Reliable event broadcaster with multiplexing and bandwidth control functions

• US 8,711,696 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Roundbox, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khivesara, Amit, Liu, Xiaofeng, Mataga, Peter Andrew, Torkelson, Cary, Valloppillil, Vinod, Villanueva, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nealon, William
• Application Number:
  US13/418,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/452.2, 455/453, 455/455, 455/509, 455/512, 455/517
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• 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 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/741 Holding a request until resources become available
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/828 Allocation of resources per group of connections, e.g. per group of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction

Abstract

Data may be transmitted in a broadcast mode to multiple devices operating in a network. Efficient utilization of bandwidth while providing a desired level of quality of service is enabled for the applications executing on the devices that utilize the broadcasted data. A set of bandwidth constraints may be utilized in combination with a set of heuristics and rules for the allocation and re-allocation of bandwidth among multiple applications in a manner that minimizes the impact on the quality of service metrics of importance to the affected applications when contention exists for the network resources. Quality of service provided to each application may be degraded smoothly, with certain priorities and guarantees being maintained. Event segmentation and reassembly functions for applications may be provided, as well as reliability mechanisms to increase the ability to provide data to client devices that have not been actively receiving for significant periods of time.

Claims

1. A method of allocating bandwidth of a communications system among multiple applications using the communications system to transfer data, comprising:

receiving a value for an aggregate bandwidth B_A available to a plurality of applications;

determining, by the communications system, a first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the first bandwidth B₁ for an application corresponds to a minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the application and determining the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications is based at least in part on a first condition that the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

receiving a relative priority level for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the relative priority level has a value P_i selected from a plurality of priority levels, P<sub><

i</sub> represents the priority levels less than P_i, and P<sub><

i</sub> represents the priority levels greater than P_i;

determining, by the communications system, a second bandwidth B₂ for each application, wherein the second bandwidth B₂ corresponds to an expected bandwidth that is not less than the first bandwidth B₁ and determining the second bandwidth B₂ for each application is based at least in part on a second condition that, for each relative priority value P_i of the plurality of priority levels, the sum of the second bandwidth B₂ for each application at the relative priority level P_i added to the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each application at one or more of the relative priority levels P<sub><

i</sub> does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A; and

allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications in accordance with the determined first bandwidth B₁ and the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application, the allocated bandwidth for the application being a function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ and having a value different from the determined second bandwidth B₂.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a desired bandwidth D for each of the plurality of applications, and further, wherein allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications satisfies relationships including;

the sum of bandwidths allocated to the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

each application is allocated at least the lower of the determined desired bandwidth D and the determined first bandwidth B₁ for the application;

each application with determined relative priority level P_i and having a determined desired bandwidth D that is not less than the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application is allocated at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined second bandwidth B₂; and

each application with determined relative priority level P_i is allocated at least the determined desired bandwidth D for the application unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined desired bandwidth D.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the first bandwidth B₁, the second bandwidth B₂, and the desired bandwidth D for each application further comprises, for each application, at least:

determining an expected level of quality of service (QoS) for the application;

converting the expected level of QoS into an equivalent value for the second bandwidth B₂ for the application; and

converting the first bandwidth B₁ and the desired bandwidth D for the application into corresponding QoS values relative to the second bandwidth B₂ for the application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a desired level of quality of service (QoS) for one of the multiple applications; and

adjusting the bandwidth allocated to the one of the multiple applications without providing notification to that application, wherein the bandwidth adjustment is performed so that

if the application is currently under utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the application'"'"'s desired QoS;

if the application is currently over utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided additional bandwidth, where the additional bandwidth is sufficient to maintain the application'"'"'s desired QoS; and

if additional bandwidth is provided to the application, that bandwidth is allocated from one or more other applications that are under utilizing their respective bandwidths, wherein the one or more applications each have an associated desired level of quality of service (QoS), and the one or more applications are provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the one or more application'"'"'s desired QoS.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a level of quality of service (QoS) associated with one of the plurality of applications; and

providing data regarding a change in the level of QoS to the application.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocated bandwidth for the application is a linear function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocated bandwidth for the application is proportional to the determined second bandwidth B₂.

6. An apparatus for delivering data to a plurality of client devices over a communications network, comprising:

a registration element configured to register a plurality of applications, each application providing data to be delivered to the client devices;

a bandwidth allocation element configured to, at least;

determine a value for an aggregate bandwidth B_A available to the plurality of applications;

determine a first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the first bandwidth B₁ for an application corresponds to a minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the application and the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

determine a relative priority level for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the relative priority level has a value P_i selected from a plurality of priority levels, P<sub><

i</sub> represents the priority levels less than P_i, and P<sub>>

i</sub> represents the priority levels greater than P_i;

determine a second bandwidth B₂ for each application, wherein the second bandwidth B₂ corresponds to an expected bandwidth that is not less than the first bandwidth B₁ and such that, for each relative priority value P_i of the plurality of priority levels, the sum of the second bandwidth B₂ for each application at the relative priority level P_i added to the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each application at one of the relative priority levels P<sub><

