US6882850B2 — Method and system for zone-based capacity control

Claim 1

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of controlling capacity in a communication system, comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; making a determination that more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common zone; and responsive to the determination, barring at least one of the subscribers located in the common zone from participating in the session.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 63 words

A method of controlling capacity in a communication system, comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; making a determination that more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common zone; and responsive to the determination, barring at least one of the subscribers located in the common zone from participating in the session.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold number of subscribers is T subscribers, and wherein making a determination that more than the threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common zone comprises: determining where each of the subscribers is located; and determining that N of the subscribers are located in the common zone, wherein N is more than T.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold number of subscribers is T subscribers, wherein the plurality of subscribers comprises N subscribers located in the common zone, and wherein barring at least one of the subscribers from participating in the session comprises barring T−N=X of the subscribers from participating in the session.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the common zone is a zone selected from the group consisting of (i) a geographic area, (ii) a cell of a cellular communication system, (iii) a sector of a cell of a cellular communication system, (iv) a network, (v) a sub-network, and (vi) an enclosure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the subscribers is a mobile subscriber.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 57 words

A method of controlling capacity in a communication system, comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; making a determination that X more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common zone; and responsive to the determination, barring the X more subscribers from participating in the session.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 57 words

A method of controlling capacity in a communication system, comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; making a determination that X more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common zone; and responsive to the determination, barring the X more subscribers from participating in the session.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of capacity control in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a plurality of service areas for serving mobile subscribers, the method comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a group of the mobile subscribers; making a determination that the group of mobile subscribers includes more than a threshold number of mobile subscribers operating in a given service area of the wireless communication system; and in response to the determination, excluding at least one of the mobile subscribers located in the given service area from participating in the communication session.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of capacity control in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a plurality of service areas for serving mobile subscribers, the method comprising: receiving a request to establish a communication session between a group of the mobile subscribers; making a determination that the group of mobile subscribers includes more than a threshold number of mobile subscribers operating in a given service area of the wireless communication system; and in response to the determination, excluding at least one of the mobile subscribers located in the given service area from participating in the communication session.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving a request to establish a communication session between a group of mobile subscribers comprises: receiving a session initiation request from one of the mobile subscribers, the session initiation request identifying at least one other mobile subscriber with whom to establish the communication session.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving a request to establish a communication session between a group of mobile subscribers comprises: receiving a group session initiation request from one of the mobile subscribers, the group session initiation request representing a request to establish the communication session between the group of mobile subscribers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising: determining which mobile subscribers are members of the group.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein making a determination that the group of mobile subscribers includes more than a threshold number of mobile subscribers operating in a given service area of the wireless communication system comprises: determining that a number of the mobile subscribers of the group are operating in the given service area; and determining that the number exceeds the threshold.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein determining that a number of the mobile subscribers of the group are operating in the given service area comprises: determining, respectively for each mobile subscriber of the group, in which service area the mobile subscriber is located.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein determining in which service area the mobile subscriber is located comprises: querying a location system, and receiving in response from the location system an indication of the service area in which the mobile subscriber is located.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein the threshold is specific to the service area, the method further comprising: determining the threshold for the service area, by reference to a data store.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 7 , further comprising: setting the threshold based on a measure of load in the service area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication system comprises a cellular communication system, and wherein the service area is a geographic area selected from the group consisting of (i) a cell and (ii) a sector of a cell.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the request to establish the communication session originates from an originating mobile subscriber, the method further comprising: informing the originating mobile subscriber that at least one mobile subscriber has been excluded from participating in the communication session.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein informing the originating mobile subscriber that at least one mobile subscriber has been excluded from participating in the communication session comprises: sending a message to the originating mobile subscriber, the message indicating that at least one mobile subscriber has been excluded from participating in the communication session.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 18 , wherein sending a message to the originating mobile subscriber comprises sending the message to the originating mobile subscriber via HTTP.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 18 , wherein the message identifies the at least one subscriber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein each mobile subscriber has a respective priority level, the method further comprising: selecting the at least one mobile subscriber based on the priority level of the at least one mobile subscriber.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein selecting the at least one mobile subscriber based on the priority level of the at least one mobile subscriber comprises: comparing the priority levels of the mobile subscribers in the group and thereby identifying the at least one mobile subscriber as having at least one lower priority than at least one other mobile subscriber of the group.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the request to establish the communication session originates from an originating mobile subscriber, the method further comprising: receiving from the originating mobile subscriber an indication of the at least one mobile subscriber.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 65 words

