Method for non-economic incentive based user-network cooperation

An end node for controlling a communication network to deliver traffic to and/or from the end node, the end node comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the end node is operative to:
• transmit, to a network node in the network, information indicating a user-controllable selection at the end node to have at least some of the end node's traffic delivered by the network with a low priority level, in exchange for the network node awarding the end node with one or more tokens for use of the low priority level;
• responsive to selection of the low priority level, receive at least some of the end node's traffic over the communication network in accordance with the low priority level;
• transmit, to the network node, information indicating a user-controllable selection at the end node to have at least some of the end node's traffic delivered by the network with a high priority level, with one or more tokens awarded to the end node redeemed as payment for use of the high priority level;
• and
• responsive to selection of the high priority level, receive at least some of the end node's traffic over the communication network in accordance with the high priority level;
• wherein the high priority level is higher than a best-effort level in which the communication network delivers the end node's traffic with best-effort service;
• and
• wherein the low priority level is lower than the best-effort level, wherein no tokens are awarded or required for use of the best-effort level.

A network node in a communication network for controlling the network to deliver traffic to and/or from a first end node, the network node comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network node is operative to:
• receive information indicating a user-controllable selection at the first end node to have at least some of the first end node's traffic delivered by the network with a low priority level;
• and
• control, responsive to selection of the low priority level, the communication network to:
• deliver at least some of the first end node's traffic with the low priority level;
• and
• award the first end node with one or more tokens for use of the low priority level;
• receive information indicating a user-controllable selection at the first end node to have at least some of the first end node's traffic delivered by the network with a high priority level;
• and
• responsive to selection of the high priority level:
• redeem one or more tokens awarded to the first end node;
• control the communication network to deliver at least some of the first end node's traffic with the high priority level;
• wherein the high priority level is higher than a best-effort level in which the communication network delivers the first end node's traffic with best-effort service;
• and
• wherein the low priority level is lower than the best-effort level, wherein no tokens are awarded or required for use of the best-effort level.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling a communication network to deliver traffic to and/or from an end node, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the end node, causes the end node to:

• transmit, to a network node in the network, information indicating a user-controllable selection at the end node to have at least some of the end node's traffic delivered by the network with a low priority level that is lower than a high priority level, in exchange for the network node awarding the end node with one or more tokens for use of the low priority level;
• responsive to selection of the low priority level, transmit and/or receive at least some of the end node's traffic over the communication network in accordance with the low priority level;
• transmit, to the network node, information indicating a user-controllable selection at the end node to have at least some of the end node's traffic delivered by the network with the high priority level, with one or more tokens awarded to the end node redeemed for use of the high priority level;
• and
• responsive to selection of the high priority level, transmit and/or receive at least some of the end node's traffic over the communication network in accordance with the high priority level;
• wherein the high priority level is higher than a best-effort level in which the communication network delivers the end node's traffic with best-effort service;
• and
• wherein the low priority level is lower than the best-effort level, wherein no tokens are awarded or required for use of the best-effort level.