2
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates to broadband services in communication
networks and, particularly but not exclusively, to dynamic selection of a bandwidth mode in a
5 communication network.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In communication networks, a broadband service provider offers variety of
broadband plans to users for accessing internet. The users have an option to choose a broadband
plan as per their requirements and budget. The broadband plans typically define, number of days
10 of a billing cycle, a data limit for downloading data, and a maximum speed for downloading the
data. The maximum speed is typically a high speed available for downloading the data up to a
predefined data limit. Once the data download exceeds the predefined data limit, the broadband
service provider usually reduces the high speed to a low speed. Now, the user can download data
at the low speed only.
15 [0003] In an example, the broadband service provider may offer a broadband plan to the
user in which the user can download data up to 3 Gigabytes (Gb) at a speed of 1 Megabits per
second (Mbps). Once the data downloaded by the user exceeds the 3 Gb, the speed of 1 Mbps is
reduced to 256 Kilobits per second (Kbps). Now, the user can download additional data at a
speed of 256 Kbps.
20 SUMMARY
[0004] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to dynamic selection of a
bandwidth mode in a communication network. This summary is not intended to identify essential
features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the
scope of the claimed subject matter.
25 [0005] In one embodiment of the present subject matter, a method for dynamically
allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network is described.
The method comprises providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device.
The plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the
communication network. The method further comprises receiving a mode request from the user
30 device to allocate a desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes. The
3
mode request includes the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode. The method further
comprises determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode.
Further, the method comprises updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to
allocate the desired bandwidth mode to the user device for communication over the
5 communication network.
[0006] In another implementation, a bandwidth mode selection system for dynamically
allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network is described.
The bandwidth mode selection system includes a processor and a selection module coupled to
the processor. The selection module is configured to provide a list having a plurality of
10 bandwidth modes to a user device. The plurality of bandwidth modes is available to the user for
communicating over the communication network. Further, the selection module is configured to
receive a mode request from the user device to allocate a desired bandwidth mode from among
the plurality of bandwidth modes. The mode request includes the user selection of the desired
bandwidth mode. The bandwidth mode selection system further includes a configuration module
15 coupled to the processor. The configuration module is configured to determine whether the user
is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode. Further, the configuration module is configured
to update, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired bandwidth
mode to the user device for communication over the communication network.
[0007] In accordance with another implementation of the present subject matter, a
20 computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a
method of dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication
network. The method comprises providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user
device. The plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the
communication network. Further, receiving a mode request from the user device to allocate a
25 desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes. The mode request
includes the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode. The method further comprises
determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode. Further, the
method comprises updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the
desired bandwidth mode to the user device for communication over the communication network.
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures.
In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the
reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference
like features and components. It should 5 ld be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block
diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of
the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams,
state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like, represent various processes which may be
substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or
10 processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
[0009] Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of
the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a bandwidth mode selection system for dynamic
15 selection of a bandwidth mode in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present subject matter.
[0011] Figure 2(a) illustrates an exemplary flow diagram indicating a procedure for
dynamically selecting the bandwidth mode by directly communicating to operation support
system/business support system in passive optical networks (PON), in accordance with an
20 embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0012] Figure 2(b) illustrates an exemplary flow diagram indicating an optical network
terminal (ONT) reboot method for dynamically selecting the bandwidth mode in PON, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0013] Figure 2(c) illustrates an exemplary flow diagram indicating an attribute value
25 change (AVC) method for dynamically selecting the bandwidth mode in PON, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0014] Figure 2(d) illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for dynamically selecting a
bandwidth mode in a digital subscriber line based broadband access networks.
5
[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a method for dynamically allocating the bandwidth mode
based on user selection in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present subject matter.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Systems and methods for dynamic selection 5 ection of bandwidth mode in a
communication network environment are described. The systems and methods can be
implemented in a variety of communication devices. The communication devices that can
implement the described method(s) include, but are not limited to, desktop computers, hand-held
devices, laptops, modem or other portable computers, mobile phones, and the like. Additionally,
10 the method can be implemented in any of the communication networks, such as Global System
for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS) network, Personal Communications Service (PCS) network, Time Division Multiple
Access (TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Next Generation
Network (NGN), and IP-based network, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and
15 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network, and
Passive optical network (PON). Although the description herein is with reference to certain
networks, the systems and methods may be implemented in other networks and devices, albeit
with a few variations, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art.
