Dynamically adjusting network services stratum parameters based on access and/or connectivity stratum utilization and/or congestion information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337239-A1
Application number	US-201514866574-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, operational at a network device, for conveying congestion information across different strata of a multi-strata network is provided. An indication is obtained that a congestion level for at least one of a radio access network node and a core network node of a network has changed. Consequently, a one or more service parameters for a plurality of services, operating at a service stratum, are updated or adjusted on a per service basis based on the congestion level indication. The one or more service parameters are provided or sent to, at least one of, a node operating at a service stratum or a user device that obtains services over the network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method operational at a network device, comprising:
obtaining an indication that a congestion level for at least one of a radio access network node and a core network node of a network has changed; updating one or more service parameters for a plurality of services, operating at a service stratum, on a per service basis based on the congestion level indication; and providing the one or more service parameters to, at least one of, a node operating at a service stratum or a user device that obtains services over the network.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the one or more service parameters is performed by a second network device distinct from the network device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the one or more service parameters includes sending the one or more service parameters in response to a query from the node operating at the service stratum and/or the user device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more service parameters are updated only if the obtained congestion level indication has changed more than a threshold amount from a previously reported congestion level.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of services include two or more of: a voice service, a video service, audio/content streaming service, and a web browsing service.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least two different types of congestion.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least an access stratum congestion and a connectivity stratum congestion for the network.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least a physical resource congestion for the radio access network node and a control or signaling traffic congestion for the core network node.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the congestion level indication further includes:
obtaining a first network congestion report from the radio access network node; obtaining a second network congestion report from the core network node; and determining, based on the first network congestion report and the second network congestion report, the congestion level indication.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first network congestion report includes one or more of: supported radio access technologies coverage limits for the network, device capabilities, and/or delivery methods available over the network.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second network congestion report includes one or more of: quality of service information for the network, support for IPv4 and IPv6, network policies, time and usage based limits, and/or security and/or credentials.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the network congestion level is only indicated to the node operating at the service stratum of the network if the determined congestion level indication has changed more than a threshold amount from a previous congestion level indication.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the one or more service parameters for the plurality of services on a per service basis includes:
updating a first service parameter for a first service a first amount; and updating a second service parameter for a second service a second amount distinct from the first amount.

14 . A network device, comprising:
a network interface for communicating over a network; a processing circuit coupled to the network interface and configured to:
obtain an indication that a congestion level for at least one of a radio access network node and a core network node of a network has change
update one or more service parameters for a plurality of services, operating at a service stratum, on a per service basis based on the congestion level indication; and
provide the one or more service parameters to, at least one of, anode operating at a service stratum or a user device that obtains services over the network.

15 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein updating the one or more service parameters is performed by a second network device distinct from the network device.

16 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein providing the one or more service parameters includes sending the one or more service parameters in response to a query from the node operating at the service stratum and/or the user device.

17 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more service parameters are updated only if the obtained congestion level indication has changed more than a threshold amount from a previously reported congestion level.

18 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of services include two or more of: a voice service, a video service, audio/content streaming service, and a web browsing service.

19 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least two different types of congestion.

20 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least an access stratum congestion and a connectivity stratum congestion for the network.

21 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein the congestion level indication is based on at least a physical resource congestion for the radio access network node and a control or signalling traffic congestion for the core network node.

22 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein obtaining the congestion level indication further includes:
obtaining a first network congestion report from the radio access network node; obtaining a second network congestion report from the core network node; and determining, based on the first network congestion report and the second network congestion report, the congestion level indication.

23 . The network device of claim 22 , wherein the first network congestion report includes one or more of: supported radio access technologies coverage limits for the network, device capabilities, and/or delivery methods available over the network.

24 . The network device of claim 22 , wherein the second network congestion report includes one or more of: quality of service information for the network, support for IPv4 and IPv6, network policies, time and usage based limits, and/or security and/or credentials.

25 . The network device of claim 22 , wherein the congestion level is only indicated to the node operating at the service stratum of the network if the determined congestion level indication has changed more than a threshold amount from a previous congestion level indication.

26 . The network device of claim 14 , wherein updating the one or more service parameters for the plurality of services on a per service basis includes:
updating a first service parameter for a first service a first amount; and updating a second service parameter for a second service a second amount distinct from the first amount.

27 . A network entity, comprising:
means for obtaining an indication that a congestion level for at least one of a radio access network node and a core network node of a network has change means for updating one or more service parameters for a plurality of services, operating at a service stratum, on a per service basis based on the congestion level indication; and means for providing the one or more service parameters to, at least one of, a node operating at the serv

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Nasielski John Wallace
• Horn Gavin Bernard
• Lee Soo Bum
• Faccin Stefano
• Walton Jay Rodney

Classifications

• H04W28/0289

  Congestion control (load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) · CPC title

• H04L47/11 Primary

  Identifying congestion · CPC title

• H04L41/5025 Primary

  by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade · CPC title