IP Library Granted Patent US 12713275
Granted Patent B2
US 12713275 · App. 18/597,144 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

System and method for implementing a constrained data mode on user equipment

Inventors: Yupeng Jia (South Pasadena, CA); Jason Sikes (Carnation, WA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
H04W28/0215H04L47/26H04W28/0236
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12713275
App. No.
18/597,144
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that has: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, including: detecting congestion in a network that provides communication services to user equipment; providing an indication that the congestion has been detected to the user equipment; and changing a data mode of the communication services used by the user equipment responsive to the indication. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims (40)

1 . A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

detecting congestion in a network that provides communication services to user equipment;

determining a congestion level based on an analysis of network traffic within the network; and

transmitting, from a network element within the network to the user equipment, an indication that the congestion has been detected, wherein:

the indication comprises the congestion level,

the indication causes the user equipment to change a data mode used by the user equipment based on the congestion level to reduce data usage by the user equipment in the network, and

the change in the data mode causes the user equipment to suspend using one or more of the communication services.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the congestion is detected by monitoring traffic within the network.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes monitoring for emergency alerts and position of the user equipment.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises comparing key performance indicators to thresholds.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the thresholds are generated from historical data.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the key performance indicators comprise throughput, latency, jitter, or a combination thereof.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the user equipment changes the data mode upon a new indication of the congestion level determined by the user equipment.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein changing the data mode comprises limiting the communication services used by the user equipment to short message service (SMS) only, SMS plus voice calls, or SMS plus voice calls and low data rates.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

10 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

detecting congestion in a network that provides communication services to user equipment;

determining a congestion level based on an analysis of network traffic within the network; and

transmitting, from a network element within the network to the user equipment, an indication that the congestion has been detected, wherein:

the indication comprises the congestion level,

the indication instructs the user equipment to change a data mode used by the user equipment based on the congestion level to reduce data usage by the user equipment in the network, and

the change in the data mode causes the user equipment to suspend use of one or more of the communication services.

11 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the congestion is detected by monitoring traffic within the network.

12 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the detecting includes monitoring for emergency alerts and position of the user equipment.

13 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the detecting comprises comparing key performance indicators to thresholds.

14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the thresholds are generated from historical data.

15 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the key performance indicators comprise throughput, latency, jitter, or a combination thereof.

16 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the user equipment changes the data mode upon a new indication of the congestion level determined by the user equipment.

17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein changing the data mode comprises limiting the communication services used by the user equipment to short message service (SMS) only, SMS plus voice calls, or SMS plus voice calls and low data rates.

18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

19 . A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processing system including a processor, developing congestion in a network that provides communication services to user equipment;

determining, by the processing system, a congestion level based on an analysis of network traffic within the network; and

transmitting, by the processing system, an indication that the congestion has been detected to the user equipment, wherein:

the indication comprises the congestion level,

the indication instructs the user equipment to change a data mode used by the user equipment based on the congestion level to reduce data usage by the user equipment in the network, and

the change in the data mode causes the user equipment to suspend use of one or more of the communication services.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein changing the data mode comprises limiting the communication services used by the user equipment to short message service (SMS) only, SMS plus voice calls, or SMS plus voice calls and low data rates.