[0017] Generally, a broadband service provider offers a broadband plan to users which
20 may include more than one bandwidth mode. The bandwidth mode may be defined as a
broadband mode indicating data transfer speed at which a user can transfer data, i.e., upload or
download data over the communication network. For example, the broadband service provider
may offer the broadband plan which has two modes: a high mode and a low mode. In the high
mode, the user can download data up to a predefined limit at a high speed. The data that can be
25 downloaded in the high mode may be referred to as high mode bytes. Once the high mode bytes
are over, i.e., data downloaded at the high speed exceeds the predefined limit, the user is
switched to the low mode. In the low mode, the user can download the data at a low speed. The
data that can be downloaded in the low mode may be referred to as low mode bytes. The low
mode bytes allotted for a user are generally much larger than the allotted high mode bytes.
6
[0018] Typically, near the end of a billing cycle of the broadband plan, most of the users
end up in the low mode as the users have already consumed the high mode bytes. Thereafter, the
users are upgraded back to the high mode again at the start of the next billing cycle. Most of the
times, the high mode bytes allotted to the user get over in middle of the billing cycle Therefore,
during later half 5 of the billing cycle, the user is able to download the data generally at low speed
only. Further, in some situations, the user may want to reserve high mode bytes during the end of
their billing cycle. Further, the user doesn’t always want or need to use their high mode bytes for
all their activities.
[0019] In one embodiment, the present subject matter discloses a method for allocating a
10 bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network. The user with the help of
a user device communicates with an operation support system/ business support system
(OSS/BSS) to select the bandwidth mode. Initially, bandwidth modes offered to the user in the
broadband plan are displayed on a webpage provided by the broadband service provider. The
user can view the webpage on an interface of the user device and select the bandwidth mode
15 from the bandwidth modes available on the webpage. In an example, the webpage may display
two bandwidth modes to the user: a first mode with a high speed, say, 1 Mbps and a second
mode with a lower speed, say, 256 Kbps. The webpage may also display the bandwidth mode
currently selected by the user and remaining number of mode-specific-bytes that the user is
entitled to over a specific bandwidth speed. Further, the service provider or the user may select
20 one of the bandwidth modes as a default bandwidth mode such that whenever a new billing cycle
starts, the user will be able to access data in the default bandwidth mode. The user may thus
select any of the bandwidth modes as the mode for current usage.
[0020] When the user selects the bandwidth mode, a mode request is sent to the
OSS/BSS. The mode request may include information about the bandwidth mode which the user
25 wants to select. Upon receiving the mode request, the OSS/BSS may ascertain whether the user
is allowed to switch to the bandwidth mode or not. Once it is ascertained that the user is allowed
to change the bandwidth mode, the OSS/BSS changes a quality of service (QoS) according to the
bandwidth mode selected by the user. In case the user is not allowed to switch the bandwidth
mode, the OSS/BSS cancels the mode request made by the user. The information about
7
successful or unsuccessful selection may be notified to the user by updating that webpage
accordingly.
[0021] Therefore, the methods and the systems of the present subject matter allow the
user to select the bandwidth mode. The user can now use the broadband service according to
their requirements and there will be optimum utilization of 5 the data allotted to the user in the
broadband plan. Further, with the present subject matter, the broadband service provider can
offer more choices to the user which may prove useful for their business.
[0022] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles
of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to
10 devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the
principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Further, all
examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to
aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts
contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without
15 limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein
reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific
examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0023] It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the words during, while,
and when as used herein are not exact terms that mean an action takes place instantly upon an
20 initiating action but that there may be some small but reasonable delay, such as a propagation
delay, between the initial action, and the reaction that is initiated by the initial action.
Additionally, the words “connected” and “coupled” are used throughout, for clarity of the
description and can include either a direct connection or an indirect connection.
[0024] The manner in which the systems and the methods dynamically select a
25 bandwidth mode in a communication network has been explained in detail with respect to the
Figures 1-3. While aspects of described systems and methods for dynamically selecting a
bandwidth mode can be implemented in any number of different computing systems,
transmission environments, and/or configurations, the embodiments are described in the context
of the following exemplary system(s).
