Patent Application
20080081607
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated, and in which:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
In an embodiment, a method for managing calls of at least one communication device in a communication network is provided. The method includes detecting a condition in the communication network. The method further includes altering one or more call control parameters for existing calls of the at least one communication device. These call control parameters are altered to modify mobility of communication devices in the existing calls within the communication network. The method also includes setting up new calls for a first class of communication devices, using the altered call control parameters.
In another embodiment, a base station for managing calls is provided. The base station includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver receives information about a condition within a communication network. Based on the information, the transceiver detects one of an overload condition and an expected overload condition in the communication network. The information is based on a state of the communication network. On detecting the overload condition, the processor alters one or more call control parameters of at least one call in the communication network. The one or more call control parameters are altered to modify the mobility of communication devices in the communication network during the overload condition.
Before describing in detail the particular method and system for managing calls in a communication network in accordance with various embodiment of the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to the method and system of managing calls in the communication network. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. Since passive antenna is generally equally effective in reception as it is in radiation, of balanced reciprocity, in the text although not explicitly stated, that the word radiation implies including reception.
The term “another,” as used in this document, is defined as at least a second or more. The term “includes” as used herein, are defined as comprising.
The processor 204 alters one or more call control parameters for at least one call in the communication network 100. In an embodiment, these one or more call control parameters are altered to modify the mobility of the communication devices in the communication network 100. Examples of the one or more call control parameters may include, number of traffic channels assigned during a call set up, a traffic channel add threshold, a traffic channel drop threshold, an allowed number of traffic channels per call, a predefined Frame Error Rate (FER), a power-link mode, and a number of handoff candidates. In an embodiment of the present invention, calls in the communication network 100 can be either a first class of calls or a second class of calls, based on the communication device making the call. The first class of calls (“non-PEC calls”) includes non-priority and non-emergency calls made by any communication device 104-110. The second class of calls (“PEC calls”) includes priority and emergency user calls (PECs). PEC calls can be made by any communication device 104-110 for making emergency calls and for calls made by PEC personnel during given situations. Typically, these PEC calls originate from or are destined for a location related to an emergency situation. Typically, a second class of communication devices can be communication devices configured as PEC communication devices for the PEC personnel. For example, the PEC communication device may belong to a rescue operation worker. Hereinafter, the communication devices corresponding to the non-PEC calls will be referred to as the non-PEC communication devices, and those corresponding to the PEC calls will be referred to as the PEC communication devices. In an example, calls originating from the PEC communication devices can be calls made to an ambulance station from an area hit by a hurricane. The emergency calls from the PEC communication devices can be further distinguished on the basis of features such as the location and destination of the calls, and the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 204 is capable of distinguishing a first class calls from a PEC calls as well as PEC and non-PEC communication devices.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the transceiver 202 carries out a periodic check for the overload condition and any change in the overload condition in the communication network 100. Examples of the expected overload condition may arise due to a sudden increase in the number of calls in any service area of the base station 102, in a short time span, caused by an emergency situation such as a fire, an accident, and the like. Although the number of calls is below the threshold, the rate of increase can be very high, which may ultimately result in an overload condition. This expected overload condition requires preemptive action to be taken, to avoid an overload condition. Alternatively, PEC communication devices can originate from a location related to an emergency or are destined for such a location thereby making the call a PEC call. PEC calls can be made by PEC and non-PEC communication devices.
At step 306, the processor 204 alters one or more call control parameters for existing calls and new calls of the non-PEC calls in the communication network 100. The existing calls of the non-PEC calls include calls made prior to the detection of the overload condition or the expected overload condition. The new calls of the first class include calls initiated after the detection of the overload condition or the expected overload condition.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the non-PEC calls include non-priority and non-emergency calls. These non-priority and non-emergency calls can be calls that do not originate from location related to an emergency or are destined for a location related to an emergency such as an accident, a fire, and so forth. These non-priority and non-emergency calls can be calls that are not associated with PEC mobile communication devices.
