Access Point Service Quality Identifier for WiFi QoS Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless networks face challenges in providing reliable quality of service (QoS) guarantees, especially for delay-sensitive applications like online gaming, as the quality of service can only be noticed during service consumption, leading to unsatisfactory user experience and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for assessing the quality of service in WiFi networks by determining a service quality identifier based on required bandwidth, latency, and packet loss, allowing access points to select suitable identifiers and instruct users to switch to alternative access points if the requested service cannot be supported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the service provider adopts best effort measures to provide reasonable QoS, then the network resource utilization is improved, but the service quality reliability deteriorates because variation in best effort networks could allow a service that requires constant quality to be using a network offering less quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the service quality identifier before the service is consumed. The access point evaluates the requested service against available network resources and determines a service quality identifier that reflects whether the service can be supported with acceptable quality. This pre-assessment prevents services with constant quality requirements from being assigned to networks that cannot support them, resolving the contradiction by ensuring reliability before resource utilization becomes an issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing the service quality identifier to the user equipment, which then uses this information to make informed decisions about service consumption. The feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust service allocation based on actual network conditions and service requirements, ensuring that services are only provided when quality requirements can be met while still maximizing network resource utilization.
2Reliability
If the service provider restricts access to unknown networks or requires control of such networks, then the service quality reliability is improved, but the service availability deteriorates because in certain access environments, the service may not be offered at all just because of the unknown access quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a service quality identifier that quantifies the quality level of available networks. Instead of binary restrictions (allow/deny access), the system evaluates network parameters and assigns quality identifiers that reflect the actual service support capability. This allows the system to adapt to different access environments while maintaining quality standards, resolving the contradiction between reliability and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the service quality identifier determination a dynamic process that occurs at the time of service request. The access point evaluates current network conditions and service requirements to determine whether the service can be supported. This dynamic approach allows the system to provide services in previously restricted environments when conditions are favorable, while still maintaining quality reliability through continuous assessment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the service provider allows access to networks with unknown quality, then the service availability is improved, but the service quality reliability deteriorates because it may be too late for a service provider to improve the quality when the service is being consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing service quality assessment before the service is consumed. The access point determines the service quality identifier in advance, allowing the user equipment to make informed decisions about which networks to access. This pre-assessment ensures that services are only provided through networks that can meet quality requirements, preventing the situation where quality issues are discovered too late during service consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments herein relate to methods, an access point (130) and a network node (140) for service quality assessment in a network environment. According to a method the access point (130) receives, from a user equipment (120), a request for a service; and determines a service quality identifier based on the requested service. The access point sends, to a network node (140) of a service provider, the service request including the service quality identifier. The network node (140) analyses the received service quality identifier for determining whether or not the requested service can be supported. If the requested service can be supported, the network node transmits a response to the user equipment informing that the service can be supported over the access point. If the requested service cannot be supported, the network node (140) transmits a response to the user equipment (120) instructing the user (110) or the user equipment (120) to select another access point (150).