8
[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a bandwidth mode selection system for dynamic selection of a
bandwidth mode in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
subject matter. The network environment 100 includes one or more user devices 102-1, 102-2,
102-3, …., and 102-N, hereinafter collectively referred to as the user devices 102 and
individually 5 referred to as the user device 102, connected to a communication network 104,
according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0026] The user devices 102 may be defined as User Equipments (UEs) used by users to
access data services, such as broadband provided by a broadband service provider. Examples of
the user devices 102 may include, without limitation, mobile phones, landline phones, desktop
10 computers, hand-held devices, laptops or other portable computers, network computers, and the
like.
[0027] The communication network 104 may be a wireless network, a wired network, or
a combination of wired and wireless network. The communication network 104 can be a
collection of individual networks, interconnected with each other and functioning as a single
15 large network (e.g., the internet or an intranet). Examples of such individual networks include,
but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, Personal Communications Service (PCS)
network, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) network, Next Generation Network (NGN), IP-based network, Public Switched
20 Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Long Term Evolution
(LTE), Passive Optical Network, and the like. Further, depending on the technology, the
communication network 104 may include various network entities, such as gateways, routers;
however, such details have been omitted for ease of understanding.
[0028] Further, the user devices 102 are configured to interact with the communication
25 network 104 using network routed communication links 106-1, 106-2, 106-3, …, 106-N.
[0029] The communication network 104 further comprises a bandwidth mode selection
system 108, hereinafter referred to as the system 108, and broadband database 110
communicatively coupled to the system 108. The broadband database 110 may include
information of various broadband plans offered by the broadband service provider.
9
[0030] Typically, the broadband service provider offers data services to the user for
availing various data services. The user may use the data services to perform various functions,
such as watch mobile TV, browse/surf on internet, download/upload data, play online games,
send text messages, and make audio/video call over the communication network 104. The user
5 avails the data services as per a broadband plan defined by the broadband service provider for the
user. The broadband service provider may provide various broadband plans from which the user
selects the broadband plan based on his/her preferences.
[0031] In one implementation, the system 108 may be configured to facilitate the user to
dynamically select a bandwidth mode. The bandwidth mode may be defined as a broadband
10 mode indicating data transfer speed at which a user can transfer data, i.e., upload or download
data over the communication network 104. In one implementation, the system 108 determines a
plurality of bandwidth modes that are available to the user based on the broadband database 110.
Thereafter, the system 108 provides a list to the user. The list may include the plurality of
bandwidth modes available to the user. Further, the system 108 facilitates the user to
15 dynamically select a desired bandwidth mode from the plurality of bandwidth modes. The
desired bandwidth mode may be defined as a broadband mode indicating a speed that the user
wishes to currently use for data transfer according to usage requirement of the user. For example,
the user may want to download 3 Gb data at a speed of 2 Mbps. Also, charges for the broadband
plan may play a vital role in deciding the desired bandwidth mode. The user communicates
20 selection of the desired bandwidth mode through a mode request. Upon receiving the mode
request, the system 108 validates whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth
mode for accessing data services in the desired bandwidth mode or not and allocate the
bandwidth mode for the data transfer accordingly.
[0032] For the purpose, the system 108 includes one or more processor(s) 112, I/O
25 interface(s) 114, and a memory 116 coupled to the processor(s) 112. The processor(s) 112 may
be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital
signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices
that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the
processor(s) 112 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the
30 memory 116.
10
[0033] The functions of the various elements shown in the figures, including any
functional blocks labeled as “processor(s)”, may be provided through the use of dedicated
hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate
software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated
processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some 5 of which
may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” should not be construed to refer
exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without
limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, network processor, application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), read only memory (ROM) for
10 storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non volatile storage. Other hardware,
conventional and/or custom, may also be included.
[0034] The I/O interface(s) 114 may include a variety of software and hardware
interfaces, for example, interfaces for peripheral device(s), such as data input output devices,
referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, network devices, etc. The I/O device(s) may include
15 Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, Ethernet ports, host bus adaptors, etc., and their corresponding
device drivers. The I/O interface(s) 114 facilitate the communication of the system 108 with
various networks, such as the communication network 104 and various communication and
computing devices, such as the user devices 102.
[0035] The memory 116 may include any computer-readable medium known in the art
20 including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and
dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only
memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and
magnetic tapes.
[0036] The system 108 may also include various modules 118. The modules 118,
25 amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc.,
which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The modules 118 may
also be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other
device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.
