WO2009050569A2

WO2009050569A2 - Transferring qos profile into terminal in wimax

Info

Publication number: WO2009050569A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/002748
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tommi Rantanen; Mikko Tasa; Jani HIRSIMÄKI; Jukka Ala-Vannesluoma; Pekka Kuure; Sandro Grech; Richard WISENÖCKER
Original assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy; Nokia, Inc.
Priority date: 2007-10-19
Filing date: 2008-10-16
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: WO2009050569A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring a subscriber station quality of service profile to a terminal for informing the terminal about what kind of service flows the terminal is allowed to create. The subscriber station quality of service profile may be a part of a subscriber quality of service profile which is transferred to a service flow authorization at a time of network entry by the terminal. Existence of the subscriber station quality of service profile indicates that terminal- initiated service flows can be used according to the profile.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:

TRANSFERRING QOS PROFILE INTO TERMINAL IN WIMAX

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of United States Provisional

Patent Application Serial No. 60/960,926, filed on October 19, 2007. The subject matter of the earlier filed application is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a subscriber station quality of service profile (SS QoS profile), and more particularly, to the transfer of a SS QoS profile to a SS via Device Management or via WiMAX

Medium Access Control (MAC) management messages for indicating that terminal-initiated service flows can be used according to the SS QoS profile.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] The Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system lends itself as a lightweight Internet access technology. WiMAX is built on top of the IEEE 802.16e MAC+PHY (Medium Access Control +

Physical Layer) standard from the IEEE (certified by WiMAX). The system standard (higher layers and network) is standardized and certified by the

WiMAX forum (WMF).

[0004] WiMAX includes a concept of service flow which defines a transfer of data over an air interface between a terminal and a base station.

Different service flows may have very different properties characterized by scheduling types and specific parameters, such as a maximum latency and a traffic priority.

[0005] According to the WMF's Network Working Group (NWG)

Release 1.0, service flows are always created by the base station at the time of network entry, and hence, these service flows are called pre-provisioned service flows. NWG Release 1.5 may further define service flow creation, covering both network-initiated and terminal-initiated dynamic service flows. [0006] Currently, WMF's NWG Release 1.5 also defines device management procedures for WiMAX, utilizing the DSL Forum's TR-069 and the Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) as the device management protocol (See OMA Device Management, http://www. openmobilealliance. org/release_program/dm_y 1 _ 2A. htm[)(OMA Device Management).

[0007] Further, IEEE 802.16-2004 specifications enable a terminal to create service flows. However, terminal-initiated service flow creation does not occur in practice because the NWG does not support such a service flow creation. According to IEEE 802.16-2004, the creation of service flows is possible, but the terminal does not know what kind of service flow it may request. Hence, the terminal may attempt to create a service flow, but when it fails to create the service flow, the terminal may try to modify the request, resulting in a time consuming approach which may also prevent the terminal from determining if the service flow creation failure is due to an unsupported feature in the network or due to illegal parameters. [0008] Moreover, when the NWG specifies required procedures to enable a terminal-initiated service flow creation, the terminal may be unable to determine whether the network supports terminal-initiated and/or network- initiated service flow creation.

[0009] To address the aforementioned problem, a Subscriber QoS profile has been introduced in the scope of WMF's NWG Release 1.0. The Subscriber QoS profile is transferred into a SFA in an access service network (ASN) to enable the SFA to authorize requests, e.g. creation, modification, etc., related to service flows. According to a Pre-Provisioned QoS profile within the Subscriber QoS profile, the SFA may trigger creation of pre-provisioned service flows at the time of network entry. Additionally, if a connectivity service network (CSN) hosts a service, the server may be informed about the kind of dynamic service flows it may trigger for different subscribers. However, the terminal is still unaware of which kind of service flows it may create.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0010] Certain embodiments of the present invention can provide an apparatus. The apparatus may include a processor configured to configure a quality of service profile, and create a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide a method. The method may include configuring a quality of service profile, and creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when a determination is made that an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

[0011] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide an apparatus. The apparatus may include a processor configured to receive a request message. The request message may include a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow. The processor may further be configured to authorize a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile. The new service flow may be configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

[0012] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide a method. The method may include receiving a request message.

The request message may include a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow. The method may further include authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile. The new service flow may be configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

[0013] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The computer program product may be configured to control a processor to perform a method. The method may include configuring a quality of service profile, and creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when a determination is made that an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element. [0014] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The computer program product may be configured to control a processor to perform a method. The method may include receiving a request message. The request message may include a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow. The method may further include authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile. The new service flow may be configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element. [0015] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide an apparatus. The apparatus may include processing means for configuring a quality of service profile, and servicing means for creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

[0016] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can provide an apparatus. The apparatus may include receiving means for receiving a request message. The request message may include a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow. The apparatus may further include authorizing means for authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile. The new service flow may be configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further aspects, details, advantages and modifications of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via a device management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for a transfer and usage of a SS

QoS profile via a device management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via

WiMAX management messages, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram for a transfer and usage of a SS

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a base station, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

[0024] In general, various embodiments of the present invention relate to the transfer of a SS QoS profile to a SS via normal device management procedures or via WiMAX MAC management messages for indicating that terminal-initiated service flows can be used according to the profile. Also, a

SS QoS profile may be transferred to a SFA entity of a ASN-GW at the time of network entry of the SS. Alternatively, if a home-network service provider (H-NSP) supports a policy control and charging (PCC) framework, the SS QoS profile may be transferred into a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), instead of the SFA leaving authorization decisions to the PCRF.

