US6498786B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of allocating resources in a telecommunications network
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1999-08-03
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Granted: 2002-12-24
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Expires: 2019-08-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a resource allocation method which is based on the concept of proportional fairness. In this method, users express their willingnesses to pay for network resources. A controller determines how the users' willingnesses to pay are to be divided between the resources in order to determine the relative demands for the resources. Each resource is then divided between those users using it in proportion to how much they are willing to pay for the use of their share of it. The allocation takes into account the relative demands on all the resources in the network. A user may increase his share of the network resources allocated to him by increasing the value of his willingness to pay. The method may be applied either by a central controller (network manager), or it may be delegated to controllers (network element managers/customer premises equipment managers) distributed across the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Anthony Kirkby
- 👤 Martin Biddiscombe
- 👤 Subramanian Sabesan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0062; H04Q3/0066; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5609; H04L2012/5612; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/5631; H04L2012/5632; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1313; H04Q2213/13332; H04Q2213/13349
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of allocating shared resources in a telecommunications network, comprises the step of: allocating a share in a resource to a user that will utilise said resource in satisfying a request for resources, said share being allocated as a proportion of the resource equal to that user's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all users for the resources of the network that said user will utilise in satisfying said request for resources.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of allocating shared resources in a telecommunications network, comprises the step of: allocating a share in a resource to a user that will utilise said resource in satisfying a request for resources, said share being allocated as a proportion of the resource equal to that user's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all users for the resources of the network that said user will utilise in satisfying said request for resources.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it includes the step of allocating the user's indicated WtP value between the resources needed to satisfy the user's request in proportion to the sums of the demands by all users for those resources in order to update the resources demands information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it includes the step of calculating the demand for each of the resources needed to satisfy the user's request by, for each resource, summing the proportions of the WtP values of all users allocated respectively to said resources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein it includes the step of calculating the proportions of users' indicated WtP values allocated to the resources needed to satisfy the user's request by setting for each combination of user and resource the proportion of that user's WtP value to be allocated to that resource equal to the demand by all users for that resource divided by the sum of the demands by all users for all resources needed to satisfy the user's request.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it includes as an initial step allocating each user's WtP value proportionally between the resources that the user will utilise to satisfy a request for resources in order to establish initial demands for resources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the initial proportions of users' WtP values allocated to resources are set to the equal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the initial proportions of users' WtP values allocated to resources are selected randomly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein, if the calculated proportions of users' indicated WtP values allocated to the resources needed to satisfy the user's request differ by more than a predetermined amount over previously allocated proportions, the method includes the step of recalculating the demands on each of the resources and using the recalculated demands to determine new proportions of users' WtP values to be allocated to the resources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a centralised controller allocates network resources to users.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the centralised controller forms part of or comprises a network manager.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller maintains a register of those network resources which are allocatable in proportion to users' indicated WtP values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller determines which of the network resources are required to satisfy a user request for resources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein, where the allocatable resources comprise transmission links, the controller determines which transmission link resources are required to satisfy a user request by reference to a look-up routing table which stores a listing of fixed transmission routes across the network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the allocatable resources of the network includes transmission link bandwidth, buffer occupancy and data retrieval from content providers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it includes polling each user for a WtP value for each user request.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a user's indication of WtP value is related to a value amount remaining in an account of the user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the user maintains its account with the controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the user subscribes periodically to said account in order to increase the value amount remaining in said account.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a user provides a separate WtP value for each of a plurality of requests by the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a user comprising an entity through which a plurality of second level users are connected to the network expresses a single WtP value comprising an aggregate of the WtP values of said plurality of second level users.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said entity allocates the share of network resources allocated to it by the controller in response to the single WtP value indicated by it between the secondary level users in proportion to said secondary level users indicated WtP values divided by the aggregate of the values of the plurality of secondary level users.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a user's WtP value can be capped to prevent the user from indicating a WtP value above a predetermined limit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein a user can set the predetermined capping limit on its WtP value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein a user can change its indicated WtP value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein a user can periodically change its indicated WtP value by communicating the changed value to the network controller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
92 words
A telecommunications network comprising: a plurality of network resources; a plurality of users; a controller for receiving user requests for resources, wherein said controller allocates a share in a network resource to a user that will utilise said resource in satisfying a request for resources, said share being allocated as a proportion of the resource equal to that user's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all users for the resources of the network that said user will utilise in satisfying its request for resources.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
A telecommunications network comprising: a plurality of network resources; a plurality of users; a controller for receiving user requests for resources, wherein said controller allocates a share in a network resource to a user that will utilise said resource in satisfying a request for resources, said share being allocated as a proportion of the resource equal to that user's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all users for the resources of the network that said user will utilise in satisfying its request for resources.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A network as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the controller comprises a network manager and said resources comprises a plurality of interconnected transmission links.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A network as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the transmission links are interconnected by nodes, each node having at least one user associated therewith.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network as claimed in claim 28 , wherein each user comprises one of a customer premises network, a private branch exchange (PBX), a service provider (SP), a content provider (CP) and a local area network (LAN).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A network as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the users are connected across one of a metropolitan area network (MAN) and a wide area network (WAN).