11
[0037] Further, the modules 118 can be implemented in hardware, instructions executed
by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The processing unit can comprise a computer,
a processor, such as the processor 112, a state machine, a logic array or any other suitable
devices capable of processing instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose
processor which executes instructions to cause 5 the general-purpose processor to perform the
required tasks or, the processing unit can be dedicated to perform the required functions.
[0038] In another aspect of the present subject matter, the modules 118 may be machinereadable
instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor/processing unit, perform
any of the described functionalities. The machine-readable instructions may be stored on an
10 electronic memory device, hard disk, optical disk or other machine-readable storage medium or
non-transitory medium. In one implementation, the machine-readable instructions can be also be
downloaded to the storage medium via a network connection.
[0039] The system 108 may further include data 120, which amongst other things, serves
as a repository for storing data processed, received, associated, and generated by one or more of
15 the module(s) 118.
[0040] The module(s) 118 further include a selection module 122, a configuration
module 124, and other module(s) 126. The other module(s) 126 may include programs or coded
instructions that supplement applications and functions of the system 108. The data 120 includes,
for example, selection data 128, user data 130, and other data 132. The other data 132 includes
20 data generated as a result of the execution of one or more modules in the other module(s) 126.
[0041] As previously described, the system 108 facilitates the user in using various
bandwidth modes associated with a broadband plan for data transfer while being subscribed to
the broadband plan. In one implementation, the broadband plan may include one or mode
bandwidth modes which the user can select to avail the data services. The broadband plan may
25 include a high mode and a low mode based on speed at which data may be transferred over the
communication network 104. In the high mode, data can be downloaded at a high speed and may
thus be referred to as high mode bytes. In the low mode, data can be downloaded at a low speed
and may thus be referred to as low mode bytes. Further, the high mode is typically provided by
the service providers to the users to avail data services up to a predefined limit after which the
12
user may be shifted to the low mode. In an example, the broadband service provider may offer
the broadband plan which gives data services to the user at a speed of 2 Mbps up to 5 Gb. Once 5
Gb data is consumed by the user device 102, the data services are provided to the user at a lower
speed of, say, 512 Kbps and there may not be any limit on the data at 512 Kbps.
[0042] According to an implementation 5 entation of the present subject matter, a user of the user
device 102, subscribed with the broadband service provider, is provided a list of plurality of
bandwidth modes that the user may use to avail the data services. For the purpose, the selection
module 122 retrieves a plurality of bandwidth modes, that are available to the user, from the
broadband database 110 based on the broadband plan opted by the user. The broadband database
10 110 may include information about broadband plans offered by the broadband service provider
and the bandwidth modes in each of the broadband plans. Further, the selection module 122
provides the list to the user for indicating the plurality of bandwidth modes available to the user.
In an example, the selection module 122 may provide the list of the plurality of bandwidth
modes on a webpage accessible by the user through the user device 102. In another example, the
15 selection module 122 may provide the list to the user device 102 for being displayed to the user
on an application provided by the broadband service provider for being launched on the user
device 102.
[0043] Thereafter, with the help of the user device 102, the user can select a desired
bandwidth mode from the plurality of bandwidth modes based on his/her requirements. For
20 example, the user may want to download data at the high speed. Therefore, the user may select
the bandwidth mode which provides data download at the high speed. In such cases, the high
mode is the desired bandwidth mode. Similarly, when the user may want to surf or browse, the
user may not require data download at the high speed. Therefore, the user has may select the
bandwidth mode which provides data download at the low speed. In such cases, the low mode is
25 referred to as the desired bandwidth mode.
[0044] The user may subsequently send, through the user device 102, a mode request for
setting the desired bandwidth mode. The selection module 122 is configured to receive the mode
request made by the user. The selection module 122 may store the mode request in the selection
data 128. Thereafter, the configuration module 124 identifies whether the user is allowed to
30 select the desired bandwidth mode or not. The configuration module 124 may obtain data related
13
to data usage by the user and subscription of the user from the broadband database 110. Based on
the data usage and the subscription, the configuration module 124 may identify whether the user
is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode or not. Once it is identified that the user is
allowed, the configuration module 124 validates the mode request made by the user. The
configuration module 124 may store the 5 e usage of data in the desired bandwidth mode in the user
data 130 so that the configuration module 124 can keep a track of data usage in the desired
bandwidth mode.
