting said at least one customer attribute to at least one VLR;

a radio network controller which receives said at least one customer attribute from at least one VLR; and

a packet control function receives said at least one customer attribute from said radio network controller, wherein said packet control function processes said adaptive packet inactivity timer.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

automatically notifying said radio network controller when said adaptive packet inactivity timer expires at said packet control function; and

thereafter releasing a traffic channel associated with a call thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

utilizing said at least one customer attribute as an index of said plurality of timer parameters.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating an adaptive packet inactivity timer with said data transmission system, wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on at least one customer attribute, further comprises the step of:

associating an adaptive packet inactivity timer with said data transmission system, wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on a plurality of customer attributes operating simultaneously.

11. A method for managing system resources in a data transmission system, said method comprising the steps of:

associating an adaptive packet inactivity timer with said data transmission system, wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on at least quality of service level;

linking said at least quality of service level to a plurality of timer parameters that define said behavior of said adaptive packet inactivity timer for management of said data transmission system;

instantiating said adaptive packet inactivity timer according to a plurality of varying parameters; and

automatically changing said behavior of said adaptive packet inactivity timer, in response to instantiating said adaptive packet inactivity timer according to said plurality of varying parameters.

12. An apparatus for managing system resources in a data transmission system, said apparatus comprising:

an adaptive packet inactivity timer associated with said data transmission system, wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes a behavior thereof based on at least one customer attribute; and

a plurality of timer parameters stored within a database associated with said data transmission system, wherein said at least one customer attribute is linked to said plurality of timer parameters, wherein said plurality of timer parameters define said behavior of said adaptive packet inactivity timer for management of said data transmission system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one customer attribute comprises a quality of service level.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one customer attribute is assigned to a customer based on a contract level associated with said customer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one customer attribute is assigned to a customer based on an application type intended for use with a contract associated with said customer.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

said adaptive packet inactivity timer is instantiated according to a plurality of varying parameters; and

said adaptive packet inactivity timer automatically alters said behavior, in response to instantiating said adaptive packet inactivity timer according to said plurality of varying parameters.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data transmission system comprises an AAA for transmitting at least one customer attribute.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein data transmission system comprises:

at least one HLR for transmitting said at least one customer attribute to at least one VLR;

a radio network controller which receives said at least one customer attribute from at least one VLR; and

a packet control function receives said at least one customer attribute from said radio network controller, wherein said packet control function processes said adaptive packet inactivity timer.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said radio network controller is automatically notified when said adaptive packet inactivity timer expires at said packet control function, such that thereafter a traffic channel associated with a call thereof is released.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said adaptive packet inactivity timer dynamically changes said behavior thereof based on a plurality of customer attributes operating simultaneously.