GB2544811A - Dynamic bandwidth allocation - Google Patents
Dynamic bandwidth allocation Download PDFInfo
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- GB2544811A GB2544811A GB1521089.1A GB201521089A GB2544811A GB 2544811 A GB2544811 A GB 2544811A GB 201521089 A GB201521089 A GB 201521089A GB 2544811 A GB2544811 A GB 2544811A
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
- H04W28/16—Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
- H04W28/18—Negotiating wireless communication parameters
- H04W28/20—Negotiating bandwidth
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L47/00—Traffic control in data switching networks
- H04L47/10—Flow control; Congestion control
- H04L47/28—Flow control; Congestion control in relation to timing considerations
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
- H04W28/02—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
- H04W28/0226—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control based on location or mobility
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- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A method for controlling bandwidth limits of each distributed device of a set of distributed devices is described. Bandwidth demand data is received from at least one distributed device which includes at least one bandwidth demand value, a time segment, and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth demand value. The bandwidth demand data is combined into a bandwidth demand map and a bandwidth usage limit map is generated based on the bandwidth demand map and a bandwidth usage limit for the set of distributed devices. The bandwidth usage limit map includes at least one bandwidth usage limit value, and a time segment and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth usage limit value. The bandwidth usage limit map is transmitted to at least one distributed device of the set of distributed devices. This may be used on public transport (e.g. a train or bus) where many users may be attempting to access the network at the same time and from the same location.
Description
DYNAMIC BANDWITH ALLOCATION
This invention relates to a method for controlling bandwidth limits for each distributed device of a set of distributed devices, and also relates to a bandwidth allocation device.
There is an ever increasing demand for objects to be equipped with the ability to send and receive messages. As these objects may, for example, be located in inaccessible locations and/or be mobile, it is generally the case that these objects are equipped to send and receive those messages wirelessly.
The radio spectrum that is available for the objects to be able to communicate wirelessly is limited. This limitation comes both from physical properties of the radio spectrum which means only a small part of it is suitable for use in wireless communications and also from regulatory limitations, generally implemented by governments, which impose strict restrictions on which parts of the radio spectrum can be used for wireless communications. In addition to these two limitations, most of radio spectrum that can be used for wireless communications has been licenced in segments to mobile network operators. An object may be able to communicate wirelessly with the mobile data network of only one, or a selected number, of mobile network operators.
The mobile data networks of mobile operators are generally arranged in the form of a plurality of base stations that are connected to a back-end network to permit the sending and receiving of data from the base stations to external networks. Such external networks may be the internet or a telephone network. Communication devices can communicate wirelessly to one or more of the base stations to communicate with external networks. Such communication devices may be communicatively coupled to the objects described above to permit those objects to communicate with external networks. Such objects may be vehicles, smart meters, industrial equipment or household objects. The mobile data network may be a cellular data network. The cellular base stations could be publically accessible for cellular telephony. The cellular base stations could communicate according to a 3G or 4G standard. In the case of a 4G base station these could operate according to, for example, LTE, WiMAX or HSPA+ standards. The base stations may also be wireless base stations that may operate according to a wireless technology such as Wi-Fi.
The radio spectrum that is available for wireless communications may be limited, the bandwidth of the back-end network may be limited, the radio spectrum available for a particular mobile network operator may be limited, and the mobile communication protocols used in the communication between the base stations and the mobile devices may use the available radio spectrum in a way which means that the total bandwidth available for such communications in any one geographical area may be limited. These limitations may generally mean that the mobile network operators restrict the quantity of data that may be used by any one subscriber to the use of that particular mobile network. This restriction may be in the form of a cap on the amount of data that can be consumed (sent and/or received) by a subscriber in a defined period. The defined period may be a day, week, or month. The restriction may also be in the form of a penalty if the subscriber exceeds a set amount of data consumed in a defined period. The penalty may be a financial penalty in the form of an additional charge or fine.