[0045] Further, the configuration module 124 updates the quality of service (QoS) to
allocate the desired bandwidth to the user device 102. In case, it is identified that the user device
10 102 is not allowed to select the desired bandwidth, the configuration module 124 does not
change the QoS for the user. Subsequently, the configuration module 124 may notify the user
about allocation of the desired bandwidth mode. Upon successful selection of the desired
bandwidth mode, the configuration module 124 may notify the user that the desired bandwidth
mode has been allocated to the user device 102. The configuration module 124 may also notify
15 the user about remaining bytes in the desired bandwidth mode. In case, the selection of the
desired bandwidth mode was unsuccessful, the configuration module 124 may notify the user
that the desired bandwidth mode is not available to him/her.
[0046] Figure 2(a) is an exemplary flow diagram indicating a procedure for dynamically
selecting the bandwidth mode by directly communicating with an operation support
20 system/business support system in passive optical networks (PON), in accordance with an
embodiment of the present subject matter. At step 202, the user of the user device 102 may
access a webpage, provided by the broadband service provider, by entering his login credentials.
The broadband service provider provides the webpage to the user through the OSS/BSS 206.
Once the user is logged into the webpage of the OSS/BSS 206, at step 204, the OSS/BSS 206
25 advertises the plurality of bandwidth modes on the webpage. At step 206, the user selects the
desired bandwidth mode from the plurality of bandwidth modes through the user device 102.
Subsequently, the mode request for allocation of the desired bandwidth mode is sent to the
OSS/BSS 206. At step 208, the OSS/BSS 206 validates the user selection. The OSS/BSS 206
identifies whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode for downloading data
30 at a speed corresponding to the desired bandwidth mode. The OSS/BSS 206 may determine the
14
data usage and subscription of the user to validate the user selection. If the user selection is not
validated, the OSS/BSS 206 performs no action for changing the QoS for the user. Further, at
step 210, once the user selection is validated, the OSS/BSS triggers a QoS change for the user on
an optical line terminal (OLT) 204. At step 212, upon triggering, the OLT 204 adjusts the QoS
for the desired bandwidth mode accordingly. Thereafter, the QoS is configured on 5 an optical
network terminal (ONT) 202 for the user device 102 at step 214. In one implementation, the
exemplary flow diagram in Figure 2(a) can also be implemented in situations where the ONT
202 is not present. In such cases, the user device 102 may directly communicate with the OLT
204 and further to the OSS/BSS 206.
10 [0047] Figure 2(b) is an exemplary flow diagram indicating an ONT reboot method for
dynamically selecting the bandwidth mode in PON, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present subject matter. At step 216, the user of the user device 102 access a default webpage of
an ONT 202 by entering his login credentials. For example, the default webpage of the ONT 202
may have an address 192.168.1.1. Thereafter, at step 218, the ONT 202 updates the default
15 webpage and displays the plurality of bandwidth modes on the default web page. The default
webpage may also display current bandwidth mode of the broadband plan. At step 220, the user
selects the desired bandwidth mode through the user device 102 and user selection of the desired
bandwidth mode is forwarded to the ONT 202. The user selection may be forwarded to the ONT
202 in the mode request. At step 222, whenever the user selection in the mode request is received
20 by the ONT 202, the ONT 202 gets rebooted. After rebooting of ONT 202, a management
information base (MIB) upload takes place in step 224. As understood by a person having
ordinary skill in the art, the ONT 202 and the OLT 204 communicates via an ONT Management
and Communication Interface (OMCI) which includes managed entity (ME). The present subject
matter creates a new OMCI ME which holds information about the bandwidth modes in each of
25 the broadband plans that are available to the user. The new OMCI ME is a part of the MIB
upload in the step 224. The broadband service provider may reconfigure the new OMCI ME if
there is any change in the bandwidth modes and the broadband plans. After receiving the user
selection through the MIB upload, at step 226, the OLT 204 communicates with the OSS/BSS
206 to validate the user selection. Once the user selection is validated by the OSS/BSS, the OLT
30 204 updates the OSS/BSS 206 about the desired bandwidth mode at step 228. At step 230, the
15
OSS/BSS 206 triggers the QoS configuration change on the OLT 204. At step 232, the OLT 204
adjusts the QoS for the user in accordance to the desired bandwidth modes selected by the user.
Thereafter, at step 234, the OLT 204 configures the QoS on the ONT 202 so that the user can
avail the data services in the desired bandwidth mode.
[0048] Figure 2(c) is an exemplary 5 plary flow diagram indicating an attribute value change
(AVC) method for dynamically selecting the bandwidth mode in PON, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in Figure 2(c), at step 236, the user accesses
the default webpage of the ONT 202 by entering his login credentials. At step 238, the ONT 202
displays the plurality of bandwidth modes that are available to the user by updating the default
10 webpage. At step 240, the user selects the desired bandwidth mode through the user device 102
and the user selection is forwarded to the ONT 202. Thereafter, at step 242, an attribute value
change is used to notify the OLT 204 about the user selection. The new OMCI ME may also
define an attribute for communicating the user selection whenever value of the attribute changes,
the OLT 204 is notified about the desired bandwidth mode selected by the user. In the present
15 exemplary flow diagram, there is no need to reboot the ONT 202. The ONT 202 can
communicate the user selection to the OLT 204 through attribute value change and the ONT 202
is not rebooted. At step 244, the OLT 204 validates the user selection by communicating with the
OSS/BSS 206. At step 246, the OLT 204 updates the OSS/BSS 206 about the user selection.
Further, based on the successful validation by the OSS/BSS 206, the OLT 204 triggers the QoS
20 configuration change on the OLT 204 at step 248. At step 250, the OLT 204 adjusts the QoS for
the user in accordance to the desired bandwidth mode. At step, 252, configuration of the QoS on
the ONT 202 takes place and now the user can avail the data services in the desired bandwidth
mode.
[0049] Figure 2(d) is an exemplary flow diagram for dynamically selecting a bandwidth
25 mode in a digital subscriber line based broadband access networks. At step 254, the user access a
webpage, provided by OSS/BSS 206 of the broadband service provider, by providing his login
credentials. In one implementation, as shown in Figure 2(d), the user access the webpage through
the user device 102 which is further coupled to a digital subscriber line customer premise
equipment (DSLAM CPE) 208. The DSLAM CPE 208 then communicates to a digital subscriber
30 line access multiplier (DSLAM) 210 and further to the OSS/BSS 206. In one implementation, in
16
absence of the DSLAM CPE 208, the user device 102 can directly communicate to the DSLAM
210 and further to OSS/BSS 206. At step 256, the OSS/BSS 206 advertises the plurality of
bandwidth modes that are available to the user, on the webpage. The webpage may also display
the current bandwidth mode of the user. At step 258, the user makes the selection of the desired
bandwidth mode from the plurality of bandwidth modes through the 5 e user device 102. Upon
selection of the desired bandwidth mode, the mode request for allocation of the desired
bandwidth mode, is sent to the OSS/BSS. At step 260, the OSS/BSS 206 validates the user
selection for triggering change in the QoS accordingly. The OSS/BSS 206 identifies whether the
user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode for downloading data at a speed
10 corresponding to the desired bandwidth mode. The OSS/BSS 206 may determine the data usage
and subscription of the user to validate the user selection. If the user selection is not validated,
the OSS/BSS 206 performs no action for changing the QoS for the user. Further, at step 262,
once the user selection is validated, the OSS/BSS triggers a QoS change on the DSLAM 210. At
step 264, the DSLAM 210 adjusts the QoS for the desired bandwidth mode accordingly and now
15 the user can avail the data services at a speed corresponding to the desired bandwidth mode.
[0050] Although Figure 2(a) to 2(c) and Figure 2(d) have been described with respect to
the passive optical network and the DSL based broadband access network, it may be understood
to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the present subject matter can also be
implemented in other communication networks without deviating from the scope of the present
20 subject matter.
[0051] Figure 3 illustrates a method for dynamically allocating the bandwidth mode
based on user selection in a communication network 104, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present subject matter. The order in which the method 300 is described is not intended to be
construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in
25 any order to implement the method 300, or an alternative method. Additionally, individual
blocks may be deleted from the method without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject
matter described herein. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitable hardware,
software, firmware, or combination thereof.
[0052] The method(s) may be described in the general context of computer executable
30 instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects,
17
components, data structures, procedures, modules, functions, etc., that perform particular
functions or implement particular abstract data types. The method may also be practiced in a
distributed computing environment where functions are performed by remote processing devices
that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment,
computer executable instructions may be located 5 d in both local and remote computer storage
media, including memory storage devices.