i</sub> does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A; and

allocate bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications in accordance with the determined first bandwidth B₁ and the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application, the allocated bandwidth for the application being a function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ and having a value different from the determined second bandwidth B₂;

a communications network formatting element configured to format the provided data for transport over the communications network; and

a communications network control element configured to provide the formatted data to the communications network for transport over the communications network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a desired bandwidth D for each of the plurality of applications, and further, wherein allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications satisfies relationships including;

the sum of bandwidths allocated to the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

each application is allocated at least the lower of the determined desired bandwidth D and the determined first bandwidth B₁ for the application;

each application with determined relative priority level P_i and having a determined desired bandwidth D that is not less than the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application is allocated at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined second bandwidth B₂; and

each application with determined relative priority level P_i is allocated at least the determined desired bandwidth D for the application unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined desired bandwidth D.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein determining the first bandwidth B₁, the second bandwidth B₂, and the desired bandwidth D for each application further comprises, for each application, at least:

determining an expected level of quality of service (QoS) for the application;

converting the expected level of QoS into an equivalent value for the second bandwidth B₂ for the application; and

converting the first bandwidth B₁ and the desired bandwidth D for the application into corresponding QoS values relative to the second bandwidth B₂ for the application.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a desired level of quality of service (QoS) for one of the multiple applications; and

adjust the bandwidth allocated to the one of the multiple applications without providing notification to that application, wherein the bandwidth adjustment is performed so that

if the application is currently under utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the application'"'"'s desired QoS;

if the application is currently over utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided additional bandwidth, where the additional bandwidth is sufficient to maintain the application'"'"'s desired QoS; and

if additional bandwidth is provided to the application, that bandwidth is allocated from one or more other applications that are under utilizing their respective bandwidths, wherein the one or more applications each have an associated desired level of quality of service (QoS), and the one or more applications are provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the one or more application'"'"'s desired QoS.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a level of quality of service (QoS) associated with one of the plurality of applications; and

provide data regarding a change in the level of QoS to the application.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the formatted data is broadcast over the communications network.

12. An apparatus for receiving data transported over a communications network intended for an application executing on the apparatus, comprising:

a registration element configured to register the application;

a data assembly element configured to process data received from the communications network, the data assembly element producing an event from one or more data packets;

a cache configured to store the received data; and

a scheduling element configured to determine when to provide the event to the application;

wherein the application is one of a plurality of applications and the application is allocated a bandwidth by a bandwidth allocation element configured to, at least;

determine a value for an aggregate bandwidth B_A available to the plurality of applications;

determine a first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the first bandwidth B₁ for an application corresponds to a minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the application and the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

determine a relative priority level for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the relative priority level has a value P_i selected from a plurality of priority levels, P<sub><

i</sub> represents the priority levels less than P_i, and P<sub>>

i</sub> represents the priority levels greater than P_i;

determine a second bandwidth B₂ for each application, wherein the second bandwidth B₂ corresponds to an expected bandwidth that is not less than the first bandwidth B₁ and such that, for each relative priority value P_i of the plurality of priority levels, the sum of the second bandwidth B₂ for each application at the relative priority level P_i added to the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each application at one of the relative priority levels P<sub><

i</sub> does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A; and

allocate bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications in accordance with the determined first bandwidth B₁ and the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application, the allocated bandwidth for the application being a function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ and having a value different from the determined second bandwidth B₂.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the received data has been broadcast over the communications network.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scheduling element is configured to provide the event to the application after determining that all data required for the event has been received and placed into a desired order.

15. A system for the delivery of data over a communications network to a client application, comprising:

a server apparatus comprising;

a registration element configured to register a server application, the server application providing data to be delivered to the client application;

a bandwidth allocation element configured to, at least;

determine a value for an aggregate bandwidth B_A available to the plurality of applications;

determine a first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the first bandwidth B₁ for an application corresponds to a minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the application and the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

determine a relative priority level for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the relative priority level has a value P_i selected from a plurality of priority levels, P<sub><

i</sub> represents the priority levels less than P_i, and P<sub>>

i</sub> represents the priority levels greater than P_i;

determine a second bandwidth B₂ for each application, wherein the second bandwidth B₂ corresponds to an expected bandwidth that is not less than the first bandwidth B₁ and such that, for each relative priority value P_i of the plurality of priority levels, the sum of the second bandwidth B₂ for each application at the relative priority level P_i added to the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each application at one of the relative priority levels P<sub><

i</sub> does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A; and

allocate bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications in accordance with the determined first bandwidth B₁ and the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application, the allocated bandwidth for the application being a function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ and having a value different from the determined second bandwidth B₂;

a communications network formatting element configured to format the provided data for transport over the communications network; and

a communications network control element configured to provide the formatted data to the communications network for transport over the communications network; and

a client device comprising;

a registration element configured to register the client application;

a data assembly element configured to process data received from the communications network, the data assembly element producing an event from one or more data packets;

a cache configured to store the received data; and

a scheduling element configured to determine when to provide the event to the client application.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a communications network configured to transport data between the server apparatus and client device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a desired bandwidth D for each of the plurality of applications, and further, wherein allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications satisfies relationships including;