One set of objects where there is an increasing demand for those objects to be equipped with the ability to send and receive messages is vehicles, and in particular where those objects are under the general control of a controlling entity. For instance, the vehicles may be part of a fleet of vehicles that may be required to communicate with fleet management office to provide data on each vehicle in the fleet, and thus need the ability to communicate with external networks. The vehicles may also carry passengers, those passengers might possess communication devices and might desire to connect their devices to external networks such as the internet. The vehicles may have apparatus for connecting to remote servers and for sharing this connection with passengers’ own devices. The vehicle’s apparatus could comprise a mobile router that moves with the vehicle and that can establish a data connection with a wayside base station external to the vehicle and share that data connection with the host devices on the vehicle. The wayside base station may be a base station of the mobile network operator. The vehicle may be a car, bus or train.
The controlling entity may have agreed with at least one mobile network operator that the objects under the control of the controlling entity may access the mobile data network of that operator. Each object that accesses the network may have an individual cap on the amount of data that the object can consume in defined time period. Alternatively, a group of objects under the control of the controlling entity may have a shared cap on the amount of data that the group of objects can consume in a defined time period.
To ensure that the object(s) do not consume more than the allocated amount of data, the throughput available to each object at a given time may be limited so that over the defined time period that object cannot consume more than the allocated amount of data. The throughput may be calculated by allocating an equal amount of data for each segment of the defined time period. For instance, an equal amount of data may be allocated for each second of a month thus giving a data throughput for the object for the month. The problem with this allocation method is that if the data available in the fixed throughput is not used at a particular time then the use of that data is lost and cannot be used later in the defined time period.
There is therefore a need for an improved method of allocating bandwidth to devices in a network of devices.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling bandwidth limits of each distributed device of a set of distributed devices; the method comprising: receiving bandwidth demand data from at least one distributed device, the bandwidth demand data including at least one bandwidth demand value, and a time segment and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth demand value; combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map; generating a bandwidth usage limit map based on the bandwidth demand map and a bandwidth usage limit for the set of distributed devices, the bandwidth usage limit map including at least one bandwidth usage limit value, and a time segment and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth usage limit value; and transmitting the bandwidth usage limit map to at least one distributed device of the set of distributed devices.
The method may comprise: requesting, prior to receiving bandwidth demand data, bandwidth demand data from at least one distributed device. Combining the bandwidth demand data may comprise combining the bandwidth demand data into an existing bandwidth demand map.
Receiving bandwidth demand data may occur during a first period, and the method may comprise: receiving bandwidth demand data, during a second period, from at least one distributed device; and combining the bandwidth demand data received during a second period into an existing bandwidth demand map. The method may comprise receiving bandwidth demand data from a plurality of distributed devices.
The method may comprise transmitting the bandwidth usage limit map to a plurality of distributed devices. The bandwidth demand data may include a plurality of bandwidth demand values. The bandwidth usage limit map may include a plurality of bandwidth usage limit values.
The bandwidth demand values may indicate the amount of bandwidth desired by the distributed device to communicate with an external network during the associated time segment. The amount of bandwidth desired by the distributed device during the associated time segment may be different to the amount of bandwidth consumed by the distributed device during the associated time segment. Generating a bandwidth usage map may be based on the bandwidth demand map, a bandwidth usage limit and an active distributed device number for each time segment.
The bandwidth demand map may include a plurality of bandwidth demand values for a particular time segment and geographic location.
Combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map may comprise combining multiple bandwidth demand values for a particular time segment and geographic location into one bandwidth demand value for a particular time segment and geographic location. The bandwidth demand map may include one bandwidth demand value for each time segment and geographic location.
Combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map may comprise associating bandwidth demand values, with different associated time segments, together based on a repeating property of the time segments.
The repeating property may be the time segments having the same hour of the week. The repeating property may be the time segments having the same day of the week. The repeating property may be the time segments having the same day of the month.
The method may comprise: generating a relative bandwidth demand map by normalising the bandwidth demand map; and wherein generating a bandwidth usage limit map comprises generating a bandwidth usage map based on the relative bandwidth demand map.
The geographic location may be a rural-urban type value. The geographic location may indicate a current geographic zone of the distributed device when the bandwidth demand value was recorded. The bandwidth usage limit values may comprise a maximum peak bandwidth limit and a time dependent bandwidth allocation.
The bandwidth usage limit may be associated with a predefined time period. The predefined time period may be one of a week, month, quarter or year.
The distributed devices may be each associated with a respective vehicle. The distributed devices may be each attached to the respective vehicle. The distributed devices may be configured to provide access to an external network to devices located on the respective vehicle. The vehicle may be a train.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bandwidth allocation device configured to implement the methods described herein.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows an example system that may implement the methods described herein.
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the process for controlling bandwidth limits of each distributed device of a set of distributed devices.
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
The present invention relates to a method for controlling bandwidth limits of each distributed device of a set of distributed device. The method can comprise receiving bandwidth demand data from at least one of the distributed devices and combining that bandwidth demand data in to a bandwidth demand map. In the case where a bandwidth demand map has already been previously generated the bandwidth demand data may be included in that existing bandwidth demand map. The bandwidth demand data can include at least one bandwidth demand value together with a time segment and geographic location associated with each bandwidth demand value. The bandwidth demand value may indicate the amount of bandwidth the distributed device required to communicate fully with an external network during that time segment which may be different to the actual bandwidth used by the distributed device during that time segment. This may be due to a bandwidth usage limit being set for that time segment. The method may further comprise generating a bandwidth usage limit map based on the bandwidth demand map and a bandwidth usage limit associated with the set of distributed devices. The method may further comprise transmitting the bandwidth usage limit map to at least one of the distributed devices.
Figure 1 shows an example system that can monitor the data usage of a set of devices and update a data usage policy based on that monitoring. The system comprises a data usage allocation device 10. It will be appreciated that, whilst reference is made to the data usage allocation device 10 being a separate device, allocation device 10 could be part of the functions performed by a general purpose server. The allocation device 10 may comprise a processing section 12 and a storage location 14. The allocation device 10 may be capable of implementing the methods described herein to monitor the data usage of a set of devices and update a data usage policy for each device. These methods may be implemented and controlled by the processing section 12. The processing section could perform its methods using dedicated hardware, using a general purpose processor executing software code, or using a combination of the two. A processor 16 executes software code stored in a non-transient way in software memory 18 in order to perform its methods. The processing section can read/write data from/to storage location 14. The storage location 14 may be in the form of a memory. Storage location 14 may comprise non-volatile memory, may be in the form of an array of discrete banks of memory such as hard disks. Whilst shown in Figure 1 as schematically being part of allocation device 10, the storage location 14 may be separate to allocation device 10 and connected to allocation device 10.
The server 10 may comprise at least one network interface 20. The allocation device 10 may be connected, using network interface 20, to a network 30 to permit communication with the set of devices 40. Network 30 may be made up of many network segments that are connected together and so may be a large distributed network such as the internet or another public network. As discussed above network 30 may be formed of at least one mobile operator’s network together with networks external to the mobile operator’s network.
Each of the set of devices 40a - 40n may comprise a processing section 12 and a storage location 14. Each of the set of devices 40 may be capable of implementing instructions received by allocation device 10 to enable allocation device 10 to control the bandwidth available for communications with network 30 to that particular device 40a of the set of devices 40a-n at a particular time. Each of the set of devices 40 may also be capable of implementing methods described herein to monitor the data usage of that particular device over time and provide details of that monitored data usage to the allocation device 10. Each device 40a-n of the set of devices 40 may comprise a processing section 42 and a storage location 44. The instructions and methods may be implemented and controlled by the processing section 42. The processing section could perform its methods using dedicated hardware, using a general purpose processor executing software code, or using a combination of the two. A processor 46 executes software code stored in a non-transient way in software memory 48 in order to perform its methods. The processing section can read/write data from/to storage location 44. The storage location 44 may be in the form of a memory. Storage location 44 may comprise non-volatile memory, may be in the form of an array of discrete banks of memory such as hard disks. Whilst shown in Figure 1 as schematically being part of devices 40, the storage location 44 may be separate to one of devices 40 and connected to one of devices 40.
