Method and Apparatus for Heterogeneous Communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016135144-A1
Application number	US-201514931961-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of managing bandwidth resources provided by multiple network interfaces is proposed. When one or more network interfaces provide network bandwidth resources, a bandwidth manager manages all available bandwidth resources based on a list of decision criteria. The list of decision criteria includes energy efficiency, network throughput, channel condition, device mobility, and user preference. An application traffic flow distributer dynamically adjusts the amount of traffic flows on different network interfaces according to the joint decision based on the decision criteria. A network interface manager dynamically enables or disables each network interface according to the joint decision based on the decision criteria. Furthermore, a device movement analyzer analyzes and predicts device movement to facilitate accurate decision making of the bandwidth management.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
activating a first network interface of a user equipment (UE) for transmitting and receiving IP data through a first radio access technology (RAT) in a heterogeneous network; activating a second network interface for transmitting and receiving IP data through a second RAT; determining a traffic flow distribution based on one or more predefined criteria, wherein the traffic flow is associated with one or more applications; and
directing a first portion of the traffic flow to the first network interface, and directing a second portion of the traffic flow to the second network interface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined criteria comprises at least one of maximizing a system throughput, minimizing a UE power consumption, and satisfying a user preference.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the system throughput is determined by dynamically monitoring data packets of the network.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the UE power consumption is reduced by steering more traffic flow to a corresponding network interface that consumes less energy-per-bit for data transmission.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the user preference indicates a weighting between the system throughput and the UE power consumption.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the UE directs a third portion of the traffic flow to a third network interface, and wherein the third network interface belongs to another wireless device.

7 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:
a first network interface for transmitting and receiving IP data through a first radio access technology (RAT) in a heterogeneous network; a second network interface for transmitting and receiving IP data through a second RAT; a bandwidth manager that determines a traffic flow distribution based on one or more predefined criteria, wherein the traffic flow is associated with one or more applications; and a traffic flow distributor that directs a first portion of the traffic flow to the first network interface, and directs a second portion of the traffic flow to the second network interface.

8 . The UE of claim 7 , wherein the predefined criteria comprises at least one of maximizing a system throughput, minimizing a UE power consumption, and satisfying a user preference.

9 . The UE of claim 8 , wherein the system throughput is determined by dynamically monitoring data packets of the network.

10 . The UE of claim 8 , wherein the UE power consumption is reduced by steering more traffic flow to a corresponding network interface that consumes less energy-per-bit for data transmission.

11 . The UE of claim 8 , wherein the user preference indicates a weighting between the system throughput and the UE power consumption.

12 . The UE of claim 7 , wherein the UE directs a third portion of the traffic flow to a third network interface, and wherein the third network interface belongs to another wireless device.

13 . A method, comprising:
(a) establishing a first data connection via a first radio access technology (RAT) using a first radio module of a user equipment (UE) in a heterogeneous network; (b) predicting a radio signal strength indication of the first radio access network; and (c) establishing a second data connection via a second RAT using a second radio module based on the prediction result and a fast network-switching algorithm, wherein the UE switches from the first RAT to the second RAT before a radio link failure event occurs in the first RAT.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the predicting in (b) involves updating the radio signal strength indication history and applying an interpolation or extrapolation algorithm.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the fast network-switching algorithm involves determining a first threshold of enabling the second RAT for IP data and a second threshold of disabling the second RAT for IP data.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the UE enables the second RAT when the radio signal strength indication is below the first threshold, and wherein the UE disables the second RAT when the radio signal strength indication is above the second threshold.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and the second thresholds are dynamically determined based on an estimated UE mobility state.

18 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:
a first radio module that establishes a first data connection via a first radio access technology (RAT) in a heterogeneous network; a signal strength monitor that predicts a radio signal strength indication of the first radio access network; and a second radio module that establishes a second data connection via a second RAT based on the prediction result and a fast network-switching algorithm, wherein the UE switches from the first RAT to the second RAT before a radio link failure event occurs in the first RAT.

19 . The UE of claim 18 , wherein the UE predicts the radio signal strength by updating the radio signal strength indication history and applying an interpolation or extrapolation algorithm.

20 . The UE of claim 18 , wherein the fast network-switching algorithm involves determining a first threshold of enabling the second RAT for IP data and a second threshold of disabling the second RAT for IP data.

21 . The UE of claim 20 , wherein the UE enables the second RAT when the radio signal strength indication is below the first threshold, and wherein the UE disables the second RAT when the radio signal strength indication is above the second threshold.

22 . The UE of claim 20 , wherein the first and the second thresholds are dynamically determined based on an estimated UE mobility state.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Tsai Chia-Hung
• Huang-Fu Chien-Chun
• Chou jun-hua
• Chen Yih-Shen

Classifications

• H04W72/02 Primary

  Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W52/0251

  using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity · CPC title

• H04W52/0258 Primary

  controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title