A method of controlling capacity in a cellular communication system, the cellular communication system defining a number of sectors, the method comprising: allowing up to only a threshold number of mobile stations in a given sector to engage in a conference session with each other at any given time; and barring more than that threshold number of mobile stations from participating in the conference session.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 65 words

A method of controlling capacity in a cellular communication system, the cellular communication system defining a number of sectors, the method comprising: allowing up to only a threshold number of mobile stations in a given sector to engage in a conference session with each other at any given time; and barring more than that threshold number of mobile stations from participating in the conference session.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 67 words

A system for controlling capacity in a communication system, the system comprising: means for receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; means for making a determination that more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common location; and means for barring at least one of the subscribers from participating in the session, in response to the determination.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 67 words

A system for controlling capacity in a communication system, the system comprising: means for receiving a request to establish a communication session between a plurality of subscribers; means for making a determination that more than a threshold number of the subscribers are located in a common location; and means for barring at least one of the subscribers from participating in the session, in response to the determination.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 170 words

A system for controlling capacity in a communication system, the system comprising: at least one processor; data storage holding threshold data and program instructions; the threshold data indicating, for each of a plurality of service areas, a threshold number of subscribers that are allowed to engage in a communication session with each other in the service area; the program instructions being executable by the at least one processor, in response to a request to establish a communication session among a group of subscribers, to: reference the threshold data to determine the threshold number of subscribers that are allowed to engage in a communication session with each other in a given service area; make a determination that the group of subscribers includes more than the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area; and responsive to the determination, bar a sufficient number of the subscribers from participating in the session so that at most the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area participate in the session.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 170 words

A system for controlling capacity in a communication system, the system comprising: at least one processor; data storage holding threshold data and program instructions; the threshold data indicating, for each of a plurality of service areas, a threshold number of subscribers that are allowed to engage in a communication session with each other in the service area; the program instructions being executable by the at least one processor, in response to a request to establish a communication session among a group of subscribers, to: reference the threshold data to determine the threshold number of subscribers that are allowed to engage in a communication session with each other in a given service area; make a determination that the group of subscribers includes more than the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area; and responsive to the determination, bar a sufficient number of the subscribers from participating in the session so that at most the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area participate in the session.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 75 words

A service agent coupled with a packet-switched network, the service agent being programmed to receive a request to initiate a communication session among a group of subscribers and to responsively (i) make a determination that the group includes more than a threshold number of subscribers operating in a given service area and (ii) responsive to the determination, truncate the group to include at most the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 75 words

A service agent coupled with a packet-switched network, the service agent being programmed to receive a request to initiate a communication session among a group of subscribers and to responsively (i) make a determination that the group includes more than a threshold number of subscribers operating in a given service area and (ii) responsive to the determination, truncate the group to include at most the threshold number of subscribers operating in the given service area.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The service agent of claim 27 , wherein the service agent comprises a SIP proxy server, the service agent receiving the request as a SIP INVITE request.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 39 words

The service agent of claim 27 , wherein the service agent receives the request from a given subscriber, the service agent being further programmed to send to the given subscriber a message indicating that the group has been truncated.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 20 words

The service agent of claim 29 , wherein the service agent sends the message to the given subscriber via HTTP.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The service agent of claim 27 , wherein the service agent is programmed to refer to subscriber priority data to determine which subscriber(s) of the group to truncate from the group.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

The service agent of claim 27 , wherein the service agent receives the request from a given subscriber, the service agent further receiving from the given subscriber an indication of which subscriber(s) to truncate from the group.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2008-04-18	2008-10-18	2009-04-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2012-04-18	2012-10-18	2013-04-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2016-04-18	2016-10-18	2017-04-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for zone-based capacity control

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag