US 8,797,875 B2 · Policy controlled offloading among neighboring networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling and distributing data traffic among neighboring access networks within a geographic area. Subscribers may be given different priorities. Requests of services by subscribers may be prioritized. Data traffic within a congested access network may be offloaded to alternate access networks based on criteria such as service types and Quality of Service requirements associated with the data traffic, subscriber priorities associated with the subscribers, software and hardware capabilities associated with the user terminals of the subscribers, and resource availabilities in the alternate access networks.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of making network resources available for prioritized users in a wireless communications network, said method comprising:

identifying one or more alternate networks in a concerned area;
identifying a list of candidate packet flows associated with user terminals with packet flows established in the wireless communications network in the concerned area, said user terminals capable of accessing at least one of the one or more alternate networks;
selecting, amongst the candidate packet flows, one or more packet flows pertaining to lower priority user terminals;
and
offloading the selected one or more packet flows to the one or more alternate networks.

2 more elements

A network node for making network resources available for prioritized users in a wireless communications network, said network node comprising:

a network interface unit for exchanging information between a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) node and other network devices;
a processor configured to:
identify one or more alternate networks in a concerned area;
identify a list of candidate packet flows associated with user terminals in the concerned area with packet flows established in the wireless communications network, said user terminals capable of accessing at least one of the one or more alternate networks;
select, amongst the candidate packet flows, one or more packet flows pertaining to lower priority user terminals;
and
offload the selected one or more packet flows to the identified one or more alternate networks.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/235,092Filed 16 Sep 2011

Published

US 2013/0070594 A121 Mar 2013

Granted

5 Aug 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04W 28/18
Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]:…
H04W 36/1446
Over a different radio air interface technology: wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
H04W 36/22
Performing reselection for specific purposes: for handling the traffic
H04W 36/38
Reselection control: by fixed network equipment

Policy controlled offloading among neighboring networks

Life of this patent

Policy controlled offloading among neighboring networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22