Wireless Data Channel Peak Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless data networks experience quality-of-service degradation due to high data throughput requirements of data-intensive applications, leading to traffic congestion and poor service for all users, as existing billing models do not effectively manage peak load conditions effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing short-term metering, where users are allocated a target data throughput allowance for a short metering period, significantly shorter than billing periods, allowing the network to manage peak loading by prioritizing data transfers and adjusting speeds based on available channel capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data-intensive applications are allowed to operate at high data transfer speeds, then user satisfaction for these applications is improved, but quality of service for all other users deteriorates due to traffic congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic priority adjustment where the priority of data transfers is not fixed but changes based on real-time channel conditions and user throughput consumption. During peak loading conditions, the system dynamically lowers the priority of high-consumption users to prevent congestion, while during adequate capacity periods, it restores full priority to maximize user satisfaction. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining high speeds for intensive applications and preserving overall service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data transfer priority based on throughput thresholds and channel capacity. By monitoring the data counter against configured thresholds and adjusting priority levels accordingly, the system can shift between different operational states (unfettered operation vs. priority reduction) to balance individual user performance with overall network health, thereby resolving the speed-quality of service tradeoff.
2Ease of operation
If billing periods are used to manage data usage, then users have predictable costs, but peak load management is ineffective because billing periods are too long to respond to immediate congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the billing period into multiple shorter metering periods, each with its own throughput threshold and priority adjustment mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to respond to peak loading conditions in real-time intervals rather than waiting for the end of a long billing cycle. The segmentation maintains the simplicity of billing for users while enabling granular control for network management, effectively resolving the contradiction between billing ease and management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of throughput thresholds and priority rules before peak loading occurs. By pre-configuring the metering parameters and priority adjustment policies, the system is prepared to immediately respond to congestion conditions when they arise, rather than reacting after the fact. This preliminary setup enables effective peak load management while maintaining straightforward billing structures.
3Reliability
If short-term metering with priority reduction is implemented, then quality of service is maintained during peak times, but channel resource utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts priority only when necessary, based on real-time monitoring of data counters against throughput thresholds. When channel capacity is adequate, users operate with full priority and maximum resource utilization. When congestion is detected, priority is temporarily reduced to maintain service quality. This dynamic approach ensures that resource utilization is maximized whenever possible while only applying restrictions when actually needed to preserve quality of service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the priority parameter conditionally based on channel capacity and user consumption patterns. By adjusting priority only when throughput exceeds configured thresholds during peak loading, the system maintains quality of service during critical periods while allowing full resource utilization during normal conditions. This conditional parameter change resolves the contradiction between maintaining service quality and maximizing resource usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of allocating wireless data delivery services to users allows management of mobile data channel peak loading. A per-user metering structure for wireless broadband data services includes a target data throughput allowance provided to the network user for a relatively short time period known as a metering period, where a plurality of metering periods are contained in a billing period. Use of the method disclosed herein constrains the most load-impactive users, such as users streaming high-resolution videos, during periods of data channel congestion compared to typical users, such as users browsing the Internet.