Bandwidth management for a converged gateway in a hybrid network

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating bandwidth management (BWM) equipment into a network in order to manage the use of bandwidth over multiple radio access technologies (RATs) relating to communications between a wireless transmit receive unit and a mobile core network (MCN). When integrating itself into the network, a BWM server may be placed between a MCN and an femto access point. In order for WTRUs to communicate with the MCN through the femto access point and a BWM server, a BWM server may need deep packet inspection capabilities.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for managing communications, the method comprising:
 establishing, by a first bandwidth management (BWM) server, a first connection with a mobile core network (MCN);   establishing, by the first BWM server, a second connection with a first communications device;   establishing, by the first BWM server, a third connection with a second BWM server;   receiving, at the first BWM server, a first communication from the first communications device; and   if the first communication is indicative of a destination device that is associated with the second BWM server, routing the first communication to the second BWM server via the third connection, wherein the routing bypasses the MCN.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communications device is local to the first BWM server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the first communication is indicative of a destination device that is not associated with the second BWM server, routing the first communication to the MCN.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing, by the first BWM server, a fourth connection with a second communications device that is local to the first BWM server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining that the first communication is representative of a first portion of a divided communication;   receiving, at the first BWM server, a second portion of the divided communication from the second communications device;   merging the first and second portions of the divided into a recombined communication; and   if the recombined communication is indicative of a destination device that is local to the second BWM server, routing the recombined communication to the second BWM server via the third connection.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first BWM server, a second communication from the first communications device that is indicative of a destination device that is local to the first and second communications devices;   dividing the second communication into first and second portions in accordance with a decision of a policy entity that is associated with the first BWM server;   routing the first portion to the first communications device via the second connection; and   routing the second portion to the second communications device via the fourth connection.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on respective spectrum utilization attributes of a first link between the first communications device and the destination device and a second link between the second communications device and the destination device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on an interaction between the first BWM server and a dynamic spectrum management entity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on a quality of service specified for the second communication. 
     
     
         10 . A bandwidth management (BWM) server comprising:
 a processor that is configured to:
 establish a first connection with a mobile core network (MCN); 
 establish a second connection with a first communications device; 
 establish a third connection with a second BWM server; 
 receive a first communication from the first communications device; and 
 if the first communication is indicative of a destination device that is associated with the second BWM server, route the first communication to the second BWM server via the third connection, wherein the routing bypasses the MCN. 
   
     
     
         11 . The BWM server of  claim 10 , wherein the first communications device is local to the first BWM server. 
     
     
         12 . The BWM server of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 if the first communication is indicative of a destination device that is not associated with the second BWM server, route the first communication to the MCN.   
     
     
         13 . The BWM server of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to establish a fourth connection with a second communications device that is local to the BWM server. 
     
     
         14 . The BWM server of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine that the first communication is representative of a first portion of a divided communication;   receive a second portion of the divided communication from the second communications device;   merge the first and second portions of the divided communication into a recombined communication; and   if the recombined communication is indicative of a destination device that is local to the second BWM server, route the recombined communication to the second BWM server via the third connection.   
     
     
         15 . The BWM server of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a second communication from the first communications device that is indicative of a destination device that is local to the first and second communications devices;   divide the second communication into first and second portions in accordance with a decision of a policy entity that is associated with the BWM server;   route the first portion to the first communications device via the second connection; and   route the second portion to the second communications device via the fourth connection.   
     
     
         16 . The BWM server of  claim 15 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on respective spectrum utilization attributes of a first link between the first communications device and the destination device and a second link between the second communications device and the destination device. 
     
     
         17 . The BWM server of  claim 15 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on an interaction between the BWM server and a dynamic spectrum management entity. 
     
     
         18 . The BWM server of  claim 15 , wherein the decision of the policy entity is based on a quality of service specified for the second communication. 
     
     
         19 . A system for managing communications, the system comprising:
 a first bandwidth management (BWM) server that is in communication with a mobile core network (MCN) via a first connection;   a first communications device that is associated with the first BWM server and that is in communication with the first BWM server;   a second BWM server that is in communication with the MCN via a second connection, and that is in communication with the first BWM server via a third connection that bypasses the MCN; and   a second communications device that is associated with the second BWM server and that is in communication with the second BWM server,   wherein the first BWM server is configured to route data to the second BWM server via the third connection if the data is indicative of a destination device that is local to the second communications device, wherein the routing bypasses the MCN.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first communications device is local to the first BWM server and the second communications device is local to the second BWM server. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second BWM server is configured to route data to the first BWM server via the third connection if the data is indicative of a destination device that is local to the first communications device. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a third communications device that is local to the first BWM server and that is in communication with the first BWM server, wherein the first communications device is in communication with the first BWM server via a fourth connection, and wherein the third communications device is in communication with the first BWM server via a fifth connection. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first BWM server is further configured to, upon receiving data that is indicative of a destination device that is in communication with the first communications device and the third communications device, divide the received data into a first portion for routing to the destination device via the fourth connection and a second portion for routing to the destination device via the fifth connection. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first BWM server is further configured to divide the received data into the first and second portions in accordance with the decision of a policy entity that is associated with the first BWM server. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the received data is divided into the first and second portions based on at least one of respective spectrum utilization attributes of a first link between the first communications device and the destination device and a second link between the third communications device and the destination device, an interaction between the first BWM server and a dynamic spectrum management entity, or a quality of service specified for the received data.