Methods and apparatus for controlling access link packet flow aggregation and resource allocation in a mobile communications system

• US 8,000,241 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neill, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shand; Roberta A
• Application Number:
  US10/739,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20040170125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,798 Days
• Field of Search: 455450-453, 370229-235, 370/252, 370/254, 370/328, 370/329, 370/401, 370465-468
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/767 after changing the attachment point, e.g. after hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/825 Involving tunnels, e.g. MPLS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for aggregating IP packets over an access link between a wireless access router and a core node and for managing resource allocation to access link packet aggregates, e.g., as a function of the status of wireless communications links used to couple mobile nodes to the access router are described. Improved aggregate resource control messages and use of such messages are described. Some of the new messages allow aggregate resources for both upstream and downstream aggregates to be controlled in a single message. A single message may include information corresponding to multiple aggregates and/or multiple constituent flows included in an aggregate with aggregate direction information being included. Use of tunnels to communicate management messages, e.g., messages used to control resource allocation to aggregates is also described. Propagation of access link aggregate information is communicated to tunnel end nodes which generate packets that are communicated over the access link.

Claims

1. A method of operating an access node to control aggregation of packet flows over an access link between said access node and a peer node, the method comprising:

defining a mapping between a first downstream packet flow and a first downstream packet flow aggregate, said first downstream packet flow aggregate being one of a plurality of downstream packet flow aggregates, each of said downstream packet flow aggregates corresponding to at least one downstream packet flow which includes a flow of packets from said peer node to said access node, a plurality of downstream packet flows corresponding to said first downstream packet flow aggregate; and

defining a mapping between a first upstream packet flow and a first upstream packet flow aggregate, said first upstream packet flow including a flow of packets from said access node to said peer node.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the access node to assign access link resources for the first upstream packet flow aggregate; and

operating the access node to assign access link resources for the first downstream packet flow aggregate.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising operating the access node to modify the assignment of access link resources to at least one of said first upstream and first downstream packet flow aggregates, said modifying including:

determining the available communications resources for packet flow aggregates on said access link in the direction of said one of said first upstream and first downstream packet flow aggregates; and

assigning communications resources to said one of said first upstream and first downstream packet flow aggregates as a function of the determined available resources in the direction of said one of said first upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining said available resources includes:

receiving radio signals from a plurality of mobile nodes;

determining a total capacity available to said mobile nodes at said access node for communicating signals in at least one direction to or from said access node as a function of said received radio signals; and

controlling the allocation of available resources on the access link as a function of said determined total capacity.

5. The method of claim 2,

wherein said peer node is a core network node, the method further comprising:

changing the amount of assigned access link resources allocated for said first downstream packet flow aggregate in response to one of a mobile node leaving or entering a cell in which said access node is located.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating the access node to signal first downstream packet flow aggregate resource assignment information to said peer node; and

operating the access node to deliver packets received in said first downstream packet flow to a mobile node coupled to said access node via a wireless communications link.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein operating the access node to assign access link resources for said first downstream packet flow aggregate includes:

transmitting first information indicating access link resources assigned to said first downstream packet flow aggregate to said peer node;

determining the total available resource for packet flow aggregates on the access link in the downstream direction; and

transmitting said determined total available resources for packet flow aggregates on the access link in the downstream direction to the peer node.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the assignment of access link resources is performed in response to a first admission control event that is one of:

a mobile node arrival in a cell serviced by said access node and a mobile node departure from said cell.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein said peer node is a core network node:

wherein said access node is coupled to a mobile node by a wireless communications link; and

wherein the method further comprises;

operating the access node to deliver packets received from said core network node in said first downstream packet flow to said mobile node via the wireless communications link.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said peer node is a core network node the method further comprising:

sending an aggregate resource signal message to said peer node providing information relating said first downstream packet flow to said first downstream packet flow aggregate, said message being an aggregate resource signal message including an aggregate identifier and a downstream constituent identifier.

11. A method of operating an access node to control aggregation of packet flows over an access link between said access node and a peer node, the method comprising:

defining a mapping between a first downstream packet flow and a first downstream packet flow aggregate, said first downstream packet flow aggregate being one of a plurality of downstream packet flow aggregates, each of said downstream packet flow aggregates corresponding to at least one downstream packet flow which includes a flow of packets from said peer node to said access node, a plurality of downstream packet flows corresponding to said first downstream packet flow aggregate; and

defining a mapping between a first upstream packet flow and a first upstream packet flow aggregate, said first upstream packet flow including a flow of packets from said access node to said peer node;

operating the access node to assign access link resources for the first upstream packet flow aggregate; and

operating the access node to assign access link resources for the first downstream packet flow aggregate;

modifying the assignment of access link resources to one of said upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates, said modifying including;

determining the resources required for said one of said upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates as a function of a second admission control event;

comparing the required resources to available resources assigned to said one of said upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates;

acquiring resources for said one of said upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates over the access link, if the required resources are less than the assigned available resources; and

wherein the available resources in a packet aggregate is maintained by the access node above the required resources by an unassigned resource value to enable future packet flows to be admitted quickly by avoiding the need to use signaling to adjust the available resources for that aggregate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the aggregation peer can admit a constituent packet flow into a downstream aggregate when sufficient unassigned resources exist on the access link that can be used by said downstream packet aggregate.

