Directional adjustment to quality of service based on monitored traffic activity on a link

摘要

In an embodiment, an apparatus monitors traffic usage in uplink and downlink directions of a link that is configured to support a communication session for the client device. The apparatus can correspond to a core network component or to an access network component. The apparatus initiates, in association with the communication session, (i) an uplink-specific QoS adjustment to a first level of QoS assigned to the uplink direction of the link based on the monitored traffic usage in the uplink direction, and/or (ii) a downlink-specific QoS adjustment to a second level of QoS assigned to the downlink direction of the link based on the monitored traffic usage in the downlink direction. The link is maintained in both the downlink and uplink directions throughout the communication session irrespective of any QoS adjustments in the uplink and/or downlink directions of the link that occur during the communication session.

主权项

1. A method of operating an access network that is configured to control Quality of Service (QoS) for a client device and to serve the client device by supporting a direct physical-layer connection to the client device, comprising:
monitoring media traffic usage in an uplink direction of a link that is configured to support a communication call for the client device; monitoring media traffic usage in a downlink direction of the link, wherein the link is maintained in both the downlink and uplink directions throughout the communication call irrespective of any QoS adjustments in the uplink and/or downlink directions of the link that occur during the communication call; and initiating, in association with the communication call, (i) an uplink-specific QoS adjustment to a first level of QoS assigned to the uplink direction of the link and managed locally by the access network based on the monitored media traffic usage in the uplink direction, and/or (ii) a downlink-specific QoS adjustment to a second level of QoS assigned to the downlink direction of the link and managed locally by the access network based on the monitored media traffic usage in the downlink direction, wherein the first and second levels of QoS managed locally by the access network correspond to less than all QoS resources assigned to the link, and wherein the access network performs the monitoring of the media traffic usage in the uplink direction of the link, the monitoring of the media traffic usage in the downlink direction of the link, and the initiating while the monitoring of the media traffic usage in the uplink direction of the link, the monitoring of the media traffic usage in the downlink direction of the link, and the initiating are also independently being performed at a core network with respect to other QoS resources assigned to the link that are managed at the core network, such that the first and second levels of QoS assigned to the uplink and downlink directions of the link are controlled by the access network while the other QoS resources are independently controlled at the core network.