Methods and System for Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage Policy Driven Quality of Service

Abstract

A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system includes a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources (e.g., spectrum resources) across different networks. The DSC component may include wired or wireless connections to eNodeBs, a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) component/server, and various other network components. The PCRF may be configured to receive eNodeB congestion state information from the eNodeB, information identifying wireless devices attached to the eNodeB, categorize each of the identified wireless devices into a category selected from a plurality of categories, select a subset of the identified wireless devices based on the category into which they are categorized, and perform congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing congestion of an eNodeB in a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) server, the method comprising:
 receiving, in a processor of the PCRF server, eNodeB congestion state information and information identifying wireless devices attached to the eNodeB;   categorizing each of the identified wireless devices into a category selected from a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including primary device category and a secondary device category;   selecting a subset of the identified wireless devices based on the category into which they are categorized; and   performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing new devices from attaching to the eNodeB.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing the creation of additional bearers by the selected wireless devices.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising categorizing the identified devices into one or more subcategories, wherein selecting the subset of the identified wireless devices further comprises selecting the subset of wireless devices based on the category and the one or more subcategories into which they are categorized. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein categorizing the identified devices into one or more subcategories comprises:
 determining whether any of the identified wireless devices are prone to create congestion;   determining whether any of the identified wireless devices include data sensitive applications; and   determining whether any of the identified wireless devices include delay sensitive applications.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing radio bearer upgrades on the eNodeB for the selected wireless devices.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 determining a location of a selected device;   identifying a non-congested target eNodeB based on the determined location; and   performing handover operations to hand over the selected device to the non-congested target eNodeB.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises modifying bearers for the selected devices so as to decrease bit rates consumed by the selected devices. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises deleting bearers for the selected devices so as to free up resources consumed by the selected devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises performing handover operations to hand over the selected devices to a non-congested target eNodeB in a different network than the PCRF. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises causing the eNodeB to drop the selected devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining in a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) server an amount of radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources available for allocation within a first communication network that includes the PCRF server and eNodeB by communicating with a first dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) server in the first communication network;   allocating by the DPC server a portion of available RF spectrum resources of the first communication network for access and use by wireless devices of a second communication network; and   informing the second communication network that use of allocated RF spectrum resources may begin by communicating with a second DSC server in the second communication network.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein categorizing each of the identified wireless devices comprises categorizing the wireless devices of the second communication network into the secondary device category. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring network resource usage in an eNodeB processor of the eNodeB;   determining in the eNodeB processor whether the usage of network resources exceeds a threshold value; and   restricting originations of new sessions of wireless devices attached to the eNodeB and restricting handins of additional wireless devices to the eNodeB in response to determining that the usage of network resources exceeds the threshold value.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising classifying the wireless devices attached to the eNodeB into priority groups by the eNodeB processor, wherein restricting originations of new sessions of the wireless devices attached to the eNodeB comprises restricting originations of new sessions of the wireless devices based on the priority groups. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sending by the eNodeB processor the eNodeB congestion state information and information identifying wireless devices attached to the eNodeB in response to determining that the wireless devices attached to the eNodeB belong to the same priority group. 
     
     
         17 . A policy and charging rules function (PCRF) server, comprising:
 a processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving eNodeB congestion state information and information identifying wireless devices attached to an eNodeB; 
 categorizing each of the identified wireless devices into a category selected from a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including primary device category and a secondary device category; 
 selecting a subset of the identified wireless devices based on the category into which they are categorized; and 
 performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB. 
   
     
     
         18 . The PCRF server of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing new devices from attaching to the eNodeB.   
     
     
         19 . The PCRF server of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing the creation additional bearers by the selected wireless devices.   
     
     
         20 . The PCRF server of  claim 17 , the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising categorizing the identified devices into one or more subcategories, wherein selecting the subset of the identified wireless devices further comprises selecting the subset of wireless devices based on the category and the one or more subcategories into which they are categorized. 
     
     
         21 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that categorizing the identified devices into one or more subcategories comprises:
 determining whether any of the identified wireless devices are prone to create congestion;   determining whether any of the identified wireless devices include data sensitive applications; and   determining whether any of the identified wireless devices include delay sensitive applications.   
     
     
         22 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 preventing radio bearer upgrades on the eNodeB for the selected wireless devices.   
     
     
         23 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises:
 determining a location of a selected device;   identifying a non-congested target eNodeB based on the determined location; and   performing handover operations to hand over the selected device to the non-congested target eNodeB.   
     
     
         24 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises modifying bearers for the selected devices so as to decrease bit rates consumed by the selected devices. 
     
     
         25 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises deleting bearers for the selected devices so as to free up resources consumed by the selected devices. 
     
     
         26 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises performing handover operations to hand over the selected devices to a non-congested target eNodeB in a different network than the PCRF. 
     
     
         27 . The PCRF server of  claim 20 , wherein performing the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB comprises causing the eNodeB to drop the selected devices. 
     
     
         28 . A system, comprising:
 an eNodeB; and   a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) server comprising a PCRF processor coupled to the eNode via a communication link,   wherein the PCRF processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving eNodeB congestion state information and information identifying wireless devices attached to the eNodeB from the eNodeB; 
 categorizing each of the identified wireless devices into a category selected from a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories including primary device category and a secondary device category; 
 selecting a subset of the identified wireless devices based on the category into which they are categorized; and 
 performing congestion response operations on the selected wireless devices so as to reduce the congestion of the eNodeB.