the sum of bandwidths allocated to the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

each application is allocated at least the lower of the determined desired bandwidth D and the determined first bandwidth B₁ for the application;

each application with determined relative priority level P_i and having a determined desired bandwidth D that is not less than the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application is allocated at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined second bandwidth B₂; and

each application with determined relative priority level P_i is allocated at least the determined desired bandwidth D for the application unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined desired bandwidth D.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the first bandwidth B₁, the second bandwidth B₂, and the desired bandwidth D for each application further comprises, for each application, at least:

determining an expected level of quality of service (QoS) for the application;

converting the expected level of QoS into an equivalent value for the second bandwidth B₂ for the application; and

converting the first bandwidth B₁ and the desired bandwidth D for the application into corresponding QoS values relative to the second bandwidth B₂ for the application.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a desired level of quality of service (QoS) for one of the multiple applications; and

adjust the bandwidth allocated to the one of the multiple applications without providing notification to that application, wherein the bandwidth adjustment is performed so that

if the application is currently under utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the application'"'"'s desired QoS;

if the application is currently over utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided additional bandwidth, where the additional bandwidth is sufficient to maintain the application'"'"'s desired QoS; and

if additional bandwidth is provided to the application, that bandwidth is allocated from one or more other applications that are under utilizing their respective bandwidths, wherein the one or more applications each have an associated desired level of quality of service (QoS), and the one or more applications are provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the one or more application'"'"'s desired QoS.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the bandwidth allocation element is further configured to, at least:

determine a level of quality of service (QoS) associated with one of the plurality of applications; and

provide data regarding a change in the level of QoS to the application.

21. A method of distributing data to multiple client devices over a communications network, comprising:

registering an application to provide data to the client devices, the application being one of a plurality of applications;

allocating bandwidth of the communications network to the application including;

determining a value for an aggregate bandwidth B_A available to the plurality of applications;

determining a first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the first bandwidth B₁ for an application corresponds to a minimum guaranteed bandwidth for the application and the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each of the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

determining a relative priority level for each of the plurality of applications, wherein the relative priority level has a value P_i selected from a plurality of priority levels, P<sub>>

i</sub> represents the priority levels less than P_i, and P<sub>>

i</sub> represents the priority levels greater than P_i;

determining a second bandwidth B₂ for each application, wherein the second bandwidth B₂ corresponds to an expected bandwidth that is not less than the first bandwidth B₁ and such that, for each relative priority value P_i of the plurality of priority levels, the sum of the second bandwidth B₂ for each application at the relative priority level P_i added to the sum of the first bandwidth B₁ for each application at one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A; and

allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications in accordance with the determined first bandwidth B₁ and the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application, the allocated bandwidth for the application being a function of at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ and having a value different from the determined second bandwidth B₂;

processing data provided by the application for transport over the communications network;

transporting the processed data over the communications network;

for each client device, at least;

registering a client application with the client device;

receiving the data after transport over the communications network;

caching the data in a storage medium;

scheduling delivery of the data; and

providing the data to the client application.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transporting the processed data over the communications network further comprises broadcasting the data over the communications network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the communications network is a wireless network.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a desired bandwidth D for each of the plurality of applications, and further, wherein allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of applications satisfies relationships including;

the sum of bandwidths allocated to the plurality of applications does not exceed the aggregate bandwidth B_A;

each application is allocated at least the lower of the determined desired bandwidth D and the determined first bandwidth B₁ for the application;

each application with determined relative priority level P_i and having a determined desired bandwidth D that is not less than the determined second bandwidth B₂ for the application is allocated at least the determined second bandwidth B₂ unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined second bandwidth B₂; and

each application with determined relative priority level P_i is allocated at least the determined desired bandwidth D for the application unless each application with one of the relative priority levels P<sub>>

i</sub> has been allocated no more than its determined desired bandwidth D.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the first bandwidth B₁, the second bandwidth B₂, and the desired bandwidth D for each application further comprises, for each application, at least:

determining an expected level of quality of service (QoS) for the application;

converting the expected level of QoS into an equivalent value for the second bandwidth B₂ for the application; and

converting the first bandwidth B₁ and the desired bandwidth D for the application into corresponding QoS values relative to the second bandwidth B₂ for the application.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a desired level of quality of service (QoS) for one of the multiple applications; and

adjusting the bandwidth allocated to the one of the multiple applications without providing notification to that application, wherein the bandwidth adjustment is performed so that

if the application is currently under utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the application'"'"'s desired QoS;

if the application is currently over utilizing its allocated bandwidth it is provided additional bandwidth, where the additional bandwidth is sufficient to maintain the application'"'"'s desired QoS; and

if additional bandwidth is provided to the application, that bandwidth is allocated from one or more other applications that are under utilizing their respective bandwidths, wherein the one or more applications each have an associated desired level of quality of service (QoS), and the one or more applications are provided less bandwidth only if doing so does not affect the one or more application'"'"'s desired QoS.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a level of quality of service (QoS) associated with the application; and

providing data regarding a change in the level of QoS to the application.