Each of the set of devices 40a - 40n may comprise a wireless network interface 50. Each of the set of devices may communicate with network 30 using their respective wireless network interface 50.
One or more of devices of the set of device 40a-40n may comprise a positioning unit 52. A positioning unit 52 may be present in the device 40 if the device 40 is a mobile device 40 that is capable of being moved between locations on a regular basis. For instance, the device 40 may be attached to a vehicle, such as a train or a car and hence travel with the vehicle. In this respect the device 40 may be said to be a mobile device.
The positioning unit may be connected to processing section 42. The positioning unit 52 may be capable of deriving location information concerning the position of the device 40 at a particular time. The positioning unit 52 can receive location data from numerous sources which the positioning unit 52 can use to derive the location information concerning the current position of the device 40. It will be readily apparent that whilst the positioning unit 52 is described separately to the processing section 42, the functions of the positioning unit 52 could be performed by the processing section 42. It will be appreciated that positioning unit 52 may be configured to derive location information in any number of ways. Positioning unit 52 may be configured to receive signals sent from positioning satellites and derive location information from those signals. Positioning unit 52 may be configured to derive location information from the signal strengths of base stations that are within reception of wireless interface 50.
In the case that a device 40 is a static device that is intended not to be moved between locations on a regular basis, the location information may be entered in to the device 40 during initial configuration of the device 40. In this case, a positioning unit 52 may not be present in device 40. For example, device 40 may be part of a smart meter for the monitoring of energy usage and thus in this instance device 40 may be said to be a static device.
The allocation of data usage to each of the set of devices 40a-40n will now be described with reference to the figures.
Figure 2 is shows a flow diagram of the process for monitoring bandwidth demand of a set of devices 40a-n, processing the data associated with that bandwidth demand and calculating bandwidth limits based on the bandwidth demand data.
As shown in 201, bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to send a request for bandwidth demand data to at least one of the set of distributed devices 40. This request may be addressed to a particular distributed device 40. Alternatively, bandwidth allocation device 10 may send one bandwidth demand data request to the set of distributed devices 40. It is also envisaged that the bandwidth allocation device 10 may set a flag in storage location 14 which can be accessed by the set of distributed device 40 which indicates that one or more of those devices should send bandwidth demand data to bandwidth allocation device 10. The storage location 14 may be polled by the distributed devices 40 on a periodic basis. The distributed devices 40 may be configured to send bandwidth demand data to the bandwidth allocation device 10 on a periodic basis and/or from time to time.
As shown in 203, in response to bandwidth allocation device 10 requesting bandwidth demand data, bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to receive bandwidth demand data from one or more distributed devices 40 in the set of distributed devices 40.
Bandwidth demand data indicates the total bandwidth requirement that a distributed device required from wireless interface 50 to communicate with external network 30 over time. The bandwidth demand data may be broken down in to time segments so that the bandwidth demand data indicates the total bandwidth requirement of a distributed device 40 for each of a plurality of time segments. As will be described in more detail below, a distributed device 40 may be configured to comply with an instant bandwidth usage limit. Thus the total bandwidth requirement at a given time may be different to the actual bandwidth used to by wireless interface 50 to communicate with external network 30 at that given time. The total bandwidth requirement may be larger than the actual bandwidth when the distributed device 40 has more data to send via wireless interface 50 in a time period than is permitted by the bandwidth usage limit.
