Traffic management for base stations backhauled over data-capped network connections

摘要

A network device connected to a base station via a backhaul connection may be operable to determine whether the backhaul connection is congested. The determination may be based on a periodic data cap imposed on the backhaul connections. In response to a determination that the backhaul connection is congested, the network device may configure one or more cellular communication parameters of one or more of the plurality of base stations. The determination may be based on one or more of: a total amount of data consumed over the backhaul connection during a current time period, a traffic load on the backhaul connection, and an amount of time remaining in the current time period.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining a maximum amount of data that a second service provider permits to be communicated over a network connection during a billing period, wherein said network connection is a backhaul connection between a core network of a first service provider and a first one of a plurality of small-cell base stations; determining, in a network device of the first service provider, that a total amount of data communicated over said network connection during a current billing period will exceed said maximum amount of data when M is greater than (D−B)/T, where:
M is a traffic load on said network connection communicated by said second service provider providing at least two services;D is a periodic data cap imposed by said second service provider on said network connection;B is a total amount of data consumed by a selected one of the at least two services provided by the second service provider over said network connection during said current billing period; andT is an amount of time remaining in said current billing period, measured in units of time; and in response to said determining that said total amount of data communicated over said network connection during said current billing period will exceed said maximum amount of data, reconfiguring a value of one or more cellular communication parameters utilized by one or more of said plurality of small-cell base stations.