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US8995278B1 Active / In Force US ⏱️ 6.4 years remaining

Managing a wireless device connection in a multioperator communication system

Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC
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Filing: 2013-03-12
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Granted: 2015-03-31
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Expires: 2033-03-12
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Abstract

Abstract In operation, a plurality of data packets is received from a wireless device in communication with a first network, the data packets comprising an indication of first network congestion. The plurality of data packets are examined to determine an application requirement and a data rate of an application running on the wireless device. When a number of indications of first network congestion in relation to the data rate meets a congestion criteria, which can be based on the application requirement, a handover is performed to hand over the wireless device to a second network.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel Vivanco
  • 👤 Krishna SITARAM

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/24; H04W36/26; H04W36/16; H04W36/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 218 words
A method of managing a wireless device connection, comprising: transmitting a plurality of marked data packets from an access node to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receiving a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at the access node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprise an indication of first network congestion; inspecting the plurality of feedback data packets received at the access node for first network condition information associated with the wireless device to determine that the first network meets a first congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion; determining a usage fee of the wireless device associated with the first network condition information and a data rate of the first network condition information; detecting a second network that meets a second congestion criteria; and performing a handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the usage fee meets a fee criteria.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 218 words
A method of managing a wireless device connection, comprising: transmitting a plurality of marked data packets from an access node to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receiving a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at the access node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprise an indication of first network congestion; inspecting the plurality of feedback data packets received at the access node for first network condition information associated with the wireless device to determine that the first network meets a first congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion; determining a usage fee of the wireless device associated with the first network condition information and a data rate of the first network condition information; detecting a second network that meets a second congestion criteria; and performing a handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the usage fee meets a fee criteria.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inspecting the plurality of feedback data packets is performed at an inspection node in communication with the first access node and in communication with the first network and the second network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of first network congestion comprises explicit network congestion (ECN) information of the first network received at the second network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 85 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing the handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the second network meets the second congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on a data rate of the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and the second congestion criteria is based on an application requirement of an application running on the wireless device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 182 words
A method of managing a wireless device connection, comprising: transmitting a plurality of marked data packets to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receiving a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at an inspection node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprises an indication of first network congestion; inspecting the plurality of feedback data packets to determine an application requirement of an application running on the wireless device and a data rate of the application; determining a usage fee associated with the application running on the wireless device and the data rate of the application; detecting a second network that meets a channel utilization criteria; and performing a handover of the wireless device to the second network when a number of the feedback data packets meets a congestion criteria, the usage fee meets a fee criteria, wherein the congestion criteria is based on the data rate of the application.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 182 words
A method of managing a wireless device connection, comprising: transmitting a plurality of marked data packets to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receiving a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at an inspection node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprises an indication of first network congestion; inspecting the plurality of feedback data packets to determine an application requirement of an application running on the wireless device and a data rate of the application; determining a usage fee associated with the application running on the wireless device and the data rate of the application; detecting a second network that meets a channel utilization criteria; and performing a handover of the wireless device to the second network when a number of the feedback data packets meets a congestion criteria, the usage fee meets a fee criteria, wherein the congestion criteria is based on the data rate of the application.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the inspection node in communication with the first network and the second network.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 232 words
A system for managing a wireless device connection, comprising: a processing node configured to transmit a plurality of marked data packets from an access node to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receive a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at the access node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprise an indication of first network congestion; inspect each of the plurality of feedback data packets received at the access node for first network condition information associated with the wireless device to determine that the first network meets a first congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion; determine a usage fee of the wireless device based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a data rate of the first network condition information; detect a second network that meets a second congestion criteria; and initiate performance of a handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the usage fee meets a fee criteria.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 232 words
A system for managing a wireless device connection, comprising: a processing node configured to transmit a plurality of marked data packets from an access node to a wireless device in communication with a first network; receive a plurality of feedback data packets from the wireless device at the access node, wherein each of the plurality of feedback data packets are associated with at least one of the plurality of marked data packets and at least one of the plurality of feedback data packets comprise an indication of first network congestion; inspect each of the plurality of feedback data packets received at the access node for first network condition information associated with the wireless device to determine that the first network meets a first congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion; determine a usage fee of the wireless device based on the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and a data rate of the first network condition information; detect a second network that meets a second congestion criteria; and initiate performance of a handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the usage fee meets a fee criteria.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the indication of first network congestion comprises explicit network congestion (ECN) information of the first network received at the second network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 93 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing node is further configured to: initiate performance of the handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets indicating first network congestion meets the first congestion criteria and the second network meets the second congestion criteria, wherein the first congestion criteria is based on a data rate of the first network condition information associated with the wireless device and the second congestion criteria is based on an application requirement of an application running on the wireless device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 69 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing node is further configured to: determine that the second network meets a channel utilization criteria; and initiate performance of a handover of the wireless device to the second network when the number of feedback data packets meets the first congestion criteria, the usage fee meets the fee criteria, and the channel utilization of the second network meets the utilization criteria.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US20100048205A1 Cited
US20100103820A1 Cited
US20110075563A1 Cited
US20110170410A1 Cited
US20120106346A1 Cited
US20120157092A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2018-03-30 2018-09-29 2019-03-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2022-03-30 2022-09-29 2023-03-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2026-03-30 2026-09-29 2027-03-31 $7700.00 Surcharge Window Open

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