The bandwidth demand data may be generated by the distributed device 40 by being configured to log the amount of data that the distributed device 40 had available to send via wireless interface 50 associated with the current time segment. The distributed device 40 may also be configured to log the geographic position of the distributed device 40 associated with the current time segment. The distributed device 40 may store the bandwidth demand data in storage location 44.
In this way as described in relation to 203, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may monitor the distributed devices 40 gathering the instant data demand and geographic position associated with a particular time.
In gathering the bandwidth demand data, bandwidth allocation device may also derive the number of active distributed devices in the set of distributed devices over time. Each distributed device 40 may be required to poll the bandwidth allocation device 10 periodically so that the bandwidth allocation device 10 can log for each time segment the number of active distributed device in the set of distributed devices.
As shown in 205, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to combine the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map. The bandwidth demand map may be a three-dimensional space that associates bandwidth demand with a particular time segment and a particular location. The bandwidth demand map indicates the typical bandwidth requirement of a distributed device when operating at that particular location within that particular time segment. The bandwidth demand map may be an array in to which each bandwidth demand value can be stored together with the associated time segment and geographical location of the distributed device. The bandwidth demand map may be stored in storage location 14.
The bandwidth demand map may comprise multiple values of bandwidth demand for a particular time segment and location. Alternatively, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to statistically combine the multiple values of bandwidth demand for a particular time segment and location. The statistical combination may comprise, for example, taking the average of the values and storing this average against the associated time segment and geographical location of the distributed device. The bandwidth demand map may comprise a geographic location value associated with the bandwidth demand value. The geographic location value may indicate a geographic area, for example a geographic zone centred on a particular geographic point. The geographic location value may indicate the rural-urban type of the area in which the distributed device is currently located. The distributed device may be configured to compare the location value with a database to determine the rural-urban type of the area. The rural-urban type can indicate the level of urban development in an area, for instance whether it is urban, sub-urban or rural.
The bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to group time segments together. For instance, bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to group time segments together on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. In this way, bandwidth demand data for time segments with the same hour, day, or week may be grouped together.
As shown in 207, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to normalise the bandwidth demand map to produce a relative bandwidth demand map. The normalisation of the bandwidth demand map may occur periodically as more bandwidth demand data is received over time by the bandwidth allocation device 10. During the initial data capture, the normalisation of the bandwidth demand map may occur after it has been judged that the bandwidth demand map contains a reliable statistical profile of the bandwidth demand of the set of distributed devices.
As shown in 209, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to generate a bandwidth usage limit map based on (i) either the bandwidth demand map, or the relative bandwidth demand map (if the normalisation step occurs), and (ii) the total bandwidth usage limit for a predefined time period for the set of distributed devices. The bandwidth usage limit map defines the bandwidth usage limit for a given time segment and geographic location. The bandwidth usage limit map may also be based on the number of active distributed devices, and thus take in to account the number of distributed devices 40 that are consuming the bandwidth that counts towards the bandwidth usage limit. The bandwidth allocation device may be configured to reduce the bandwidth usage limit based on the number of active distributed devices.
As shown in 211, the bandwidth allocation device 10 may be configured to send the bandwidth usage limit map to at least one distributed device 40a-n of the set of distributed devices 40.
The bandwidth allocation device 10 may also be configured to send the current number of active distributed device of the set of distributed devices to at least one distributed device 40a-n.
The distributed device 40 may be configured to limit the amount of data that is sent over wireless interface 50 based on one of the bandwidth usage limits contained in the bandwidth usage limit map. The distributed device 40 may be configured to select the bandwidth usage limit based on the geographic location of the distributed device 40 and the current time segment. The distributed device 40 may also be configured to adjust the bandwidth usage limit based on the number of active distributed devices as provided by the bandwidth allocation device.