In an embodiment of the present invention, altering the one or more call control parameter includes modifying the mobility of the non-PEC communication devices within the communication network 100. Modifying the mobility includes reducing mobility or quality of communication session setup for the communication devices, such as reducing the number of traffic channels for communication and modifying the traffic channel-add threshold, the traffic channel-drop threshold, the allowed number of traffic channels per call, the predefined FER, the power link mode, and the number of handoff candidates. Restricting the mobility implies limiting the connectivity of the communication devices within a region, for example, the communication network does not maintain the connectivity of a call as the communication devices moves throughout the network 100 and the call has to be handed over to another base station in a manner known by those of skill in the art.
At step 308, a notification is sent corresponding to the altered call control parameters pertaining to the condition of the communication network 100. The notification is sent to the communication devices being affected by the altered call control parameters. In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station 102, through the transceiver 202 notifies the communication devices about the modified mobility caused by the condition. The condition includes at least one of a present overload condition and an expected overload condition. Typically, the base station 102 provides information to the communication devices about the present overload condition and the expected overload condition. In an alternative embodiment it is possible for the Priority and Emergency Call (PEC) communication device to designate to the communication network 100 an overload condition. The notification about the present overload and the expected overload condition can be achieved by sending a message from the base station to the communication devices. In an embodiment of the present invention, the notification can be indicated to the communication devices in the form of a text message, a flicker, an icon display, a vibration, a beep, a voice message, and so forth. In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication devices are notified when the condition ceases to exist.
At step 310, new calls of the non-PEC calls, corresponding to non-PEC communication devices, are set up using the altered call control parameters in the communication network 100. The new calls include the calls established after the condition has been detected by the transceiver 202 of the base station 102.
A set of new PEC calls can be initiated for the PEC communication devices using unaltered call control parameters. The PEC calls include priority and emergency user calls (PECs). Typically, PEC calls originate from a location related to an emergency or are destined for a location related to an emergency. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second class of call is an emergency call. Emergency calls can be made by PEC mobile communication devices or non-PEC devices that make specific calls to 911 services or other designated numbers. In an embodiment, the emergency calls from the PEC communication devices include the calls originating or destined for an emergency location or those related to an emergency situation. In an embodiment of the present invention, a tiered control mechanism can be used for the PEC communication devices whereby the communication network 100 includes setting up a first set of new calls for the PEC communication devices using unaltered call control parameters and the second set of PEC calls made by non-PEC communication devices.
In another embodiment of the invention, a second set of new calls for the PEC communication devices can be setup using new set of call control parameters when the number of calls belonging to the first set of new calls from the PEC communication devices exceeds a threshold. The second set of new calls for the PEC communication devices can be based on parameters such as, activity, origination parameters, and the like. The new set of call control parameters for the second set of new calls can be different from the call control parameters and the altered call control parameters.
At step 312, the communication network 100 reverts to the unaltered call control parameters for all the existing calls, and the new calls when the condition ceases to exist. All the existing and the new calls include the first class of class and the second class or calls. This may occur when the overload condition is no loner detected or when a PEC communication device indicates to the network that the there is no need to maintain the altered conditions. The method terminates at step 314.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes handling an overload condition in the communication network 100. In this embodiment, the processor 204 alters one or more call control parameters for existing calls from the PEC calls in the communication network 100. Typically, the communication network 100 uses the unaltered call control parameters for the second class of new and existing calls when the overload condition ceases to exist.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes handling an overload condition in the communication network 100. In this embodiment, the processor 204 alters one or more call control parameters for existing calls from the non-PEC calls in the communication network 100. Typically, the communication network 100 uses the unaltered call control parameters for the existing calls, of the first class when the overload condition ceases to exist.
Therefore, it should be clear from the preceding disclosure that the present invention provides a method for managing calls in a communication network 100. As per the present invention the method removes the need for reserving a bandwidth for priority and emergency calls. This results in an efficient utilization of channel capacity during the normal operation of the communication network 100. Further as per the method provided, the non-priority and non-emergency calls are not randomly disconnected in the communication network 100 to handle emergency conditions.
It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.
In the foregoing specification, the invention and its benefits and advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
