Packet data queuing and processing

1. A method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system, the method comprising:

allocating a tier of service for each of a plurality of individual packet data queues, wherein allocating a tier of service comprises:

determining a total number of data packets that can use an available communication resource;

allocating different weights to each tier of service based on a number of users requiring access to the available communication resource;

allocating a proportion of said total number of data packets to a number of the tiers of service to allow individual packet data queues on a number of tiers to share a communication resource; and

providing said communication resource to queued packet data users on a tier-by-tier basis, such that said communication resource is made available to a number of tiers.

2. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , wherein said allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets further comprises:

providing a commitment that a proportion of an entire communication system bandwidth is allocated to users operating on a particular tier.

3. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

allocating different weights to each tier of service to provide a differential level of service in the allocation of said communication resource between said tiers.

4. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , wherein said allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets is performed by using rate allocating service disciplines.

5. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

providing a packet data user with an identification code to assist in the tier allocation, wherein, the identification code provides at least one of the group consisting of: an identifier for the user and an indication of a number of data packets that the user wishes to transfer.

6. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 5 , the method further comprising:

determining, for each respective tier, that a number of data packets are requested to be processed; and

allocating a proportion of said communication resource to each tier in response to said determination.

7. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

placing a user at a tail of an allocated queue, depending on the userts tier of service when said user provides data packets for queuing.

8. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

allocating data packets to a user at a head of the tier queue;

moving said user at said head of the tier queue to the tail of the queue when the user's data packets have been sent; and

moving other users in the queue closer to the head of the queue.

9. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 8 , the method further comprising:

repeating the method of claim 8 until the total number of packets allocated to the tier is transferred.

10. The method of processing queued data packets in a packet data communication system according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

determining a tier of service for each user when a packet data session for each user commences.

11. A packet data scheduler queuing data packets in a packet data communication system, the packet data scheduler comprising:

means for allocating a tier of service for each of a plurality of individual packet data queues, wherein the means for allocating allocates different weights to each tier of service based on a number of users requiring access to the available communication resource;

means for determining a total number of data packets that can use an available communication resource;

means, operably coupled to the aforementioned means, for allocating a proportion of said total number of data packets to a number of the tiers of service to allow individual packet data queues on a number of tiers to share a communication resource; and

scheduling means to provide said communication resource to queued packet data users on a tier-by-tier basis, such that said resource is made available to all tiers.

12. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said means for allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets provides a commitment that a proportion of an entire communication system bandwidth is allocated to users operating on a particular tier.

13. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said means for allocating different weights to each tier of service is operable for providing a differential level of service in the allocation of said communication resource between said tiers.

14. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said means for allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets allocates data packets using rate allocating service disciplines.

15. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said means for allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets provides a packet data user with an identification code to assist in the tier allocation step, wherein the identification code provides at least one of the group consisting of: an identifier for the user and an indication of a number of data packets that the user wishes to transfer.

16. The packet data scheduler according to claim 15 , wherein saidmeans for allocating a proportion of a total number of data packets determines, for each respective tier, that a number of data packets are requested to be processed; and allocates a proportion of said communication resource to each tier in response to said determination.

17. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said scheduling means is operable for placing a user at a tail of the allocated queue, depending on the user's tier of service in response to the user providing data packets for queuing.

18. The packet data scheduler according to claim 11 , wherein said scheduling means is operable for:

allocating data packets to a user at a head of the tier queue;

moving said user at said head of the tier queue to the tail of the queue when the user's data packets have been sent; and

moving other user's in the queue closer to the head of the queue.

19. The packet data scheduler according to claim 18 , wherein said scheduling means repeats the operation of moving data packets and allocating data packets to a head of a tier queue until the total number of packets allocated to the tier has been transferred.

20. A communication unit comprising the packet data scheduler of claim 11 .

21. The communication unit according to claim 20 , wherein said communication unit operates as a gateway to and/or from two packet data networks.

22. The communication unit of claim 20 , wherein said communication unit is a radio network controller for operation in a third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification for wide-band code-division multiple access (WCDMA) communication system.

23. A packet data communication system comprising the packet data scheduler of claim 11 .

24. A packet data communication system operable for processing queued data packets, the system comprising:

a packet data scheduler, the packet data scheduler comprising:

logic for allocating a tier of service for each of a plurality of individual packet data queues, wherein the means for allocating allocates different weights to each tier of service based on a number of users requiring access to the available communication resource;

logic for determining a total number of data packets that can use an available communication resource;

logic, operably coupled to the aforementioned means, for allocating a proportion of said total number of data packets to a number of the tiers of service to allow individual packet data queues on a number of tiers to share a communication resources; and

scheduling logic for providing said communication resource to queued packet data users on a tier-by-tier, such that said resource is made available to all tiers.

25. A computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 .