[0053] A person skilled in the art will readily recognize that steps of the method can be
performed by programmed computers. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover
program storage devices, for example, digital data storage media, which are machine or
10 computer readable and encode machine-executable or computer-executable programs of
instructions, wherein said instructions perform some or all of the steps of the described method.
The program storage devices may be, for example, digital memories, magnetic storage media,
such as a magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data
storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover all the communication networks and
15 communication devices configured to perform said steps of the exemplary method.
[0054] At block 302, a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes is provided to the user
device 102. The plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the
communication network 104. In an implementation, the list of plurality of bandwidth modes may
be provided to the user on a webpage. In another implementation, the list of the plurality of
20 bandwidth may be provided to the user in an application provided by the broadband service
provider. Whenever the user login to the application, the list of the plurality of bandwidth mode
may be provided to the user.
[0055] At block 304, a mode request from the user device 102 is received to allocate a
desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth mode. A bandwidth mode is
25 selected by the user from the plurality of bandwidth modes based on requirement of the user. For
example, the user want a speed of 2 Mbps, then the user may want to select a bandwidth mode
which provides the speed of 2 Mbps. The bandwidth mode selected by the user may be referred
to as the desired bandwidth mode. The mode request includes user selection of the desired
bandwidth mode. The user selection provides details about the desired bandwidth mode. The
18
mode request communicates the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode to the broadband
service provider.
[0056] At block 306, it is determined whether the user is allowed to select the desired
bandwidth mode or not. In an implementation, data usage for the desired bandwidth mode is
determined to check whether the user has crossed 5 a predefined data limit assigned to the desired
bandwidth mode. For example, 3 Gb data may be the predefined limit for the desired bandwidth
mode. If the user has crossed the predefined data limit, then the user may be disallowed to select
the desired bandwidth mode and the method branches to the block 310. On the other hand, if the
user has not cross the predefined data limit, then the desired bandwidth mode may be allocated to
10 the user device 102 and the method branches to step 308.
[0057] At block 308, based on the determination, the QoS for the user is updated to
allocate the desired bandwidth mode to the user device 102 for communication over the
communication network 104. For example, if the desired bandwidth mode provides a speed of 1
Mbps, then the QoS for the user may be updated in accordance to the speed of 1 Mbps and now
15 the user can avail the data services at the speed of 1 Mbps.
[0058] At block 310, a result of the mode request is notified to the user. In an
implementation, if the user was disallowed to select the desired bandwidth at block 306, then the
user may be notified that he/she is not allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode. In another
implementation, if the desired bandwidth mode is successfully allocated to the user device 102,
20 then the user may be notified that the desired bandwidth mode has been successfully allocated to
the user device 102. The user may be also notified about the remaining bytes in the desired
bandwidth mode.
[0059] Although embodiments for methods and systems for dynamic selection of a
bandwidth mode in a communication network have been described in a language specific to
25 structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily
limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods
are disclosed as exemplary embodiments for dynamic selection of a bandwidth mode in a
communication network.
19
I/We claim:
1. A method for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a
communication network (104), the method comprising:
providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102), wherein the
plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the communication
network (104);
receiving a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth
mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes the user
selection of the desired bandwidth mode;
determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired
bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the communication network
(104).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising notifying a result of the mode request to
the user device (102), wherein the result indicates whether the desired bandwidth mode has been
successfully allocated to the user device 102 or not.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication network is one of a Global
System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System (UMTS) network, Personal Communications Service (PCS) network, Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Next
Generation Network (NGN), and IP-based network, Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber line (DSL) network,
and Passive optical network (PON).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bandwidth modes indicates
a speed at which the user can avail data services provided by a broadband service provider.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode request includes an attribute value
change (AVC), wherein the AVC indicates the desired bandwidth mode selected by the user.
20
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode request includes a new optical line
terminal management and communication interface managed entity (OMCI ME) when the
communication network (104) is a passive optical network, and wherein the new OMCI ME
includes details of the plurality of bandwidth modes that are available to the user.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mode request is transmitted to an optical line
terminal (OLT) (204) for communicating the desired bandwidth mode to a broadband service
provider.
8. A bandwidth mode selection system (108) for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based
on user selection in a communication network (104), the bandwidth mode selection system (108)
comprises:
a processor (112); and
a selection module (122) coupled to the processor (112), the selection module (122)
configured to,
provide a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102),
wherein the plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over
the communication network (104); and
receive a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth
mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes
the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode; and
a configuration module (124) coupled to the processor (112), the configuration module
(124) configured to,
determine whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
update, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the
desired bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the
communication network (104).