Claim 33
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of allocating shared resources in a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of: allocating a share in a resource to an entity that requests use of resources, said share being allocated as a proportion equal to the entity's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all entities for resources of the network that said entity will utilise in satisfying said request for resources; and said entity allocates its share of the resource between a plurality of users connected to the entity.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of allocating shared resources in a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of: allocating a share in a resource to an entity that requests use of resources, said share being allocated as a proportion equal to the entity's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all entities for resources of the network that said entity will utilise in satisfying said request for resources; and said entity allocates its share of the resource between a plurality of users connected to the entity.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein it includes the step of allocating the entity's indicated WtP value between the resources needed to satisfy the entity's request in proportion to the sums of the demands by all entities for those resources.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein it includes the step of calculating the demand for each of the resources needed to satisfy the entity's request by, for each resource, summing the proportions of the WtP values of all entities allocated respectively to said resources.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as claimed in claim 33 , wherein it includes the step of calculating the proportions of entities' indicated WtP values allocated to the resources needed to satisfy the entities' request by setting for each combination of entity and resource the proportion of that entities' WtP value to be allocated to that resource equal to the demand by all entities for that resource divided by the sum of the demands by all entities for all resources needed to satisfy the entity's request.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claims 31 , wherein it includes as an initial step allocating each entity's WtP value proportionally between the resources that the entity will utilise to satisfy a request for resources in order to establish initial demands for resources.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 , wherein the initial proportions of entities' WtP values allocated to resources are set to the equal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 , wherein the initial proportions of entities' WtP values allocated to resources are selected randomly.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 33 , wherein, if the calculated proportions of entities' indicated WtP values allocated to the resources needed to satisfy the entity's request differ by more than a predetermined amount over previously allocated proportions, the method includes the step of recalculating the demands on each of the resources and using the recalculated demands to determine new proportions of entities' WtP values to be allocated to the resources.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the WtP value of the entity is the aggregate of the WtP values of the plurality of users connected to said entity.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 39 , wherein said entity allocates its share of the resource to its connected users in proportion to each user's WtP value divided by the aggregate of the users' WtP values.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the entity's WtP value is communicated to a network controller by a local controller associated with the entity.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 41 , wherein, where the allocatable resources comprise transmission links, the local controller determines the network resources required to satisfy a demand of the entity associated with said controller.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the network controller communicates to the local controller the demands made on resources by other entities.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 , wherein a resource is allocated between entities which will utilise it by a local controller associated with that resource.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
126 words
A telecommunication network comprising: a plurality of network resources; a plurality of entities; a network controller for controlling the allocation of resources between the entities; and at least one local controller associated with one of said entities; wherein said network controller controls the allocation of shares in a network resource to each of a set of entities that will utilise said resource, said shares being allocated in proportion to each entity's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all entities for all network resources that said entity will utilise, and the entity associated with the at least one local controller allocates its share of the network resource to a plurality of users connected to the network via said entity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
126 words
A telecommunication network comprising: a plurality of network resources; a plurality of entities; a network controller for controlling the allocation of resources between the entities; and at least one local controller associated with one of said entities; wherein said network controller controls the allocation of shares in a network resource to each of a set of entities that will utilise said resource, said shares being allocated in proportion to each entity's indicated willingness to pay (WtP) value divided by the sum of the demands by all entities for all network resources that said entity will utilise, and the entity associated with the at least one local controller allocates its share of the network resource to a plurality of users connected to the network via said entity.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the local controller allocates shares in a resource associated with said controller.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
A network as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the local controller comprises a network element manager of a node of which the controller forms part.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the local controller communicates a single WtP value on behalf of its associated entity to the network controller, said single WtP value being an aggregate of the WtP values of the plurality of users connected by the entity to the network.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
A network as claimed in claim 45 , wherein it comprises a SDH/SONET ring.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
A network as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the entities comprise any combination of customer premises networks, local area networks (LAN), service providers (SPs) and content providers (CPs).
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
A network controller for a telecommunications network as claimed in claim 26 .
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
A local controller for a telecommunications network as claimed in claim 45 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-23 | 2006-06-24 | 2006-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-23 | 2010-06-24 | 2010-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-23 | 2014-06-24 | 2014-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |