Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-22
2001-06-19
Vu, Viet D. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S226000, C709S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to communication systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for managing information communicated over a Simple Integrated Media Access (SIMA) network with a Nominal Bit Rate (NBR) pool.
2. Description of Related Art
Simple Integrated Media Access (SIMA) is a new way of introducing new properties for packet-based data networks, such as TCP/IP or ATM networks. The basic idea of SIMA relies on the use of eight packet-discarding priority levels, as described in details in the above-mentioned patent applications, entitled “NOMINAL BIT RATE NETWORK SERVICE”, NC 7664, Ser. No. 08/821,273, filed Mar.20, 1997; U.S. patent application entitled “CELL SCHEDULING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORK NODES”, NC 7665, Ser. No. 08/822,266, filed Mar. 20, 1997; and U.S. patent application entitled “ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A NOMINAL BIT RATE NETWORK SERVICE”, NC 7701, Ser. No. 08/822,270, filed Mar. 20, 1997; the subject matter of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Every data packet is equipped with a priority level (PL) that can be an integer between 0 and 7. In the latest SIMA literature, the term “priority level” is often replaced by “drop preference” which has the same meaning as “priority level”.
In a SIMA network, priority is used for selecting packets that are discarded during congestion of a network node. The priority is determined from the ratio of a momentary actual bit rate of the source (a customer) to the Nominal Bit Rate (NBR) assigned to the source (the customer). This determination is performed in a network access node that is the first network element to receive a packet from a customer equipment.
A conventional way of managing customer charging on Internet is based on flat- rate, that is, each customer pays a monthly fee and gets certain Internet service. Since the management of a more complicated charging scheme for every individual customer means excessive management and cost, the flat-rate charging scheme is currently a prevalent way.
SIMA network with this type of simple flat-rate charging scheme is presently available for the customer. The monthly fee, for example $X, is translated to a certain NBR. The available network capacity is then divided among competing connections proportional to the NBR of each connection or customer. With typical data applications and low bit rate real-time applications, this SIMA network system may work properly. However, if a SIMA customer has, for instance, a permanent or flat-rate NBR of 50 kbit/s, and he/she desires to send a video stream with a speed of 500 kbit/s (i.e. higher NBR), the outcome could be totally unsatisfactory in using the simple flat-rate charging scheme. The priority of the packets (or called frames or cells) of information will be so low that the packet loss ratio will be very high. Consequently, the video quality will be very low for any practical purpose. This problem can be solved by combining the flat rate scheme and a time-dependent charging scheme presented in the above-mentioned U.S. patent applications. Although this solution is technically quite simple, it requires many changes in customer's management and charging. For example, the customer has to keep track of what period of time that he/she has requested for what NBR, other than the permanent NBR, and how much it is for such NBR, etc.
Accordingly, there is a need in the communication industry for a network management architecture and method that can combine the simplicity of flat-rate charging and the flexibility of time-dependent scheme into a SIMA network system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communication systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for managing information communicated over a SIMA network with a Nominal Bit Rate (NBR) pool.
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a NBR pool that is used with SIMA network so that a customer of a network service provider is allowed to change his/her NBR without any actual time-dependent charging. The NBR pool method and apparatus of the present invention has both the simplicity of flat-rate charging and the flexibility of time-dependent scheme. The advantage of this system is that a “pure” flat-rate charging is possible even though the customer is allowed to change the NBR.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a NBR pool is established such that each SIMA customer has a permanent NBR based on the monthly fee (flat or fixed fee) or some other fee schedules, such as semi-monthly, weekly, or annual fees, etc. In addition, the customer is allowed to momentarily use a higher NBR, but only during a limited time period and for a limited amount.
Further in one embodiment of the present invention, the NBR pool unit controls an actual NBR used for determining the SIMA priorities based on a NBR desired by the customer, a permanent NBR, and the maximum pool size.
The present invention also relates to a method of charging a flat-rate for a customer's use of a communication network and providing variable actual nominal bit rate (NBR
r
) to suit for momentarily desired nominal bit rates requested by the customer.
In one embodiment, a method of generating an actual Nominal Bit Rate (NBRr
r
) to determine a priority in a SIMA network for a customer which desires a NBR
d
to transmit a packet of information via the network, comprises: providing a flat-rate Nominal Bit Rate (NBR
p
) for the customer, the NBR
p
being predefined between the customer and the network; providing a NBR pool having a maximum pool size (S
max
), the S
max
being predefined between the customer and the network, the NBR pool being filled by a customer's NBR
p
and depleted by a customer's NBR
d
; and generating the NBR
r
based on the NBR
p
, the S
max
, and the NBR
d
.
Still in one embodiment of the present invention, the generating NBR
r
includes determining a size of the NBR pool, wherein when the NBR pool is empty, the NBR
r
is the NBR
p
; when the size of the NBR pool is not smaller than the maximum pool size S
max
, the NBR
r
is the NBR
d
; when the size of the NBR pool is smaller than the maximum pool size S
max
but not empty, the NBR
r
is a sum of the NBR
p
and a NBR pool rate; the NBR pool rate being determined by the size of the NBR pool being divided by a time interval (&Dgr;t), the time interval being a time period for the network to change the actual Nominal Bit Rate.
Further in one embodiment of the present invention, the time interval is approximately one minute.
Yet in one embodiment of the present invention, the maximum pool size is approximately one giga bits.
The present invention also relates to a system of charging a flat-rate for a customer's use of a communication network and providing variable actual nominal bit rate (NBR
r
) suitable for momentarily desired nominal bit rates requested by the customer.
In one embodiment, a system of generating an actual Nominal Bit Rate (NBR
r
) 20 to determine a priority in a SIMA network for a customer which desires a NBR
d
to transmit a packet of information via the network, comprises: a customer management unit, the customer management unit providing a flat-rate Nominal Bit Rate (NBR
p
) for the customer, the NBR
p
being predefined between the customer and the network, and providing a NBR pool having a maximum pool size (S
max
), the S
max
being predefined between the customer and the network, the NBR pool being filled by a customer's NBR
p
and depleted by a customer's NBR
d
; and a NBR pool unit for generating the NBR
r
based on the NBR
p
, the S
max
and the NBR
d
.
Still in one embodiment, the NBR pool unit determines a size of the NBR pool, wherein when the NBR pool is empty, the NBR pool unit generates the NBR
r
to be the NBR
p
; when the size of the NBR pool is not smaller than the maximum pool size S
max
, the NB
Altera Law Group LLC
Nokia Telecommunications OY
Vu Viet D.
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