A) TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to communication systems. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a user equipment/mobile station having at least two Phased Lock Loops (PLL). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a user equipment/mobile station configured to connect to two different Base Transceiver Stations over two different carrier frequencies.

B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Typically, in a radio access network (RAN), a user equipment (also referred to as Mobile Station) connects to only one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) despite the fact that the user equipment can be connected to other available Base Transceiver Stations with better coverage and connectivity. Typically, even though multiple BTS with better coverage and connectivity are available, the user equipment can choose only one BTS at a time. The user equipment typically establishes a radio bearer and an EPS bearer with the core network.

[0003] In the event that two Base Transceiver Stations belong to the same operator, then the user equipment can perform handover from one Base Station to another, without any change in the carrier frequency, thereby providing for a seamless handover. However, if the carrier frequencies are different, the User Equipment would not be able to perform a seamless handover, due to the fact that the User Equipment comprises only one Phase Locked Loop (PLL) that enables locking of the User Equipment to a specific carrier frequency.

[0004] In conventional systems, a User Equipment cannot lock onto multiple carrier frequencies simultaneously, and the User Equipment cannot also attach with multiple Base Transceiver Stations. Further, in case of conventional systems, typically a User Equipment cannot identify in real-time the quality of the end-to-end path. The quality of the end-to-end path plays a crucial role in the sense that it enables the User Equipment to select a carrier frequency, and a Base Transceiver Station. Given the absence of an efficient and effective mechanism for identification of end-to-end (data) paths, a delay is typically incurred in determining the quality of the end-to-end path. One of the conventional solutions to this drawback was to create an attach process with the core network, for determining the quality of the end-to-end path. However, the conventional solution does not provide uniform results when applied to wired networks and wireless networks.

[0005] Further, some of the other conventional solutions advocate using a fixed path cost/path metric/weights for determining end-to-end data path. However, these solutions do not make use of real-time measurement of data path parameters. A solution that makes use of fixed set of information rather than dynamic/real-time information does not make an accurate determination of the performance/quality of the end-to-end data path.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the hitherto mentioned drawbacks, there was felt a need for an agnostic system and method that would effectively measure the quality of an end-to-end data path, without modifying the underlying network elements.

C) OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system a method which is agnostic to the underlying network architecture.

[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method that does not alter the network elements during computation of the quality of the end-to-end data path.

[0009] Still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method that efficiently and effectively calculates the quality of an end-to-end data path.

[0010] One more object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method that enables a User Equipment to be simultaneously connected via two different carrier frequencies.

[0011] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method that can be implemented across multitude of network types and network elements.

[0012] One more object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method that enables a User Equipment to simultaneously connect to multiple Base Transceiver Stations.

D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present disclosure envisages a system for selecting at least one optimal path for data transmission. The system, in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a mobile station having at least two Phased Lock Loop (PLL). The mobile station is configured to connect to at least two base transceiver stations via two different carrier frequencies via the phased lock loops. The mobile station is still further configured to identify at least two data paths to the remote data center via the base transceiver stations, and selectively determine at least the data transmission capabilities of the intermediate nodes present on the identified data paths. The mobile station is further configured to determine the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, and selectively transfer/receive information via the identified data paths.

[0014] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station is further configured to monitor the parameters selected from the group consisting of data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the BTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames.

[0015] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station is further configured to selectively terminate a data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0016] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station is further configured to selectively alter the data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0017] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station is further configured to selectively transfer /receive information to/from the data center, simultaneously via the identified data paths.

[0018] The present disclosure envisages a method for selecting at least one optimal path for data transmission from a remote data center to a mobile station. The method, in accordance with the present disclosure comprises the following steps: connecting the mobile station to at least two base transceiver stations via two different phased lock loops (PLL) on different carrier frequencies; identifying at least two data paths to the remote data center via the base transceiver stations; selectively determining at least the data transmission capabilities of the intermediate nodes present on the identified data paths; and determining the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, and selectively transferring/receiving information via the identified data paths.

[0019] In accordance with the present disclosure, the step of determining the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, further includes the step of monitoring the parameters selected from the group consisting of data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the BTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames.

[0020] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively terminate a data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0021] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively alter the data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0022] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively transfer /receive information to/from the data center, simultaneously via the identified data paths. E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. l is a system level block diagram illustrating the functional blocks of the system for selecting an optimal path for data transmission; and

[0025] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps involved in the method for selecting an optimal path for data transmission.

[0026] Although the specific features of the present disclosure are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present disclosure.

F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] To obviate the drawbacks associated with the prior art systems and methods, the present disclosure envisages a system and method that enables a User Equipment to lock onto at least two Base Transceiver Stations at two different carrier frequencies. The system and method envisaged by the present disclosure also enables the User Equipment to determine the quality of an end-to-end data path in real time. Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG.l illustrates a system 100 for selecting at least one optimal path for data transmission. The system 100, in accordance with the present disclosure includes a User Equipment 10 having at least two Phased Lock Loops. Even though the User Equipment 10 is being described as having two Phased Lock Loops, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to incorporate more than two Phased Lock Loops into the user equipments 10.

[0028] The User Equipment 10, in accordance with the present disclosure connects to a first Base Station Transceiver 12 and a Second Base Station transceiver 14 through a first Phased Lock Loop and a second Phased Lock Loop respectively. In accordance with the present disclosure, the first Phased Lock Loop and the second Phased Lock Loop operate at different carrier frequencies. Therefore, the User Equipment 10 connects to the first Base Transceiver Station 12 and second Base Transceiver Station 14, at different carrier frequencies.