13. A packet flow aggregation method for use in aggregating packet flows between a network node operating as an aggregation peer node and an access node, the access node including a wireless interface for communicating with mobile nodes over wireless communications links, the method comprising:

operating the access node to assign a plurality of downstream packet flows to a first downstream packet flow aggregate, the downstream packet flows conveying packets from said aggregation peer node to said access node, said first downstream packet flow aggregate including multiple downstream packet flows; and

operating the access node to assign a plurality of upstream packet flows to a first upstream packet flow aggregate, the upstream packet flows conveying packets from said access node to said aggregation peer node, said first upstream packet flow aggregate including multiple upstream packet flows.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

operating the access node to communicate information indicating the assignment of downstream packet flows to downstream packet flow aggregates to said aggregation peer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

communicating packets received in a downstream packet flow from said aggregation peer node to a mobile node over one of said wireless communications links.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein said information indicating the assignment of downstream packet flows includes information sufficient to identify a packet flow to which a received packet corresponds based on information included in a header of said received packet;

and

wherein said information sufficient to identify a packet flow includes packet source information and one of a service class identifier and a data type identifier.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

operating the access node to allocate link resources which can be used in communicating packets, included in packet flows, between said access node and said peer node to both upstream and downstream packet flow aggregates.

18. A method of controlling access link resource allocation on an access link extending between a wireless access router and a core network node operating as an aggregation node, said access link carrying a plurality of aggregated downstream packet flows and at least one aggregated upstream packet flow, the method comprising:

operating said access node to control both the assignment of downstream access link resources between said downstream packet flow aggregates and the assignment of upstream access link resources to said at least one aggregated upstream packet flow; and

operating said access node to communicate downstream access link resource allocation information to said aggregation peer node.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said aggregation peer node is slaved to said access node in regard to downstream access link resource assignments, said aggregation peer node operating to allocate downstream access link resources to downstream packet flow aggregates in accordance with the downstream access link resource allocation information communicated to said access aggregation peer node by said access node.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a plurality of said downstream packet flow aggregates includes packets from a plurality of downstream packet flows, the packets corresponding to each particular downstream packet flow being distinguishable from the packets of another downstream packet flow based on different header information included in the packets of the different downstream packet flows.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

operating the access node to adjust said link resource assignments for downstream packet flows based on information on air link utilization by mobile nodes coupled to said access node by said wireless communications links.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

operating the access node to adjust said link resource assignments for upstream packet flows based on said information on air link utilization by mobile nodes coupled to said access node by said wireless communications links.

23. An access node for use in a communications system including an aggregation peer node coupled to said access node by an access link, said access node including:

means for communicating with mobile nodes over wireless communications links;

means for assigning a plurality of downstream packet flows to a first downstream packet flow aggregate, the downstream packet flows conveying packets from said aggregation peer node to said access node, said first downstream packet flow aggregate including multiple downstream packet flows; and

means for assigning a plurality of upstream packet flows to a first upstream packet flow aggregate, the upstream packet flows conveying packets from said access node to said aggregation peer node, said first upstream packet flow aggregate including multiple upstream packet flows.

24. The access node of claim 23, further comprising:

means for adjusting said link resource assignments for upstream packet flows based on information on air link utilization by mobile nodes coupled to said access node by said wireless communications links.

25. The access node of claim 24, further comprising:

means for storing said information on air link utilization said information including scheduling information used to control the transmission of information to mobile nodes over said wireless communications links.

26. The access node of claim 24, further comprising:

memory including said information on air link utilization said information including the number of active mobile nodes in a cell serviced by said access node.

27. An access node used to control aggregation of packet flows over an access link extending between said access node and a peer node, the access node comprising:

a module for defining a mapping between a first downstream packet flow and a first downstream packet flow aggregate, said first downstream packet flow aggregate being one of a plurality of downstream packet flow aggregates, each of said downstream packet flow aggregates corresponding to at least one downstream packet flow which includes a flow of packets from said peer node to said access node, a plurality of downstream packet flows corresponding to said first downstream packet flow aggregate; and

a module for defining a mapping between a first upstream packet flow and a first upstream packet flow aggregate, said first upstream packet flow including a flow of packets from said access node to said peer node.

