Wireless Gateway Call Admission Control Without Traffic Specifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current telecommunications systems, particularly IEEE 802.11e networks, may not universally ensure proper call admission control and quality-of-service for wireless terminals without submitting traffic specifications, leading to potential bandwidth management issues.

Innovation Solution

A gateway is introduced between wireless local-area networks and a server, which intercepts call requests, determines communication resource availability based on traffic stream descriptions and resource usage, and admits calls without requiring explicit traffic specifications from wireless terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless terminals submit traffic specifications for call admission control, then quality-of-service can be ensured, but device complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality-of-serviceVSAvoidterminal configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining traffic characteristics and allocating bandwidth resources without requiring manual traffic specification submission from wireless terminals. The gateway autonomously analyzes call requests and makes admission decisions based on current network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway acts as an intermediary between wireless terminals and the server, intercepting call requests and performing traffic analysis. It mediates the admission control process by determining whether to allow calls based on estimated resource requirements and current channel usage, eliminating the need for terminals to submit detailed traffic specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the gateway intercepts and processes all call requests for admission control, then bandwidth management improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth management efficiencyVSAvoidgateway processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway applies partial action by processing only the essential call request information needed for admission control decisions, rather than analyzing every detail of the communication session. It focuses on determining traffic stream descriptions and estimating resource requirements, which is sufficient for making admission decisions without over-processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway performs preliminary action by evaluating call requests before they are fully established, determining traffic characteristics and resource requirements in advance. This preliminary assessment allows the system to make admission decisions proactively based on current network conditions and estimated future resource needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If call admission control is implemented without traffic specifications, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision of resource requirements decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall setup simplicityVSAvoidresource requirement estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters used for admission control from detailed traffic specifications provided by terminals to estimated resource requirements derived from call request analysis. Instead of relying on precise terminal-provided traffic parameters, the gateway uses transformed parameters based on current network conditions and call characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway incorporates feedback from current network conditions into its admission control decisions. It continuously monitors channel usage and adjusts its resource estimation and admission criteria dynamically, using real-time feedback to compensate for the lack of precise terminal-provided traffic specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8223637B2Quality-of-service and call admission control

Publication Date: 2012.07.17 SIGNAL POINT NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

An apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling quality-of-service and call admission control for wireless telecommunications terminals without first submitting a traffic specification. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous for IEEE 802.11e networks because the 802.11e standard, which in its currently-drafted form contains provisions for terminals to submit traffic specifications, might not require 802.11e terminals to submit traffic specifications in the finalized 802.11e standard. Proper call admission control and, consequently, quality-of-service for wireless applications therefore might not be universally available to future 802.11e-compliant terminals unless one or more embodiments of the present invention are deployed.