Frame selection and distribution unit (SDU) and method for dynamically managing wireless call settings
View Patent ↗The present application describes various embodiments that address the need to dynamically manage wireless call settings to more optimally utilize system capacity. When a radio access network (RAN)(e.g., 105, 110 , and 120 ) receives a data packet (e.g., 200 ) associated with a wireless call, it determines an application type associated with the data packet and/or an internet domain associated with the call. The RAN then adjusts call settings associated with the wireless call based on the application type and/or on the internet domain. In this manner, call settings such as, but not limited to, a target frame error rate, radio link protocol (RLP) parameters, a supplemental traffic channel (SCH) assignment priority, a carrier assignment group, and a billing rate can be applied more dynamically with respect to services used in the call.
1. A method for dynamically managing wireless call settings comprising:
receiving by a radio access network (RAN) a data packet associated with a wireless call;
determining an application type associated with the data packet; and
adjusting at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the application type, wherein determining the application type associated with the data packet comprises obtaining a portion of a transport protocol header of the data packet, wherein the portion of the transport protocol header comprises a port number, and wherein adjusting the at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the application type comprises at least one of
updating a target frame error rate for the wireless call,
updating a billing rate for the wireless call,
updating a channel assignment priority for the wireless call,
selecting at least one new radio link protocol (RLP) parameter to apply to the wireless call, and
selecting a new carrier assignment group to apply to the wireless call.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is received via a data network external to the RAN.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is received from a mobile unit involved in the wireless call.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the application type associated with the data packet comprises determining the application type associated with the port number.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet comprises a general routing encapsulation (GRE) packet.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application type comprises an application type selected from the group consisting of real-time audio, real-time streaming video, video phone, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel assignment priority indicates an assignment priority for assignment of a supplemental traffic channel.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one new RLP parameter comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of number of rounds and number of NACKs per round.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a plurality of data packets during the wireless call;
periodically determining an application type associated with individual data packets of the plurality of data packets; and
periodically updating a target frame error rate for the wireless call.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each cycle of periodically determining an application type is scheduled just prior to each cycle of periodically updating the target frame error rate for the wireless call and wherein the target frame error rate is updated each cycle based on the determination of an application type scheduled just prior.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein periodically updating a target frame error rate for the wireless call comprises sending an Extended Supplemental Channel Assignment Message (ESCAM) on a supplemental traffic channel.
12. A method for dynamically managing wireless call settings comprising:
receiving by a radio access network (RAN) a data packet associated with a wireless call;
determining an internet domain associated with the wireless call; and
adjusting at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the internet domain, wherein adjusting the at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the internet domain comprises at least one of
updating a target frame error rate for the wireless calls,
updating a billing rate for the wireless call,
updating a channel assignment priority for the wireless call,
selecting at least one new radio link protocol (RLP) parameter to apply to the wireless call, and
selecting a new carrier assignment group to apply to the wireless call.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining an internet domain associated with the wireless call comprises accessing an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server.
14. A frame selection and distribution unit (SDU) comprising:
a frame buffer adapted to store a data packet associated with a wireless call;
a database adapted to store at least one call setting for individual application types; and
a processor, operably coupled to the frame buffer and the database, adapted to determine an application type associated with the data packet and adapted to adjust at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the at least one call setting stored in the database for the application type, wherein being adapted to determine the application type associated with the data packet comprises being adapted to obtain a portion of a transport protocol header of the data packet, wherein the portion of the transport protocol header comprises a port number, and wherein being adapted to adjust the at least one call setting comprises at least one of
being adapted to update a target frame error rate for the wireless call,
being adapted to update a billing rate for the wireless call,
being adapted to update a channel assignment priority for the wireless call,
being adapted to select at least one new radio link protocol (RLP) parameter to apply to the wireless call, and
being adapted to select a new carrier assignment group to apply to the wireless call.
15. A frame selection and distribution unit (SDU) comprising:
a database adapted to store at least one call setting for individual internet domains; and
a processor, operably coupled to the database, adapted to determine an internet domain associated with the wireless call and adapted to adjust at least one call setting associated with the wireless call based on the at least one call setting stored in the database for the internet domain associated with the wireless call, wherein being adapted to adjust the at least one call setting comprises at least one of
being adapted to update a target frame error rate for the wireless calls,
being adapted to update a billing rate for the wireless call,
being adapted to update a channel assignment priority for the wireless call,
being adapted to select at least one new radio link protocol (RLP) parameter to apply to the wireless call, and
being adapted to select a new carrier assignment group to apply to the wireless call.
16. The SDU of claim 15 , further comprising a network interface adapted to receive the internet domain associated with the wireless call from a packet data serving node (PDSN).