28. The access node of claim 27, further comprising:

means for assigning access link resources for the first upstream packet flow aggregate; and

means for assigning access link resources for the first downstream packet flow aggregate.

29. A communications method for use in a mobile communications system including an access node coupled to a first network node by an access link and to a plurality of wireless communications terminals by wireless communications links, the method comprising:

operating said access node to generate downstream packet classification information used to assign packets to different downstream packet flow aggregates based on packet header information, said downstream packet flow aggregates being communicated over said access link from said first network node to said access node;

operating said access node to generate packet classification information used to assign packets to different upstream packet flow aggregates based on packet header information; and

communicating said downstream packet classification information to said first network node.

30. The communications method of claim 29, further comprising:

operating the access node to monitor the status of the wireless communications links;

operating the access node, in response to detecting a change in the status of the wireless communications links, to modify said downstream packet classification information to result in a re-assignment of downstream packets of at least one type from one downstream aggregate to another downstream aggregate; and

operating the access node to communicate said modification of said downstream packet classification information to said first network node.

31. The communications method of claim 30, wherein said modification of packet classification information is made in response to detecting a change in the volume of packets being communicated over said wireless communications links having a first communications priority level indicated in the header of the communicated packets.

32. The communications method of claim 30, further comprising:

operating the access node to control the allocation of downstream access link resources to said downstream aggregate packet flows; and

operating the access node to control the allocation of upstream access link resources to said upstream aggregate packet flows.

33. The communications method of claim 32, further comprising:

operating the access node to change the allocation of downlink resources to said downstream aggregate packet flows in response to detecting a change in the status of the wireless communications links.

34. The communications method of claim 33, wherein changes in the status of the wireless communications links include changes in the number of packets communicated over said wireless communication links, changes in the content of the packets communicated over said wireless link, changes in the quality of said wireless communications links, changes in the number of wireless links established with mobile nodes by said access node, and changes in packet priority indicators included in the packets being transmitted over the wireless communications links.

35. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said first network node connects said access node to a mobile IP Home Agent node, said first network being the first node on the communications path to said Home Agent node to which said access node is connected.

36. A communications method for use in a mobile communications system including an access node coupled to a network node by an access link and to a plurality of wireless communications terminals by wireless communications links, a plurality of downstream packet flow aggregates being used to communicate packets from said network node to said access node, each downstream packet flow aggregate being used to carry a different set of packets, said packet sets being distinguishable from one another based on packet header information, a plurality of upstream packet flow aggregates being used to communicate packets from said network node to said access node, the method comprising:

operating the access node to control the allocation of downstream access link resources to said downstream aggregate packet flows; and

operating the access node to control the allocation of upstream access link resources to said upstream aggregate packet flows.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein operating the access node to control the allocation of downstream access link resources to said downstream aggregate packet flows includes communicating downstream access link to aggregate packet flow assignment information to said network node.

38. The communications method of claim 36, further comprising:

operating the access node to change the allocation of downlink resources to said downstream aggregate packet flows in response to detecting a change in the status of the wireless communications links.

39. An access node for use in a communications system including an aggregation peer node coupled to said access node by an access link, said access node including:

a wireless interface for communicating with mobile nodes over wireless communications links; and

a resource allocation module configured to;

assign a plurality of downstream packet flows to a first downstream packet flow aggregate, the downstream packet flows conveying packets from said aggregation peer node to said access node via said access link, said first downstream packet flow aggregate including multiple downstream packet flows; and

assign a plurality of upstream packet flows to a first upstream packet flow aggregate, the upstream packet flows conveying packets from said access node to said aggregation peer node, said first upstream packet flow aggregate including multiple upstream packet flows.

40. The access node of claim 39, further comprising:

a module configured to adjust said link resource assignments for upstream packet flows based on information on air link utilization by mobile nodes coupled to said access node by said wireless communications links.

41. The access node of claim 40, further comprising:

memory including said information on air link utilization, said information including scheduling information used to control the transmission of information received in downstream packet flows to mobile nodes over said wireless communications links.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium including machine executable instructions stored thereon, for use in an access node in a communications system including an aggregation peer node coupled to said access node by an access link, the computer readable medium comprising:

instructions for causing the access node to assign a plurality of downstream packet flows to a First downstream packet flow aggregate, the downstream packet flows conveying packets from said aggregation peer node to said access node, said first downstream packet flow aggregate including multiple downstream packet flows; and

instructions for causing the access node to assign a plurality of upstream packet flows to a first upstream packet flow aggregate, the upstream packet flows conveying packets from said access node to said aggregation peer node, said first upstream packet flow aggregate including multiple upstream packet flows.