Resource optimization function in a data and telecommunication system

Abstract

A method at a telecommunications system and a data communications system configured to adapt a resource reservation protocol for fixed networks to radio networks with a large variation in bandwidth and quality. Using a method of hierarchical coding, a data stream is divided into separate data streams with different priorities. Using the resource reservation protocol, resources in the fixed network for the data streams are reserved. A node in the fixed network shunts the data streams according to a pre-decided priority as the transmission capacity of the node decreases. Thus, if the transmission capacity at the node decreases and the quality requirement of a data stream cannot be maintained, the data stream in question is shunted. Upon shunting, the node transmits a message instructing upstream nodes to update their resource reservations; use the reserved resource temporarily for other traffic; and shunt the data stream until otherwise instructed.

1. A data and telecommunications transmission method configured to transmit a plurality of data streams between a receiving terminal and a transmitting terminal via at least one fixed network and another network, the another network comprising links with variable bandwidth and quality, and the fixed network being controlled by a resource reservation protocol, the method comprising:
 updating a specific resource reservation corresponding to a specific data stream at an upstream node in the fixed network when a downstream node of the another network is unable to maintain a predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;  
 shunting temporarily the specific data stream at the upstream node; and  
 utilizing temporarily the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for other traffic while still maintaining the correspondence of the specific resource reservation and the specific data stream for future reactivation.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the specific resource reservation corresponding to the specific data stream at the upstream node in the fixed network when the downstream node of the another network is once again able to maintain the predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;  
 canceling the shunting of the specific data stream at the upstream node; and  
 utilizing the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for the specific data stream.  
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , said another network comprising:
 a radio network including a radio channel.  
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 using an interface between the downstream node and the radio channel to set a limit regarding a total number of data streams that can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal.  
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using hierarchical coding to prioritize the plurality of data streams.  
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 controlling the temporary reallocation of resources in the fixed network so that, when multicast traffic is being transmitted, the specific data stream in the upstream node is shunted without affecting other receiving terminals of the multicast traffic.  
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said using an interface comprises:
 receiving and processing momentary information about a transmission capacity of the radio channel.  
 
     
     
       8. A system, comprising:
   a transmitting terminal capable of transmitting one or more data streams to a receiving terminal;        a fixed network comprising an upstream node, the fixed network capable of linking the transmitting terminal and receiving terminal; and        a second network comprising a down stream node, the second network capable of linking the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal;        wherein the transmitting terminal is capable of updating a specific resource reservation corresponding to a specific data stream at the upstream node if the downstream node of the second network is unable to maintain a predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream, and further wherein the transmitting terminal is capable of shunting temporarily the specific data stream at the upstream node, and further wherein the transmitting terminal is capable of utilizing temporarily the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for other traffic while still maintaining the correspondence of the specific resource reservation and the specific data stream for future reactivation.      
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed network is further capable of updating the specific resource reservation corresponding to the specific data stream at the upstream node in the fixed network if the downstream node of the another network is able to maintain the predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream, and further wherein the fixed network is capable of canceling the shunting of the specific data stream at the upstream node, and further wherein the fixed network is capable of utilizing the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for the specific data stream.  
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed network is further capable of using hierarchical coding to prioritize the one or more data streams.  
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed network is further capable of controlling the temporary reallocation of resources in the fixed network so that, if multicast traffic is being transmitted, the specific data stream in the upstream node is shunted without affecting other receiving terminals of the multicast traffic.  
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
   updating a specific resource reservation corresponding to a specific data stream at an upstream node in a fixed network if a downstream node of another network is unable to maintain a predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        shunting temporarily the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        utilizing temporarily the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for other traffic while still maintaining the correspondence of the specific resource reservation and the specific data stream for future reactivation.      
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
   updating the specific resource reservation corresponding to the specific data stream at the upstream node in the fixed network if the downstream node of the another network is able to maintain the predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        canceling the shunting of the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        utilizing the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for the specific data stream.      
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , the another network comprising:
   a radio network including a radio channel.      
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
   using an interface between the downstream node and the radio channel to set a limit regarding a total number of data streams that can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal.      
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said using an interface comprises:
   receiving and processing momentary information about a transmission capacity of the radio channel.      
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , the another network comprising:
   a wireless network including a wireless channel.      
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
   using an interface between the downstream node and the wireless channel to set a limit regarding a total number of data streams that can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal.      
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using hierarchical coding to prioritize the plurality of data streams.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising controlling the temporary reallocation of resources in the fixed network so that, if multicast traffic is being transmitted, the specific data stream in the upstream node is shunted without affecting other receiving terminals of the multicast traffic.  
     
     
       21. A machine readable medium having one or more executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a digital processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
   updating a specific resource reservation corresponding to a specific data stream at an upstream node in the fixed network if a downstream node of the another network is unable to maintain a predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        shunting temporarily the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        utilizing temporarily the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for other traffic while still maintaining the correspondence of the specific resource reservation and the specific data stream for future reactivation.      
     
     
       22. The machine readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions causes further operations to be performed, said operations comprising:
   updating the specific resource reservation corresponding to the specific data stream at the upstream node in the fixed network if the downstream node of the another network is able to maintain the predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        canceling the shunting of the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        utilizing the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for the specific data stream.      
     
     
       23. The machine readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein said another network comprises a radio network including a radio channel.  
     
     
       24. The machine readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein an interface is employed between the downstream node and the radio channel to set a limit regarding a total number of data streams that can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal.  
     
     
       25. The machine readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein, via use of said interface, execution of the instructions causes further operations to be performed, said operations comprising receiving and processing momentary information about a transmission capacity of the radio channel.  
     
     
       26. The machine readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions causes a further operation to be performed, said operation comprising using hierarchical coding to prioritize the plurality of data streams.  
     
     
       27. The machine readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions causes a further operation to be performed, said operation comprising controlling the temporary reallocation of resources in the fixed network so that, if multicast traffic is being transmitted, the specific data stream in the upstream node is shunted without affecting other receiving terminals of the multicast traffic.  
     
     
       28. A system, comprising:
   means for updating a specific resource reservation corresponding to a specific data stream at an upstream node in the fixed network if a downstream node of the another network is unable to maintain a predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        means for shunting temporarily the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        means for utilizing temporarily the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for other traffic while still maintaining the correspondence of the specific resource reservation and the specific data stream for future reactivation.      
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
   means for updating the specific resource reservation corresponding to the specific data stream at the upstream node in the fixed network if the downstream node of the another network is able to maintain the predetermined transmission quality for the specific data stream;        means for canceling the shunting of the specific data stream at the upstream node; and        means for utilizing the specific resource reservation at the upstream node for the specific data stream.      
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising means for using an interface between the downstream node and a radio channel of the another network to set a limit regarding a total number of data streams that can be transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal.  
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a means for using hierarchical coding to prioritize the plurality of data streams.  
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising a means for controlling the temporary reallocation of resources in the fixed network so that, if multicast traffic is transmitted, the specific data stream in the upstream node is shunted without affecting other receiving terminals of the multicast traffic.