The distributed device 40 may be configured to limit the amount of data that is sent over wireless interface 50 based on a set bandwidth limit. In this case the bandwidth usage limits contained in the bandwidth usage limit map may comprise a bandwidth value for each entry in the bandwidth usage limit map. The distributed device 40 may be configured to limit the amount of data that is sent over wireless interface 50 based on a maximum peak bandwidth limit and a time dependent bandwidth allocation. The time dependent bandwidth allocation may define an allocation of bandwidth for a predefined time period, and the allocation may accumulate across time periods until the bandwidth allocation reaches the maximum peak bandwidth limit. Thus the bandwidth usage limits contained in the bandwidth usage limit map may comprise a maximum peak bandwidth value and a time dependent bandwidth allocation for each geographic location and time segment. The distributed device 40 may be capable of operating a bandwidth limit using a bandwidth allocation system known as token buckets. In this case, the maximum peak bandwidth value may be the bucket capacity and the time dependent bandwidth allocation may be the bucket token fill rate. When data is to be sent, tokens are taken from the virtual bucket in proportion to the size of the data to be sent.
The above described method allows for the dynamic shaping of traffic being sent by each of the distributed devices 40a-n. This dynamic shaping is based on the actual bandwidth demands of the distributed devices and so enables the shaping to be more representative of the actual bandwidth demands of the system rather than imposing an arbitrary limit on the bandwidth at a given time.
The distributed devices 40a-n may be configured to provide access to external networks 30, such as the internet, via the wireless interface 50 to local devices. The distributed devices 40a-n may be provided with a network interface to communicate with those local devices and act as a bridge or router to permit communication to flow from the local devices to the external networks 30. The distributed devices 40a-n may be configured to share the set bandwidth usage limit, as described above, amongst the local devices. The distributed device 40a-n may share this set bandwidth usage limit amongst the local devices by assigning a maximum peak bandwidth limit and a time dependent bandwidth allocation to each local device. The maximum peak bandwidth limit and the time dependent bandwidth allocation for each local device can be set in dependence on the current bandwidth limit that the distributed device 40 has derived from the bandwidth usage limit map. In this way the bandwidth usage limit set by the bandwidth usage limit map can be used efficiently by the distributed device 40 in providing access to the external network to local devices. The distributed device 40 may set the local device bandwidth limits using token buckets as described above.
One such system in which the above described method can be used is where the distributed devices are comprised in a vehicle. Each distributed device may be configured to permit other devices present in the vehicle to communicate with external networks 30 via the wireless interface of the distributed device 40a-n. The vehicles may be trains, and the distributed devices 40a-n may provide access to external networks 30, such as the internet, via the wireless interface 50 for passenger’s devices. The distributed devices 40a-n may allocate bandwidth to passenger’s devices using the sharing method described in the preceding paragraph. In this case, it is advantageous that the bandwidth usage limit map is based on the geographic location of the distributed device together with the current time segment. This is because it is generally the case that trains are busier during the mornings and evenings during the working week when people are attempting to get to and from work. Additionally, trains that run between popular destinations are likely to be busier than those that run between less populous destinations.
The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.
Claims (31)
1. A method for controlling bandwidth limits of each distributed device of a set of distributed devices; the method comprising: receiving bandwidth demand data from at least one distributed device, the bandwidth demand data including at least one bandwidth demand value, and a time segment and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth demand value; combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map; generating a bandwidth usage limit map based on the bandwidth demand map and a bandwidth usage limit for the set of distributed devices, the bandwidth usage limit map including at least one bandwidth usage limit value, and a time segment and a geographic location associated with each bandwidth usage limit value; and transmitting the bandwidth usage limit map to at least one distributed device of the set of distributed devices.
2. The method according to claim 1 comprising: requesting, prior to receiving bandwidth demand data, bandwidth demand data from at least one distributed device.
3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein combining the bandwidth demand data comprises combining the bandwidth demand data into an existing bandwidth demand map.
4. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein receiving bandwidth demand data occurs during a first period, and the method comprises: receiving bandwidth demand data, during a second period, from at least one distributed device; and combining the bandwidth demand data received during a second period into an existing bandwidth demand map.
