Reservation proxy function supporting filtering of multicast traffic in packet-based communication systems

#This invention is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/891,645, titled “Methods for Managing Bandwidth in a Packet-Based Communication System Incorporating a Reservation Proxy Function,” filed Jun. 26, 2001; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,621, titled “Method for Managing Bandwidth in a Packet-Based Communication System,” filed Dec. 1, 2000; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,620, titled “Method for Managing Bandwidth in a Packet-Based Communication System Using Call Unit Reservations,” filed Dec. 1, 2000, each assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

#This invention generally relates to packet-based communication systems and, in particular, to a method of providing admissions control in a packet-based communication system using a reservation proxy function.

#Communication systems typically include a plurality of communication units, such as mobile or portable radio units, dispatch consoles and base stations (sometimes called base site repeaters) that are geographically distributed among various base sites and console sites. The radio units wirelessly communicate with the base stations and each other using radio frequency (RF) communication resources, and are often logically divided into various subgroups or talkgroups.

#The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a multi-zone packet-based communication system incorporating a reservation proxy function within respective zone controllers according to one embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram useful for illustrating an RSVP message sequence between RPEs and routers of a multi-zone packet-based communication system;

#FIG. 1 shows by way of example and not limitation, a packet-based communication system 100 comprising a plurality of base sites 102 organized into a plurality of zones (“Zone 1” through “Zone 4”). For convenience, the base sites 102 are shown only at Zone 1, although it will be understood that base sites are also at Zones 2, 3 and 4. The base sites 102 include base stations 106 for communicating via RF resources with wireless communication units (e.g., communication units 156–163) within their respective coverage areas, which communication units may roam from site to site and from zone to zone.

#The base sites 102 are logically coupled, via router elements 104 (“base site routers”) to router elements 116, 118, 120, 122 (“core routers”) associated with their respective zones. The core routers are logically connected via packet network (inter-zone) links 148, 150, 152, 154. The core routers 116, 118, 120, 122 are connected to respective zone controllers 124, 126, 128, 130 that perform call processing and mobility management functions for communication units within their respective zones.

#In the preferred embodiment, the zone controllers 124, 126, 128, 130 further perform reservation proxy functions associated with the respective zones 1–4. Alternatively or additionally, reservation proxy functions may be incorporated within separate physical devices including, but not limited to console(s), call logger(s) and/or other infrastructure device(s) that may be included within the communication system 100. For convenience, device(s) incorporating reservation proxy functionality will be referred to as reservation proxy elements (“RPEs”). In one embodiment, as will be described in greater detail in relation to FIG. 3, the RPEs use RSVP signaling to dynamically obtain reservations of bandwidth on one or more of the inter-zone links 148, 150, 152, 154 for a prospective call or, as described in relation to FIG. 5, to obtain bandwidth reservations for a link to a new zone. The RSVP message sequence is described generally in relation to FIG. 2.