Method and apparatus for managing congestion in a wireless system

• US 9,729,467 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Rezaiifar, Ramin
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US12/703,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,736 Days
• Field of Search: 709225, 370320-342, 340 10- 14, 340425-428, 379129-139
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/21 using leaky-bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/215 using token-bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 involving identification of individual flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate congestion control in a wireless communication system. As described herein, an access network and associated terminals can utilize a token bucket access control mechanism, through which respective terminals can be allotted access tokens and/or other units for access to the access network. For example, upon requesting access to a given network, a user of the network can determine whether sufficient access tokens have been accumulated, based on which the request can be selectively allowed or denied. As further described herein, multiple token bucket mechanisms can be utilized, which can correspond to respective packet flows or the like. Additionally, token bucket access control can be implemented as described herein in cooperation with conventional access persistence functionality. Further aspects described herein facilitate the adjustment of token bucket parameters for network access control based on network loading.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

wirelessly obtaining, by a wireless terminal, one or more access rules relating to a network from a node of the network configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air-interface, the one or more access rules specifying a rate at which permitted accesses to the network accumulate specified as an amount of permitted accesses per unit of time; and

after the one or more access rules are obtained, selectively allowing, by the wireless terminal, a request to access the network upon determining that a number of permitted accesses accumulated according to the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate is greater than or equal to a predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the network, the access being a wireless access from the wireless terminal to the network,

wherein the wireless terminal is a wireless device configured to provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user of the wireless terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wirelessly obtaining comprises wirelessly obtaining from the node of the network respective access rules that specify the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate for respective packet flows specified as respective amounts of permitted accesses per unit of time for the respective packet flows; and

the selectively allowing further comprises;

identifying a packet flow associated with the request to access the network, and

selectively allowing the request to access the network upon determining that the number of accumulated permitted accesses determined according to the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate for the packet flow associated with the request to access the network is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining, by the wireless terminal from the node of the network, a common access accumulation rule which specifies the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate for common accesses; and

allowing, by the wireless terminal, the request to access the network upon determining

that the request is a page response and

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses for the common accesses determined according to the common access accumulation rule is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wirelessly obtaining comprises wirelessly obtaining from the node of the network an access persistence threshold value; and

the selectively allowing further comprises;

generating an access persistence priority value corresponding to the request to access the network; and

selectively allowing the request to access the network upon determining that the number of accumulated permitted accesses determined according to the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the network and that the access persistence priority value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the wireless terminal, the number of accumulated permitted accesses according to the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining comprises:

determining an elapsed time from a previous request to access the network;

computing a number of additional accumulated permitted accesses as a function of the elapsed time from the previous request to access the network and the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate; and

adding the number of additional accumulated permitted accesses to a number of previously accumulated permitted accesses to the network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the wirelessly obtaining comprises wirelessly obtaining from the node of the network one or more access rules specifying a maximum number of permitted accesses; and

the adding comprises adding the number of additional accumulated permitted accesses to the number of previously accumulated permitted accesses subject to the maximum number of permitted accesses.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising subtracting, by the wireless terminal, the predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing a request to access the network from the number of accumulated permitted accesses upon allowing the request to access the network.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising denying, by the wireless terminal, the request to access the network upon determining that the number of accumulated permitted accesses is less than the predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the denying comprises denying the request to access the network pending accumulation of sufficient permitted accesses.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining, by the wireless terminal from the node of the network, a skip check rule which specifies that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page; and

allowing, by the wireless terminal, the request to access the network upon without determining whether or not the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses when the request is a page response and the skip check rule has been received.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining, by the wireless terminal from the node of the network, an access persistence threshold value and a persistence offset value;

generating an access persistence value corresponding to the request to access the network;

adjusting the access persistence value by the persistence offset value; and

allowing the request to access the network upon determining

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

that the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

wirelessly obtaining from the node of the network a reverse link load information; and

adjusting, based on the reverse link load information, the access persistence threshold value, or the persistence offset value, or both.

14. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to an associated network and one or more rates of accrual for permitted accesses to the associated network given in terms of permitted accesses to the associated network per unit of time, the data being wirelessly received from a node of the associated network configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air-interface; and

a processor configured, after the data are received,

to identify a request to access the associated network, and

to selectively allow the request to access the associated network upon determining that a number of permitted accesses that have accrued according to the one or more rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network is greater than or equal to a predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the associated network, the access being a wireless access from the wireless terminal to the associated network,

wherein the wireless terminal is a wireless device configured to provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user of the wireless terminal.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store data relating to the one or more rates of accrual for permitted accesses to the associated network via corresponding packet flows given in terms of permitted accesses to the associated network per unit of time via respective packet flows; and

the processor is further configured

to identify a packet flow associated with the request to access the associated network, and

to selectively allow the request to access the associated network upon determining that the number of permitted accesses that have accrued as determined according to the one or more rates of accrual for permitted accesses to the associated network via the packet flow associated with the request to access the associated network is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses required for allowing the request to access the associated network via the packet flow.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store data relating to an access persistence threshold value; and

the processor is further configured

to generate an access persistence priority value corresponding to the request to access the associated network, and

to selectively allow the request to access the associated network upon determining that the number of permitted accesses to the associated network that have accrued according to the one or more rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses to the associated network required for allowing the request to access the associated network and that the access persistence priority value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

17. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store data relating to a previous request to access the associated network; and

the processor is further configured

to determine an elapsed time from the previous request to access the associated network,

to compute a number of additional permitted accesses to the associated network that have accrued as a function of the elapsed time from the previous request to access the associated network and the one or more rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network, and

to determine a number of permitted accesses to the associated network that have accrued at least in part by adding the number of additional permitted accesses to the associated network that have accrued to a number of previously accrued permitted accesses to the associated network.

18. The wireless terminal of claim 17, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store data relating to a maximum number of accrued permitted accesses to the associated network; and

the processor is configured to add the number of additional permitted accesses to the associated network that have accrued to the number of previously accrued permitted accesses to the associated network subject to the maximum number of accrued permitted accesses to the associated network.

19. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to receive wirelessly the one or more rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network from the associated network.

20. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a common access accumulation rule received from the node of the associated network, the common access accumulation rule specifying the rate at which the permitted accesses to the associated network accumulate for common accesses, and

the processor is further configured to allow the request to access the associated network upon determining

that the request is a page response, and

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses for the common accesses determined according to the common access accumulation rule is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses.

21. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a skip check rule received from the node of the associated network, the skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page, and

the processor is further configured to allow the request to access the associated network upon without determining whether or not the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses when the request is a page response and the skip check rule is stored in the memory.

22. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store an access persistence threshold value and a persistence offset value received from the node of the associated network, and

the processor is further configured to

generate an access persistence value corresponding to the request to access the network;

adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value; and

allow the request to access the network upon determining

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

that the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

23. The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store reverse link load information received from the node of the associated network, and

the processor is further configured to adjust, based on the reverse link load information, the access persistence threshold, or the persistence offset, or both.

24. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for receiving wirelessly from a node of a network information relating to an accumulation rate for access tokens associated with the network, the node of the network configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air interface, the accumulation rate for access tokens given as an amount of access tokens accumulated per unit of time, and the amount of access tokens accumulated specifying a rate of permitted accesses to the network per unit of time; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory for selectively allowing a request to access the network upon determining that a number of access tokens that have accumulated according to the accumulation rate for access tokens after the information is received is greater than or equal to a predefined number of access tokens required for allowing the request to access the network, the access being a wireless access from the wireless terminal to the network,

wherein the wireless terminal is a wireless device configured to provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user of the wireless terminal.

25. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network respective accumulation rates for access tokens associated with the network corresponding to respective packet flows associated with the network, the respective accumulation rates for access tokens given as amounts of access tokens accumulated for the respective packet flows per unit of time; and

the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for selectively allowing identify a packet flow associated with the request to access the network

compute an amount of accumulated access tokens according to the accumulation rate for access tokens for the packet flow associated with the request to access the network; and

selectively allow the request to access the network upon determining that at least the predefined number of access tokens required for allowing the request to access the network via the packet flow associated with the request to access the network has been accumulated.

26. The wireless terminal of claim 25, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network a common access accumulation rule specifying the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate for common accesses, and

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to allow the request to access the network upon determining

that the request is a page response, and

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses for the common accesses determined according to the common access accumulation rule is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses.

27. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network an access persistence threshold value,

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for generating an access persistence priority value corresponding to the request to access the network, and

the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for selectively allowing selectively allow the request to access the network upon determining that at least the predefined required number of access tokens have been accumulated according to the accumulation rate for access tokens and that the access persistence priority value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

28. The wireless terminal of claim 24, further comprising:

an access timer configured to determine an elapsed time from a previous request to access the network,

wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory

for computing an amount of newly accumulated access tokens as a function of the elapsed time from the previous request to access the network and the accumulation rate for access tokens; and

for identifying an amount of accumulated access tokens at least in part by adding the amount of newly accumulated access tokens to an amount of previously accumulated access tokens.

29. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page, and

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to allow the request to access the network without determining whether or not the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses when the request is a page response and the skip check rule has been received.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network an access persistence threshold value and a persistence offset value, and

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to

generate an access persistence value corresponding to the request to access the network, and

adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value, and

allow the request to access the associated network upon determining

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

that the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

31. The wireless terminal of claim 30, wherein:

the means for receiving receive wirelessly from the node of the network reverse link load information, and

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to adjust, based on the reverse link load information, the access persistence threshold, or the persistence offset, or both.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having recorded therein codes, comprising:

code for causing a computer processor of a wireless terminal to receive wirelessly from a node of a network information relating to an accumulation rate for access tokens associated with the network, the node of the network configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air-interface, the accumulation rate for access tokens given as an amount of access tokens accumulated per unit of time wherein the amount of access tokens accumulated specifies a rate of permitted accesses to the network per unit of time; and

code for causing the computer processor to selectively allow a request to access the network upon determining that a number of access tokens that have accumulated according to the accumulation rate for access tokens after the information is received from the network is greater than or equal to a predefined number of access tokens required for allowing the request to access the network, the access being a wireless access from the wireless terminal to the network,

wherein the wireless terminal is a wireless device configured to provide voice and/or data connectivity a user of the wireless terminal.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein:

the code for causing the computer processor to receive comprises code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network respective accumulation rates for access tokens associated with the network corresponding to respective packet flows associated with the network, the respective accumulation rates for access tokens given as amounts of access tokens accumulated for the respective packet flows per unit of time; and

the code for causing the computer processor to selectively allow comprises;

code for causing the computer processor to identify a packet flow associated with the request to access the network;

code for causing the computer processor to compute an amount of accumulated access tokens according to the accumulation rate for access tokens for the packet flow associated with the request to access the network; and

code for causing the computer processor to allow the request to access the network upon determining that at least the predefined number of access tokens required for allowing the request to access the network via the packet flow associated with the request to access the network has been accumulated.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network a common access accumulation rule specifying the rate at which the permitted accesses to the network accumulate for common accesses; and

code for causing the computer processor to allow the request to access the network upon determining

that the request is a page response, and

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses for the common accesses determined according to the common access accumulation rule is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network an access persistence threshold value and code for causing the computer processor to generate an access persistence priority value corresponding to the request to access the network,

wherein the code for causing the computer processor to selectively allow comprises code for causing the computer processor to selectively allow the request to access the network upon determining that at least the predefined required number of access tokens have been accumulated according to the accumulation rate for access tokens and that the access persistence priority value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page; and

code for causing the computer processor to allow the request to access the network without determining whether or not the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses when the request is a page response and the skip check rule has been received.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network an access persistence threshold value and a persistence offset value;

code for causing the computer processor to generate an access persistence value corresponding to the request to access the network;

code for causing the computer processor to adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value; and

code for causing the computer processor to allow the request to access the associated network upon determining

that the number of accumulated permitted accesses is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

that the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to receive wirelessly from the node of the network reverse link load information; and

code for causing the computer processor to adjust, based on the reverse link load information, the access persistence threshold, or the persistence offset, or both.

