Patent Application
20060135118
The present invention relates to the handling of services in telecommunications networks.
Agent-based architectures have been suggested as a way of managing telecommunication systems, in particular wireless telecommunication systems. Agent-based architectures are a form of distributed computing where distributed autonomous software entities interact with each other. These software entities are referred to as negotiation agents, or simply, agents.
In a telecommunications environment, an agent-based architecture allows the charge rate for a service requested by a user to be negotiated. The charge rate can depend on the nature of the service, for example video streaming or voice. Other factors are the current channel conditions to the user terminal, where the user terminal is wireless, and also network conditions, such as current interference levels and level of network loading.
These other factors vary during the provision of the service to the user, sometimes very dramatically. For example, the attenuation due to channel conditions can vary by more than 100 dB when the user terminal moves. Also, as the user terminal moves, the user terminal can experience varying levels of interference to signals received from the network. This interference is due to nearby cells using channels of frequency bands that overlap. In consequence of these variations, a large amount of network resources can sometimes be required to handle calls to some user terminals. This can give rise to network congestion, possibly leading to calls being dropped.
Despite these variations, it should be noted that the charge rate for the service has been negotiated in advance, and so remains constant. In consequence, the negotiated charge rate for the service may no longer be proportionate to the radio resources expended by the network. In particular, networks can be saddled with providing services to some user terminals that unfortunately require a large amount of the network's resources, such as transmit power, although paying little. For example, a user terminal that is initially cheap to support in terms of network resources, can become expensive to support in terms of network resources, should it move to a location experiencing worse radio attenuation conditions. This is frustrating to the network operator, particularly when the user terminal, as a result of the changing radio conditions, has a much better signal path to a network of a competing operator.
One way around this problem is by sub-contracting. Sub-contracting is where the operator of a first network retains the business relationship with the user, but pays an operator of the second network to provide the requested service. Accordingly the first network remains involved at least to the extent of charging the user for the service. Such an approach has disadvantages. There is a lack of transparency to the user as to which network is providing the service. Furthermore, penalties for dropped calls, or poor quality of service, are not necessarily associated with the operator of the network that provides the service.
The inventors realised that it would be advantageous for networks to be able to negotiate to transfer a service to a user from one network to another. Accordingly, an example of the present invention is a method of providing a service to a user terminal. According to this method, a first network agrees with the user terminal to provide the service at a certain charge rate, then starts to provide the service. Subsequently at least one other network is invited by the first network to provide the service. The first network receives at least one offer from the other networks to provide the service to the user terminal. The first network then accepts one of the offers, such that one of said other networks thereafter provides the service and charges the user terminal without the first network being involved.
A system can be provided in which networks negotiate in order to trade a contract to provide a service to a user terminal whilst that service is being provided. The contract can be transferred when, for example, the radio channel conditions, the interference, or the network loading of the first network is such that the service could better be provided by a second network.
The transfer of service to a user from one network to another network can occur when a user terminal, which is wireless, experiences better radio conditions in respect of that another network. In consequence, less network resources are required to provide the service to the user. As a result, the networks can provide services to more users at a time overall. In other words, system capacity is increased.
The present invention also provides a corresponding approach whereby other base stations within a network can bid to take over a service to a user being provided by a first base station.
The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
As shown in
Another software entity, which is also a negotiation agent, is provided, known as a broker 18. User terminals 20, which are mobile, are provided, one of which is shown in
The broker 18 exchanges data with the user terminal 20 and networks 10,14. In particular, the broker 18 provides auctioning mechanisms so as to negotiate contracts for provision of a service to a user terminal 20. Specifically this is done by communications between the broker 18 and the agents 12,16 of each network 10,14 and the user agent 22 of the user terminal 20.
In this example, the agents 12,16 of the networks reside in their respective networks 10,14, although in other embodiments they need not do so. In this example, the broker 18 resides on a processor (not shown) separate from the networks 10,14, although again, in other examples the broker could reside elsewhere, for example in one of the networks. The user agent 22 resides, in this example on the mobile terminal 20, but in other examples could reside elsewhere, such as in a separate processor or in one of the networks.
Before a service to a user terminal 20 is provided, the broker 18 conducts an initial auction between the networks 10,14, as to which will provide the requested service. The broker 18 awards the contract to provide the service to the user terminal 20 to the network which wins that auction, in this case network 10. The contract relates what type of service will be supplied by the network 10 for what cost to the user in return. The cost is such as charge rate per unit time or charge rate per amount of data transferred.
Whilst the service is being provided to the user terminal 20 via the first network 10, if radio channel conditions deteriorate or interference levels increase for example, the broker 18 interacts further with the corresponding agents 12,16 of the networks 10,14 in order to determine whether the contract will be transferred to the second network 14. If the result of the negotiation is that the contract is transferred, as shown in
Negotiation Process
The contract is for provision of a service to a particular user terminal during a single session. During the session, the transfer to a different network can occur. In another example (not shown), which is otherwise similar, contracts are longer term, covering multiple sessions, so the transfer can occur during a session or between the sessions.
For simplicity, only two networks 10, 14 are shown in
Triggers to Inviting Other Networks to Take Over
This approach of offering up a contract with a user for possible acquisition by other networks has a number of consequential advantages. Networks can rid themselves of users suffering weak channel conditions or high interference and so using up most of the resources. In consequence there is less likelihood of calls being dropped. All the networks involved get the benefit of being able to offload resource-greedy users to other networks where they are less greedy. The result is a win-win situation for all the networks involved. In consequence networks can handle services to more users at any one time. Particularly in congested systems, the overall system capacity is automatically optimised in consequence.
This approach is particularly useful when radio conditions change relatively slowly because then the agent architecture has time to react by having the networks trade the contract.
Another reason for a network deciding to offer up a contract is where there is high interference causing a higher transmit power to be required, and in some cases even causing a risk that the service to the mobile user terminal will be dropped. Another reason is simply to free up resources in a heavily loaded network.
In some embodiments, the network currently handling the contract can decide to offer the contract to other networks on the basis that it will thereby free up resources for higher value customers without dropping calls. Accordingly the contract can be offered up even when there is no deterioration in channel conditions or increase in interference or loading.
Quality of Service
In many scenarios, the second network 14 undertakes to provide a sufficiently good service, for example avoiding excess of delays, that the quality of service guarantees associated with the contract are met in full. In consequence the operator of the first network 10 pays no penalty to the user on transferring the contract to the operator of the second network 14. A penalty is a refund to, or reduction in charge to, the user. Even where the agent 16 associated with the second network 14 cannot guarantee the same high level of quality of service, then contract sale is still possible on the basis that a reduced quality service will be provided. However in this case, the operator of the first network 10 pays an associated penalty to the user for the reduction in quality of service. In many scenarios, the contract has a graduated series of penalties corresponding to the degree of degradation of quality of service. Particularly as the penalty due to a quality service reduction is likely to be less than that suffered if the user were completely dropped, contract transfer and consequential service provision by a second network, may well still be worthwhile from the point of view of the first network.
Transferring Part of a Contract
As shown in
Negotiation Between Base Stations in a Single Network
Examples have been presented as to how contracts can be transferred between networks. Alternatively a contract can be transferred between different portions of one network, as shown in
As shown in
General
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics; for example in telecommunications systems involving fixed line connections rather than wireless connections, and user terminals that are not mobile. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
