Resource Reservation in Multiple Accesses

• US 20120230287A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Stenfelt, John, Kopplin, Dirk, Rommer, Stefan, Ronneke, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/72 using reservation actions during connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for enabling resource allocation for a service data flow between a user equipment (14) and a gateway in a multiple access environment. The method comprises the steps of:—A resource reservation device (10,19) receives reservation instructions from a policy control node (13). The reservation instructions require dedicated access resources to be reserved for the service data flow.—The resource reservation device (10,19) reports the result of the resource reservation required by the reservation instructions to the policy control node (13). What particularly characterize the method are the steps of:—The resource reservation device (10,19) requests reservation of the resources required by the reservation instructions in a plurality of accesses (11,12).—The resource reservation device (10,19) reports the selected single access (11,12) that enables the requested resources to the policy control node (13). This is reported when the access (11,12) is selected.

Claims

1. A method for enabling resource allocation for a service data flow between a user equipment and a gateway in a multiple access environment, the method comprising the steps of:

a resource reservation device receiving reservation instructions from a policy control node, the reservation instructions requiring dedicated access resources to be reserved for the service data flow,

the resource reservation device reporting the result of the resource reservation required by the reservation instructions to the policy control node,

the resource reservation device requesting reservation of the resources required by the reservation instructions in a plurality of accesses, and

the resource reservation device reporting-48) the selected single access that enables the resources to the policy control node when the access is selected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation instructions received comprises information from which access or accesses the resource reservation device should request reservation of resources.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation instructions consist in a policy and charging control rule and where the resource reservation device consists in a policy control and enforcement function.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation instructions consist in a quality of service rule and where the resource reservation device consists in a bearer binding and an event reporting function.

5. A-The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation instructions allows for requesting reservation of resources in a plurality of accesses.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the request of resource reservation is performed in priority order.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the resource reservation device requests reservation of resources required in the plurality of accesses in sequential order.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the resource reservation device requests reservation of resources required in the plurality of accesses-in parallel.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein if resources are available in a plurality of accesses the single access is selected from the available resources in priority order.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation instructions allow for requesting reservation of resource in only a first access.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the resource reservation device requests reservation of resources required in the first access and continues to request reservation of resources required in one following access after having received new reservation instructions allowing access to said following access.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the following access is selected in priority order.

13. A resource reservation device being adapted to enable resource allocation for a service data flow between a user equipment and a gateway in a multiple access environment, the resource reservation device further being adapted to:

receive reservation instructions from a policy control node, the reservation instructions requiring dedicated access resources to be reserved for the service data flow,

report the result of the resource reservation required by the reservation instructions to the policy control node,

request reservation of the resources required by the reservation instructions in a plurality of accesses, and

report the selected single access that enables the resources to the policy control node when the access is selected.

14. The resource reservation device according to claim 13, wherein the resource reservation device consists in a policy control and enforcement function.

15. The resource reservation device according to claim 13, wherein the resource reservation device consists in a bearer binding and an event reporting function.

16. A policy control node being adapted to enable resource allocation for a service data flow between a user equipment and a gateway in a multiple access environment, the policy control node further being adapted to:

send reservation instructions to a resource reservation device, the reservation instructions requiring dedicated access resources to be reserved for the service data flow,

receive a report from the resource reservation device regarding the result of the resource reservation required by the reservation instructions,

receive a report from the resource reservation device according to claim 13 when the access is selected regarding the selected single access-that enables the resources.

17. A policy control node according to claim 16, wherein the policy control node consists in a policy and charging rules function.

18. A system adapted to enable resource allocation for a service data flow between a user equipment and a gateway in a multiple access environment, a resource reservation device in the system being adapted to

receive reservation instructions from a policy control node according to claim 16, the reservation instructions requiring dedicated access resources to be reserved for the service data flow,

report the result of the resource reservation required by the reservation instructions to the policy control node,

request reservation of the resources required by the reservation instructions in a plurality of accesses, and

report the selected single access that enables the resources to the policy control node when the access is selected.