39. A method (900), comprising:

defining (902), by an associated network configured to provide wireless services, one or more access rules relating to the associated network, the one or more access rules comprising a rate of accrual for permitted accesses to the associated network and a predefined number of permitted accesses; and

conveying (904) wirelessly, by a node of the associated network, the one or more access rules to one or more wireless terminals prior to receiving a request to access the associated network from the one or more wireless terminals, each access being a wireless access from each of the one or more wireless terminals configured to provide voice and/or data connectivities to users of the one or more wireless terminals,

wherein the node of the associated network is configured to communicate with the one or more wireless terminals over an air interface, and

wherein each wireless terminal is required to accumulate a number of permitted accesses according to the rate of accrual for permitted access that is greater than or equal to the predefined number permitted accesses before that wireless terminal makes a request to access the associated network.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the defining comprises:

identifying a plurality of packet flows utilized by the associated network; and

defining respective rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network corresponding to respective packet flows in the plurality of packet flows.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the defining comprises defining a threshold for access persistence values such that accesses to the associated network by a wireless terminal are selectively allowed by the wireless terminal according to an access persistence value generated by the wireless terminal in relation to the threshold for access persistence values; and

the conveying comprises conveying wirelessly the threshold for access persistence values to the one or more wireless terminals.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the defining further comprises adjusting, by the associated network, the threshold for access persistence values in relation to the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

defining a persistence offset value to

enable the wireless terminal to adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value when the number of permitted accesses accrued by the wireless terminal is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

allow accesses to the associated network by the wireless terminal when the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value; and

conveying wirelessly the persistence offset value to the one or more wireless terminals.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more access rules facilitate selective allowance by the wireless terminals of accesses to the associated network based on the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the one or more access rules further facilitate allowance of an access to the associated network by a wireless terminal when the wireless terminal has accrued a permitted access to the associated network and denial of the access to the associated network by the wireless terminal when the wireless terminal has not accrued the permitted access to the associated network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the one or more access rules further facilitate removal by the wireless terminal of an accrued permitted access to the associated network corresponding to the wireless terminal upon allowance of the access to the associated network by the wireless terminal.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein the defining comprises adjusting the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network as a function of network loading.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the adjusting comprises:

increasing the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network upon detecting a decrease in loading of the associated network; and

decreasing the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the associated network upon detecting an increase in loading of the associated network.

49. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

defining a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page; and

conveying wirelessly the skip check rule to the one or more wireless terminals.

50. A node of a network, comprising:

a memory configured to store data relating to at least one wireless terminal and the network configured to provide wireless services, the at least one wireless terminal configured to provide voice and/or data services to a user of the wireless terminal; and

a processor configured

to define one or more access rules relating to the network, the one or more access rules comprising a rate of accrual for permitted accesses to the network and a predefined number of permitted accesses, and

to convey wirelessly the one or more access rules to the at least one wireless terminal prior to receiving a request to access the network from the at least one wireless terminal, an access being a wireless access from the at least one wireless terminal to the network,

wherein the node of the network is configured to communicate with the one or more wireless terminals over an air interface, and

wherein the at least one wireless terminal is required to accumulate a number of permitted accesses according to the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses that is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses before the at least one wireless terminal makes a request to access the network.

51. The node of claim 50, wherein:

the memory is further configured to store data relating to a plurality of packet flows utilized by the network; and

the processor is further configured to define respective rates of accrual for the permitted accesses to the network corresponding to respective packet flows in the plurality of packet flows.

52. The node of claim 50, wherein the processor is further configured

to define a threshold for access persistence values such that accesses to the network conducted by the at least one wireless terminal are selectively allowed according to an access persistence value generated by the at least one wireless terminal in relation to the threshold for access persistence values, and

to convey wirelessly the threshold for access persistence values to the at least one wireless terminal.

53. The node of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the threshold for access persistence values in relation to the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the network.

54. The node of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to

define a persistence offset value to

enable the at least one wireless terminal to adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value when the number of permitted accesses accrued by the at least one wireless terminal is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

allow accesses to the associated network by the at least one wireless terminal when the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value, and

convey wirelessly the persistence offset value to the at least one wireless terminal.

55. The node of claim 50, wherein the one or more access rules facilitate selective allowance by the at least one wireless terminal of accesses to the network based on the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the network.

56. The node of claim 50, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the rate of accrual for the permitted accesses to the network as a function of network loading.

57. The node of claim 50, wherein the processor is further configured to

define a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page, and

convey wirelessly the skip check rule to the at least one wireless terminal.

64. The node of claim 50, wherein:

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for defining a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page, and

the means for advertising advertise wirelessly the skip check rule to the at least one wireless terminal served by the associated network.

