# US 12,224,920 B2 · Managing quality of experience in communications networks

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,224,920 B2
- Document ID: US12224920B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/244,947
- Filed: 2023-09-12
- Published: 2024-03-14
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-12
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Sarma V. Vangala; Seyedamirhossein Hosseini; Sreevalsan Vallath; Tarik Tabet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224920B2

## CPC

- H04L 41/5067: Customer-centric QoS measurements
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A method for managing a QoE for a UE in a communications network is provided. The method includes determining, based at least on data received in a communications session, one or more parameters affecting the QoE. The method includes determining weights corresponding to the one or more parameters. The method includes computing an expected QoE for the UE based on the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters. The method includes determining that the expected QoE satisfies a threshold. The method includes transmitting, to one or more network nodes in the communications network, the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters. The method also includes adjusting the communications session at the UE.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
determining, based at least on data received in a communications session, one or more parameters affecting quality of experience (QoE) for a user equipment (UE);
determining weights corresponding to the one or more parameters;
computing an expected QoE for the UE based on the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters;
determining that the expected QoE satisfies a threshold;
outputting, for transmission to one or more network nodes in a communications network, the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters; and
adjusting the communications session based at least on an updated QoE that is computed using one or more new parameters and corresponding weights determined by the one or more network nodes in the communications network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the determined weights comprises outputting the determined weights using a format comprising one or more of:
Extensible Markup Language (XML),
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON),
a binary format, or
a Representational State Transfer (REST) format.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the one or more network nodes comprise an intermediate node and an end device,
the communications session is between the UE and the end device, and
the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters are received from the UE at the intermediate node and forwarded by the intermediate node to the end device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the end device comprises at least one of another UE or a server.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
receiving, from the end device, information about an updated QoE,
wherein adjusting the communications session is based at least on the information about the updated QoE.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the updated QoE is calculated by the end device based on one or more of:
the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters, or
updated weights corresponding to the one or more parameters, the updated weights being determined by at least the intermediate node.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein:
the updated QoE is calculated by the end device; and
the one or more new parameters and corresponding weights are determined by at least one of the intermediate node or the end device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising executing an application that controls the communications session, wherein adjusting the communications session comprises:
adjusting characteristics of the application based on the updated QoE.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the updated QoE is calculated by the intermediate node based on one or more of:
the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters,
updated weights corresponding to the one or more parameters determined by the intermediate node, or
the one or more new parameters and corresponding weights.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the intermediate node comprises an access node in the communications network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least one of:
availability of a computation resource of the UE,
memory usage at the UE, or
network quality of a network connection between the UE and the one or more network nodes in the communications network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determined weights are transmitted to the one or more network nodes using a plurality of sequential transmissions.

### Claim 13

One or more processors comprising circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a user equipment (UE) that communicates with a network node in a communications network, one or more weights corresponding to one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters affect Quality of Experience (QoE) for the UE during a communications session between the UE and an end device;
determining, based at least on a condition of the network node, updated weights corresponding to the one or more parameters; and
transmitting outputting the updated weights corresponding to the one or more parameters for transmission to the end device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The one or more processors of claim 13, wherein the one or more weights are received in a format comprising one or more of:
Extensible Markup Language (XML),
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON),
a binary format, or
a Representational State Transfer (REST) format.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The one or more processors of claim 13,
wherein the operations further comprise:
determining one or more new parameters and new weights corresponding to the one or more new parameters, and
transmitting, to the end device, the new weights corresponding to the one or more new parameters.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The one or more processors of claim 13, wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least one of:
availability of a computation resource of the UE,
memory usage at the UE, or
network quality of a network connection between the UE and the one or more network nodes in the communications network.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The one or more processors of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise: prior to transmitting the updated weights to the end device, converting a format of the updated weights.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The one or more processors of claim 17, wherein the format of the updated weights is converted according to at least one of:
Network Exposure Functions (NEF), or
Service Capability Exposure Functions (SCEF).

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The one or more processors of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise determining an updated QoE for the UE based on at least one of:
the updated weights corresponding to the one or more parameters, or
one or more new parameters and new weights corresponding to the one or more new parameters.

### Claim 20

A user equipment (UE) comprising one or more processors configured to:
determine, based at least on data received in a communications session, one or more parameters affecting Quality of Experience (QoE) for the UE;
determine weights corresponding to the one or more parameters;
compute an expected QoE for the UE based on the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters;
determine that the expected QoE satisfies a threshold;
output, for transmission to one or more network nodes in a communications network, the determined weights corresponding to the one or more parameters; and
adjust the communications session based at least on an updated QoE that is computed using one or more new parameters and corresponding weights determined by the one or more network nodes of the communications network.