Method and apparatus for load balancing in a wireless network
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for load balancing in a wireless network is provided. For example, this invention is directed to a technique for balancing bearer load across a bank of traffic processors associated with a high-availability radio network controller (RNC). Instantaneous measures (e.g. processor occupancy) are used as one parameter for such load balancing. Predictive measures are used as another parameter. The predictive measures indicate the degree to which a given processor can become busy in the next few intervals of time and is based on the unrealized potential as derived from the established data rate of bearer sessions. The overall technique described herein allows for an even distribution of highly bursty traffic, with an objective of preserving call quality during periods of increased network congestion.
1. A method for balancing call load across a plurality of traffic processors in a wireless network, the method comprising:
measuring occupancy of each of the plurality of traffic processors;
estimating potential occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors;
determining a load level for the each of the plurality of traffic processors based on a difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy, wherein the determining comprises applying a weighting factor, the applying of the weighting factor comprising multiplying the difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy of a traffic processor by a value;
maintaining the load levels for the plurality of traffic processors; and,
assigning the call load to the plurality of traffic processors based on the maintained load levels.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the measuring comprises measuring a current actual occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the estimating is based on negotiated bandwidths determined for calls comprising the call load.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the maintaining comprises storing load levels in a table.
5. A system for balancing call load across a plurality of traffic processors in a wireless network, the system comprising:
means for measuring occupancy of each of the plurality of traffic processors;
means for estimating potential occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors;
means for determining a load level for the each of the plurality of traffic processors based on a difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy, wherein the means for determining comprises means for applying a weighting factor, the means for applying the weighting factor comprising means for multiplying the difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy of a traffic processor by a value;
means for maintaining the load levels for the plurality of traffic processors; and,
means for assigning the call load to the plurality of traffic processors based on the maintained load levels.
6. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for measuring comprises means for measuring a current actual occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors.
7. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for estimating uses negotiated bandwidths determined for calls comprising the call load.
8. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining comprises a table.
9. A system for balancing call load across a plurality of traffic processors in a wireless network, the system comprising:
a load monitor operative to measure occupancy of each of the plurality of traffic processors, estimate potential occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors and determine a load level for the each of the plurality of traffic processors based on a difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy wherein the load monitor is operative to apply a weighting factor by multiplying the difference between the measured occupancy and the potential occupancy of a traffic processor by a value; and,
a load balance manager operative to maintain the load levels for the plurality of traffic processors and assign the call load to the plurality of traffic processors based on the maintained load levels.
10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the load monitor resides on each of the plurality of traffic processors.
11. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the load balance manager resides on a control processor.
12. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the load monitor is operative to measure a current actual occupancy of the each of the plurality of traffic processors.
13. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the load monitor is operative to estimate based on negotiated bandwidths determined for calls comprising the call load.
14. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the load balance manager is operative to store load levels in a table.