Method and System for Imposing Air Interface Service Level

Abstract

A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving into a wireless access node, via an air interface from a portable subscriber terminal, a request to initiate a communication session;   responsive to the request, sending information about the communication session to a service agent layer;   receiving the information at the service agent layer, and determining at the service agent layer an air interface service-level to be applied; and   sending from the service agent layer to the wireless access node a directive to apply the determined air interface service-level for the communication session.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless access node comprises a node selected from the group consisting of a gateway, a base station controller, and a base transceiver station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless access node comprises a wireless access point residing on a local area network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air interface permits variations in bandwidth per communication session, and wherein the determined air interface service-level comprises a highest level bandwidth possible. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the wireless access node applying the determined air interface service-level.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending information about the communication session to the service agent layer comprises:
 sending a signaling message from the wireless access node to a session manager; and   forwarding the signaling message from the session manager to the service agent layer,   wherein the signaling message carries the information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the signaling message comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the information includes a first air interface service-level, and wherein the determined air interface service-level is different than the first air interface service-level. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the directive from the service agent layer to the wireless access node comprises:
 sending the directive from the service agent layer to a session manager; and   sending the directive from the service manager to the wireless access node.