21
9. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection
module (122) obtains the plurality of bandwidth based on a broadband plan opted by a user,
wherein the broadband plan is stored in a broadband database (110).
10. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection
module (122) is configured to notify a result of the mode request to the user, wherein the result
indicates whether the desired bandwidth mode has been successfully allocated to the user device
102 or not.
11. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the
plurality of bandwidth modes indicates a speed at which the user can avail data services provided
by a broadband service provider.
12. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mode request
includes an attribute value change (AVC), wherein the AVC indicates user selection of the
desired bandwidth mode.
13. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mode request
includes a new OMCI ME when the communication network (104) is a passive optical network,
wherein the new OMCI ME includes details of the plurality of bandwidth modes that are
available to the user.
14. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the mode
request is sent to an optical line terminal (OLT) (204), by the user selection module (122), to
communicate the desired bandwidth mode to the OLT (204).
15. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a
method for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a
communication network (104), the method comprising:
providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102), wherein the
plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the communication
network (104);
22
receiving a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth
mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes the user
selection of the desired bandwidth mode;
determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired
bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the communication network
(104).
Date 05 April 2013
DAMODAR PANDHARINATH VAIDYA
IN/PA-1431
Agent for the Applicant
5
To,
The Controller of Patents
The Patent Office at New Delhi

CLIAMS:1. A method for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network (104), the method comprising:
providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102), wherein the plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the communication network (104);
receiving a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode;
determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the communication network (104).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising notifying a result of the mode request to the user device (102), wherein the result indicates whether the desired bandwidth mode has been successfully allocated to the user device 102 or not.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication network is one of a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, Personal Communications Service (PCS) network, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Next Generation Network (NGN), and IP-based network, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber line (DSL) network, and Passive optical network (PON).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bandwidth modes indicates a speed at which the user can avail data services provided by a broadband service provider.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode request includes an attribute value change (AVC), wherein the AVC indicates the desired bandwidth mode selected by the user.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode request includes a new optical line terminal management and communication interface managed entity (OMCI ME) when the communication network (104) is a passive optical network, and wherein the new OMCI ME includes details of the plurality of bandwidth modes that are available to the user.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mode request is transmitted to an optical line terminal (OLT) (204) for communicating the desired bandwidth mode to a broadband service provider.
8. A bandwidth mode selection system (108) for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network (104), the bandwidth mode selection system (108) comprises:
a processor (112); and
a selection module (122) coupled to the processor (112), the selection module (122) configured to,
provide a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102), wherein the plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the communication network (104); and
receive a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode; and
a configuration module (124) coupled to the processor (112), the configuration module (124) configured to,
determine whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
update, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the communication network (104).
9. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection module (122) obtains the plurality of bandwidth based on a broadband plan opted by a user, wherein the broadband plan is stored in a broadband database (110).
10. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection module (122) is configured to notify a result of the mode request to the user, wherein the result indicates whether the desired bandwidth mode has been successfully allocated to the user device 102 or not.
11. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of bandwidth modes indicates a speed at which the user can avail data services provided by a broadband service provider.
12. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mode request includes an attribute value change (AVC), wherein the AVC indicates user selection of the desired bandwidth mode.
13. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mode request includes a new OMCI ME when the communication network (104) is a passive optical network, wherein the new OMCI ME includes details of the plurality of bandwidth modes that are available to the user.
14. The bandwidth mode selection system (108) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the mode request is sent to an optical line terminal (OLT) (204), by the user selection module (122), to communicate the desired bandwidth mode to the OLT (204).
15. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method for dynamically allocating a bandwidth mode based on user selection in a communication network (104), the method comprising:
providing a list having a plurality of bandwidth modes to a user device (102), wherein the plurality of bandwidth modes is available to a user for communicating over the communication network (104);
receiving a mode request from the user device (102) to allocate a desired bandwidth mode from among the plurality of bandwidth modes, wherein the mode request includes the user selection of the desired bandwidth mode;
determining whether the user is allowed to select the desired bandwidth mode; and
updating, based on the determining, a quality of service (QoS) to allocate the desired bandwidth mode to the user device (102) for communication over the communication network (104).