5. The method according to any preceding claim comprising receiving bandwidth demand data from a plurality of distributed devices.
6. The method according to any preceding claim comprising transmitting the bandwidth usage limit map to a plurality of distributed devices.
7. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the bandwidth demand data includes a plurality of bandwidth demand values.
8. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the bandwidth usage limit map includes a plurality of bandwidth usage limit values.
9. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the bandwidth demand values indicate the amount of bandwidth desired by the distributed device to communicate with an external network during the associated time segment.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the amount of bandwidth desired by the distributed device during the associated time segment is different to the amount of bandwidth consumed by the distributed device during the associated time segment.
11. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein generating a bandwidth usage map is based on the bandwidth demand map, a bandwidth usage limit and an active distributed device number for each time segment.
12. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the bandwidth demand map includes a plurality of bandwidth demand values for a particular time segment and geographic location.
13. The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map comprises combining multiple bandwidth demand values for a particular time segment and geographic location into one bandwidth demand value for a particular time segment and geographic location.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the bandwidth demand map includes one bandwidth demand value for each time segment and geographic location.
15. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein combining the bandwidth demand data into a bandwidth demand map comprises associating bandwidth demand values, with different associated time segments, together based on a repeating property of the time segments.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the repeating property is the time segments having the same hour of the week.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the repeating property is the time segments having the same day of the week.
18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the repeating property is the time segments having the same day of the month.
19. The method according to any preceding claim comprising: generating a relative bandwidth demand map by normalising the bandwidth demand map; and wherein generating a bandwidth usage limit map comprises generating a bandwidth usage map based on the relative bandwidth demand map.
20. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the geographic location is a rural-urban type value.
21. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the geographic location indicates a current geographic zone of the distributed device when the bandwidth demand value was recorded.
22. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the bandwidth usage limit values comprise a maximum peak bandwidth limit and a time dependent bandwidth allocation.
23. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the bandwidth usage limit is associated with a predefined time period.
24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the predefined time period is one of a week, month, quarter or year.
25. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the distributed devices are each associated with a respective vehicle.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the distributed devices are each attached to the respective vehicle.
27. The method according claim 25 or 26, wherein the distributed devices are configured to provide access to an external network to devices located on the respective vehicle.
28. The method according to any of claims 25 to 27, wherein the vehicle is a train.
29. A bandwidth allocation device configured to implement the method of any preceding claim.
30. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
31. A bandwidth allocation device as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1521089.1A GB2544811B (en) | 2015-11-30 | 2015-11-30 | Dynamic bandwidth allocation |
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| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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| GB1521089.1A GB2544811B (en) | 2015-11-30 | 2015-11-30 | Dynamic bandwidth allocation |
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| GB201521089D0 GB201521089D0 (en) | 2016-01-13 |
| GB2544811A true GB2544811A (en) | 2017-05-31 |
| GB2544811B GB2544811B (en) | 2021-05-05 |
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| GB1521089.1A Active GB2544811B (en) | 2015-11-30 | 2015-11-30 | Dynamic bandwidth allocation |
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Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2024026226A1 (en) * | 2022-07-28 | 2024-02-01 | Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP | Systems and methods for curing network deficiencies in video networks |
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| US20120064893A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | Empire Technology Development Llc | Prediction of mobile bandwidth and usage requirements |
| US20140207936A1 (en) * | 2013-01-22 | 2014-07-24 | International Business Machines Corporation | Signal overload management in major events and disasters |
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2015
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Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20120064893A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | Empire Technology Development Llc | Prediction of mobile bandwidth and usage requirements |
| US20140207936A1 (en) * | 2013-01-22 | 2014-07-24 | International Business Machines Corporation | Signal overload management in major events and disasters |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2024026226A1 (en) * | 2022-07-28 | 2024-02-01 | Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP | Systems and methods for curing network deficiencies in video networks |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201521089D0 (en) | 2016-01-13 |
| GB2544811B (en) | 2021-05-05 |
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