58. An apparatus of an associated network, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory for defining a predefined number of permitted accesses and an accumulation rate for permitted access requests utilized by the associated network configured to provide wireless services, the accumulation rate specifying a rate of permitted accesses to the associated network per unit of time; and

means for advertising (1304) wirelessly the predefined number of permitted accesses and the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests to at least one wireless terminal served by the associated network prior to receiving a request to access the associated network from the at least one wireless terminal, the at least one wireless terminal configured to provide voice and/or data services to a user of the at least one wireless terminal, an access being a wireless access from the at least one wireless terminal to the associated network,

wherein the apparatus of the associated network is configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air interface, and

wherein the at least one wireless terminal is required to accumulate a number of permitted accesses according to the accumulation rate for the permitted accesses that is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses before the at least one wireless terminal makes a request to access the network.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for defining

identify respective packet flows associated with the associated network;

and

define respective accumulation rates for permitted access requests utilized by the associated network corresponding to the respective packet flows associated with the associated network.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein:

the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for defining define an access persistence threshold parameter such that requested accesses to the associated network are selectively allowed by the at least one wireless terminal according to a generated access persistence probability parameter in relation to the access persistence threshold parameter; and

the means for advertising advertise wirelessly the access persistence threshold parameter to the at least one wireless terminal served by the associated network.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for defining adjust the access persistence threshold parameter in relation to the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests utilized by the associated network.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein:

the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for defining a persistence offset value to

enable the at least one wireless terminal to adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value when the number of permitted accesses accrued by the at least one wireless terminal is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

allow accesses to the associated network by the at least one wireless terminal when the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value, and

the means for advertising advertise wirelessly the persistence offset value to the at least one wireless terminal served by the associated network.

63. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the instructions stored in the memory executed by the processor for defining adjust the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests utilized by the associated network as a function of network loading.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having recorded therein codes, comprising:

code for causing a computer processor of a node of an associated network to define a predefined number of permitted accesses and an accumulation rate for permitted access requests utilized by the associated network configured to provide wireless services, the accumulation rate specifying a rate of permitted accesses to the associated network per unit of time; and

code for causing the computer processor to advertise wirelessly the predefined number of permitted accesses and the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests to at least one wireless terminal prior to receiving a request to access the associated network from the at least one wireless terminal, the at least one wireless terminal configured to provide voice and/or data services to a user of the at least one wireless terminal, the associated network wirelessly serving the at least one wireless terminal, and an access being a wireless access from the at least one wireless terminal to the associated network,

wherein the node of the associated network is configured to communicate with one or more wireless terminals over an air interface, and

wherein the at least one wireless terminal is required to accumulate a number of permitted accesses according to the accumulation rate for the permitted accesses that is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses before the at least one wireless terminal makes a request to access the network.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein the code for causing the computer processor to define comprises:

code for causing the computer processor to identify respective packet flows associated with the associated network; and

code for causing the computer processor to define the respective accumulation rates for permitted access requests utilized by the associated network corresponding to the respective packet flows associated with the associated network.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein:

the code for causing the computer processor to define comprises code for causing the computer processor to define an access persistence threshold parameter such that requested accesses to the associated network are selectively allowed by the at least one wireless terminal according to a generated access persistence probability parameter in relation to the access persistence threshold parameter; and

the code for causing the computer processor to advertise comprises code for causing the computer processor to advertise wirelessly the access persistence threshold parameter to the at least one wireless terminal.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the code for causing the computer processor to define further comprises code for causing the computer processor to adjust the access persistence threshold parameter in relation to the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests utilized by the associated network.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to define a persistence offset value to

enable the at least one wireless terminal to adjust the access persistence value by the persistence offset value when the number of permitted accesses accrued by the at least one wireless terminal is greater than or equal to the predefined number of permitted accesses, and

allow accesses to the associated network by the at least one wireless terminal when the adjusted access persistence value is less than the access persistence threshold value; and

code for causing the computer processor to advertise wirelessly the persistence offset value to the at least one wireless terminal.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein the code for causing the computer processor to define comprises code for causing the computer processor to adjust the accumulation rate for the permitted access requests utilized by the associated network as a function of network loading.

71. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, further comprising:

code for causing the computer processor to define a skip check rule specifying that the wireless terminal skip checking of accrued permitted accesses when responding to a page; and

code for causing the computer processor to advertise wirelessly the skip check rule to the at least one wireless terminal.