[0029] In accordance with the present disclosure, if the carrier frequencies are closely spaced, then a single Phase Locked Loop can be utilized. For example, for carrier frequencies at 2100 MHz and 2300 MHz, a single Phase Locked loop would be sufficient. However, for carrier frequencies at 900 MHz and 2300 MHz, two Phase Locked Loops would be required, as shown in FIG.l.

[0030] In accordance with the present disclosure, when the mobile station 10 wishes to connect to a remote data center 16 (Over The Top Data Centre), which is in turn connected to a router 18 outside the mobile network. The mobile station 10, in accordance with the present disclosure is configured to identify (detect) the base transceiver stations (in this case 12 and 14) having adequate signal strength and coverage to enable the mobile station 10 to connect to the data center 16'. The mobile station 10 further identifies at least two end-to-end data paths to the data centre 16 via the identified (in this case, two) Base transceiver stations 12 and 14. The two Base Transceiver Stations 12 and 14 can be managed by different operators or a single operator, and can have different carrier frequencies and belong to different technologies (For example, 3G and LTE).

[0031] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station 10 comprises at least two sub layers (one sub layer for each carrier frequency). However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to either increase or decrease the number of sub layers present in the mobile station 10. Typically one of the sub layers negotiates the capabilities of the data centre 16.

[0032] In the event that the data centre 16 is capable of simultaneous transfer of data segments requested by the mobile station 10, the end points of the data transfer (i.e., the data center 16 and the mobile station 10) are connected via a plurality of data paths. Typically, there shall be at least two data paths between the endpoints, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0033] Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, a plurality of operational parameters of the data paths, including but not restricted to data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the BTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames, are monitored by the sub layers of the mobile station 10. The mobile station 10 is configured to selectively terminate a data path in the event that the values of the operational parameters corresponding to the data path are not deemed to be optimal.

[0034] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station 10 can communicate with the data centre 16 using all the identified data paths. Alternatively, one of the identified data paths could be used by the mobile station 10 for sending the information to the data centre 16, and the other could be used for receiving information from the data centre 16.

[0035] In accordance with the present disclosure, the mobile station 10 can also determine whether to establish a bi-directional link with the data centre 16, on the same data path depending upon the operational parameters of the data path. Further, the operational parameters corresponding to any of the existing intermediate nodes are also monitored by the mobile station 10, in order to select an optimal data path.

[0036] In accordance with the present disclosure, instead of two Base Transceiver Stations (12 and 14) shown in Figure 1, one of the nodes could be WiFi Access Point and another could be a BTS. Additionally, instead of device being a Mobile Station 10, the device could be a Laptop connected to Ethernet and WiFi access point. Alternatively, the laptop could be connected to Ethernet, WiFi Access Point and 4G LTE dongle simultaneously. Instead of the Data Center, the end point could be PDN-GW, Content Access Server, and the like.

[0037] In accordance with the present disclosure, FIG.2 illustrates a flow chart corresponding to the method for selecting at least one optimal path for data transmission from a remote data center to a mobile station. The method, in accordance with the present disclosure comprises the following steps: connecting the mobile station to at least two base transceiver stations via two different phased lock loops (PLL) on different carrier frequencies 200; identifying at least two data paths to the remote data center via the base transceiver stations; selectively determining the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths 204, and selectively transferring/receiving information via the identified data paths 206.

[0038] In accordance with the present disclosure, the step of determining the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, further includes the step of monitoring the parameters selected from the group consisting of data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the BTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames.

[0039] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively terminate a data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0040] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively alter the data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

[0041] In accordance with the present disclosure, the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively transfer /receive information to/from the data center, simultaneously via the identified data paths.

G) TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The technical advantages of the present disclosure include the realization of a system a method which is agnostic to the underlying network architecture. The system and method envisaged by the present disclosure does not alter the network elements during computation of the quality of the end-to-end data path. The system and method envisaged by the present disclosure efficiently, effectively calculates the quality of an end-to-end data path. The system and method of the present disclosure enables a User Equipment to be simultaneously connected via two different carrier frequencies. The system and method of the present disclosure can be implemented across multitude of network types and network elements. Finally, the system and method envisaged by the present disclosure enables a User Equipment to simultaneously connect to multiple Base Transceiver Stations.

CLAIMS:

1. A system for selecting an optimal path for data transmission, said system comprising a mobile station, said mobile station having at least two Phased Lock Loops (PLL), said mobile station configured to connect to at least two base transceiver stations via two different carrier frequencies via said phased lock loops, said mobile station still further configured to:

identify at least two data paths to the remote data center via the base transceiver stations, and selectively determine at least the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths; and

selectively transfer/receive information via the identified data paths.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile station is further configured to monitor the parameters selected from the group consisting of data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the BTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile station is further configured to selectively terminate a data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile station is further configured to selectively alter the data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile station is further configured to selectively transfer /receive information to/from the data center, simultaneously via the identified data paths.

6. A method for selecting an optimal path for data transmission from a remote data center to a mobile station, said method comprising the following steps:

connecting the mobile station to at least two base transceiver stations via two different phased lock loops (PLL) on different carrier frequencies;

identifying at least two data paths to the remote data center via the base transceiver stations;

selectively determining at least the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, and selectively transferring/receiving information via the identified data paths.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of determining the operational parameters corresponding to the identified data paths, further includes the step of monitoring the parameters selected from the group consisting of data transfer delay, data transfer cost, signal strength from the MBTS, number of transmitted frames, latency, available bandwidth and number of received frames.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively terminate a data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively alter the data transfer path, in the event that the monitored parameters corresponding to the data transfer path are not optimal in terms of the configurations of the mobile station.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method further includes the step of configuring the mobile station to selectively transfer /receive information to/from the data center, simultaneously via the identified data paths.