Methods and apparatus for providing incentivized cooperative system for accessing radio access networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing improved service to wireless devices in a radio access network (RAN). This is accomplished through affording cooperative arrangements wherein a helper mobile device having a good link to the RAN assists another mobile device having a poorer quality link to access the RAN, thereby offering improved service. The arrangement includes an out of band link between the mobile devices that does not use the same radio access technology as the RAN. Additionally, an incentive scheme provides credit to users of the assisting devices that is configured to encourage and sustain future cooperative arrangements. Credit may be transferred from a user of the assisted device to the user of the helper device as compensation. Further, an operator of the RAN may also inject credit to users of helper devices to incentivize and sustain future cooperative arrangements.

Description

technical field [0001] In general, the present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for providing an incentive cooperation system for accessing a wireless access network, wherein the incentive cooperation system provides for encouraging cooperation Incentives to access wireless access networks. Background technique [0002] In wireless communication systems, the availability of mobile wireless devices to access the Radio Access Network (RAN) is sometimes limited due to poor channel conditions, limited transmit power, and base station scheduling constraints. When the available capacity is thus limited, this situation may lead to applications or operations on the mobile device as follows, thereby degrading the user experience: Applications or operations that may require much higher throughput. [0003] In some known wireless systems, such as peer-to-peer systems, it is known to al...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, these systems are limited to using the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) across all devices

Thus, in some cases, for example, access to the RAN may be restricted by conditions affecting all users of the same RAT

Furthermore, in known systems where cooperative access allows one user to assist another user, the ability to assist a user equipment in accessing the RAN may be limited by sharing its resources with another user equipment

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