# US 8,542,584 B2 · Partitioning entity and method for partitioning capacity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,584 B2 - Document ID: US8542584B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/993,385 - Filed: 2008-09-04 - Published: 2011-08-18 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-20 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Reiner Ludwig; Hannes Ekström - Inventors: Reiner Ludwig; Hannes Ekström - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542584B2 ## CPC - H04L 47/10: Flow control; Congestion control - H04L 47/125: by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering - H04L 47/828: {Allocation of resources per group of connections, e.g. per group of users} - H04L 47/83: based on usage prediction - H04L 49/90: Buffering arrangements - H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)} - H04W 72/535: {based on resource usage policies} - H04L 41/0894: Policy-based network configuration management - H04L 41/5003: Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS - H04W 72/543: based on requested quality, e.g. QoS - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a partitioning entity and a method for partitioning capacity in a communication network to avoid starvation of certain data traffic and to support services with different characteristics. The method of partitioning capacity comprises assigning communication links to a group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a group of communication links. The group comprises a first sub-group and at least a second sub-group of communication links. Further, the method comprises allocating a non-zero fraction of the time-varying group capacity to the first sub-group of communication links of the group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method implemented by a partitioning entity of a communication network for partitioning a total capacity of the communication network among communication links, the method comprising: at the partitioning entity, assigning communication links to a first group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a first group of communication links, the first group comprising a first subgroup and a second sub-group; at the partitioning entity, allocating a non-zero fraction of said time-varying group capacity to said first sub-group, and at the partitioning entity, allocating a predetermined group capacity to a second group of communication links. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating a non-zero fraction of said time-varying group capacity to said second sub-group. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined group capacity is limited by a defined threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein capacity not allocated to said second group is available for allocation to said first group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first group further comprises a third subgroup, and wherein the method further comprises allocating a portion of said predetermined group capacity to said third subgroup, said portion corresponding to a specified absolute amount of said predetermined group capacity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said time-varying group capacity corresponds to the difference between said total capacity and said predetermined group capacity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a part of said predetermined group capacity by communication links of said first group, wherein the utilized part corresponds to the difference between data traffic over communication links of said second group and the predetermined group capacity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a communication link is associated with at least one parameter, and the method further comprises assigning the communication link to one of the sub-groups based upon the parameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein communication links assigned to said first group are not associated with a guaranteed bit rate and communication links assigned to said second group are associated with a guaranteed bit rate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the capacity of the communication network is dependent on network resources and the location of mobile stations using the communication network, the network resources comprising at least one of radio resources, processing resources, and resource blocks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating is performed dynamically or repeatedly at predetermined time intervals or based on changes in the capacity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 , wherein said communication network is a packet-switched mobile network. ### Claim 13 A partitioning entity of a communication network configured to partition a total capacity of the communication network among communication links, the partitioning entity comprising: a controller for assigning communication links to a first group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a first group of communication links, the first group comprising a first sub-group and a second sub-group; and an allocator configured to allocate a non-zero fraction of said time-varying group capacity to said first sub-group and to allocate a predetermined group capacity to a second group of communication links. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein the allocator is further configured to allocate a non-zero fraction of said time-varying group capacity to said second sub-group. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein said predetermined group capacity is limited by a defined threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein capacity not allocated to said second group is available for allocation to said first group. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein the first group further comprises a third subgroup, and wherein the allocator is further configured to allocate a portion of said predetermined group capacity to said third subgroup, said portion corresponding to a specified absolute amount of said predetermined group capacity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein said time-varying group capacity corresponds to the difference between said total capacity and said predetermined group capacity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The partitioning entity of claim 13, wherein a communication link is associated with at least one parameter, and wherein the controller is configured to assign the communication link to one of the sub-groups based upon the parameter. ### Claim 20 A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a data processor, cause the data processor to partition a capacity of a communication network among communication links, the computer program instructions causing the data processor to: assign communication links to a first group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a first group of communication links, the first group comprising a first subgroup and a second sub-group; allocate a non-zero fraction of said time-varying group capacity to said first sub-group , and allocate a predetermined group capacity to a second group of communication links.