Mobile traffic categorization and policy for network use optimization while preserving user experience

• US 8,843,153 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Luna, Michael, Backholm, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAN, JR, JOSEPH E
• Application Number:
  US13/287,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20120108225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 370/329, 370/229
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• 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 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods of mobile traffic categorization and policy implementation for network use optimization are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of detecting an activity state of an application on a mobile device to which traffic is originated from or directed to, detecting a time criticality of data contained in the traffic to be sent between the mobile device and the host server, determining a timing with which to allow the traffic to pass through, based on the activity state or the time criticality and/or controlling radio use on the mobile device based on the timing with which the traffic is allowed to pass through. The method may further include selecting a network configuration in the wireless network for use in passing traffic to and from the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for categorizing traffic in a wireless network, the method, comprising:

determining whether to send new or changed data from a host server to a mobile device based on;

whether an application on the mobile device to which the new or changed data is relevant, is running in a foreground;

wherein the determining is performed by a proxy server coupled to the host server and able to wirelessly connect to the mobile device;

wherein, the proxy server is remote from the mobile device and the host server;

selecting a network configuration for use in sending the new or changed data;

wherein, the network configuration includes a selection among, 3G, LTE, or 4G networks to send the new or changed data;

wherein, the network configuration with a slower data rate is selected to send the new or changed data when the application is not interacting with a user;

wherein, the application is characterized as fully, partially or not cached, wherein the new or changed data are characterized as fully or partially cached for non-time critical data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, sending the new or changed data to the mobile device if the application is in the foreground on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, sending the new or changed data to the mobile device if the application is in the foreground and in an active state interacting with the user on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, suppressing the sending of the new or changed data if the application is in the background on the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, the suppressing is performed by a proxy server coupled to the host server and able to wirelessly connect to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to send the new or changed data from host server to a mobile device further based on;

priority or time criticality of the new or changed data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, sending the new or changed data that is of a high priority or is time critical only if the application is in the foreground and in the active state interacting with the user on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is further based on which network operator services the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising, sending the new or changed data that is of a high priority or is time critical even if the application is in the background state.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising, sending the new or changed data that is of a high priority or is time critical even if the application in the foreground state but not actively interacting with the user on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to send the new or changed data from host server to a mobile device further based on;

whether the user is waiting for a response that would be provided in the new or changed data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, suppressing the sending of the new or changed data if the user is not waiting for the response provided in the new or changed data;

wherein the suppressing is performed by a proxy server coupled to the host server and able to wirelessly connect to the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, the new or changed data is of a low priority or is not time critical, waiting to transfer the data until after a time period, or until there is additional data to be sent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, the waiting to transfer the data is managed by a local proxy on the mobile device able to wirelessly communicate with the host server;

the local proxy allowing radio use on the mobile device for transfer of the data when the time period has elapsed, or when additional data to be sent is detected.

15. A system for categorizing traffic in a wireless network, the method, comprising:

means for, detecting an activity state of an application on a mobile device which traffic is originated from or directed to;

means for, detecting a time criticality of data contained in the traffic to be sent between the mobile device and the host server;

means for, determining a timing with which to allow the traffic to pass through, based on the activity state or the time criticality;

means for, selecting, the wireless network for passing through traffic;

wherein, a selection is made among 3G, LTE, or 4G networks, wherein, the activity state includes whether a user is interacting with the application;

wherein, the wireless network with a slower data rate is used for the traffic when the application is not interacting with the user;

wherein, the application is characterized as fully, partially or not cached, wherein the application receiving or sending the traffic having time critical data is not cached.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising, means for, selecting a network configuration in the wireless network;

wherein, the network configuration includes specification of access channel type including, forward access channel (FACH) and dedicated channel (DCH).

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising, means for, controlling radio use on the mobile device based on the timing with which the traffic is allowed to pass through.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein, the activity state is determined by, one or more of, whether the application is in a foreground or background state on the mobile device and whether the user is expecting data contained in the traffic directed to the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein, when the data is not time critical, the timing with which to allow the traffic to pass through is set based on when additional data needs to be sent.

20. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method for using traffic categorization to select use of different network configurations in a wireless network, the method, comprising:

selecting whether 3G, 4G or LTE network is used in sending traffic between a mobile device and a host server in the wireless network based on;

an activity state of an application on the mobile device for which traffic is originated from or directed to;

wherein the activity state of the application is determined by user interaction with the application on the mobile device;

wherein, the wireless network with a slower data rate is used for the traffic when the application is not interacting with the user;

wherein, the application is characterized as fully, partially or not cached, wherein the application receiving or sending the traffic having time critical data is not cached.