[0025] According to the OMA, DM is the management of a device configuration and other managed objects of devices from the point of view of various management authorities. In other words, OMA DM is an advanced way to manage content and settings in a SS. [0026] WiMAX related device management objects may be a part of the device management work in the NWG. Device management objects may define the content of data that is transferred to a terminal to configure various issues in the terminal's functionality, such as roaming lists, channel plans, subscription credentials, etc. In the context of certain embodiments of the present invention, a device management object may be defined as any data structure that is transmitted using any device management protocol for the purpose of transferring data.

[0027] Even though the current WMF's NWG Release 1.5 specification refers to OMA DM, device management in the context of certain embodiments of the present invention may include any protocol used for device management regardless of whether it is specified for a WiMAX MAC layer or any other layer type.

[0028] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a SS QoS profile may be transferred to the terminal using initial provisioning via normal device management procedures that are currently being specified in the NWG. The SS QoS profile may not be available when initial provisioning occurs, for example, if a user does not want to add any special QoS capabilities when creating a subscription. Hence, the SS QoS profile may need to be transferred to the terminal when the user extends the subscription to cover better QoS or whenever the H-NSP upgrades the subscription regarding a QoS. [0029] Additionally, updating the SS QoS profile may occur when the terminal has a connection to the device management server via normal device management procedures.

[0030] Alternatively, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, a SS QoS profile may be transferred with protocols other than DM, such as WiMAX MAC management messages or other protocols on top of an Internet protocol (IP).

[0031] When using WiMAX MAC management messages, the SS QoS profile may be transferred to the terminal during network entry by extending dynamic service addition request (DSA-REQ) and dynamic service addition response (DSA-RSP) messages, or by using some other existing or new MAC messages, with new type/length/values (TLVs) or extending the existing TLVs.

[0032] For each network entry, a base station may transfer the SS QoS profile to a SS using a DSA-REQ, if the base station supports such functionality. Alternatively, the SS may request the profile using a DSA- REQ to which the base station may transfer the SS QoS profile in a DSA- RSP. The latter alternative may provide the possibility of avoiding a transfer of the profile in each network since the profile is not needed if the SS already has the profile.

[0033] An advantage of using WiMAX MAC management messages to transfer the SS QoS profile into the terminal would be that since the profile originates from the home-authentication, authorization, and accounting (H- AAA) server, and possibly from a visited-authentication, authorization, and accounting (V-AAA) server to the SFA in the ASN to the base station, the SFA may be able to slightly modify the profile, if the profile does not support all of the alternatives included in the profile by the H-NSP. [0034] Moreover, the SS QoS profile may be transferred to the terminal at the time of network entry via WiMAX MAC management messages or on some protocol on top of the IP. [0035] The SS QoS profile may include information about a service flow or service flows. The SS QoS profile may specify details of a service flow that the SS may use. The SS QoS profile may further include a set of service flow information elements. Each service flow information element may contain a number of service flows, a data delivery service type, service flow direction (uplink or downlink), media type list, a traffic priority, a maximum sustained traffic rate, a maximum traffic burst, a minimum reserved traffic rate, total traffic rate, a tolerated jitter, a maximum latency, and packet classifiers.

[0036] The number of service flows may specify a number and type of service flows that a terminal can dynamically use. A data delivery service type may include at least one of an unsolicited grant service (UGS), an extended real-time polling service (ertPS), a real-time polling service (rtPS), a non-real-time polling service (nrtPS), and BE. A media type may include at least one of voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), audio, video, gaming, browsing, and a media flow type parameter of NWG Stage 3. [0037] The media flow type parameter of NWG Stage 3 may be a directive or a definitive value. Specific values or ranges may be designated for the traffic priority, the maximum sustained traffic rate, the maximum traffic burst, the minimum reserved traffic rate, total traffic rate, the tolerated jitter, service flow direction (uplink or downlink), media type list, and the maximum latency as a range for each specific service flow detail that the terminal can use. If necessary, each of these values may be omitted and may also be all included in the SS QoS profile.

[0038] The packet classifiers may be packet classifiers as defined in § 11.13.19 of the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.

[0039] The SS QoS profile may also include information about allowed network access points (NAPs). The NAPs may represent where terminal- initiated service flows can be created according to the SS QoS profile whenever the NAP supports service flow creation. If desired, the allowed NAPs may be integrated into contractual agreements preference list (CAPL) information.

[0040] The SS QoS profile may also include information about visited network service providers (V-NSPs). The V-NSPs may represent where terminal-initiated service flows can be created according to the SS QoS profile whenever the NAP supports service flow creation. If desired, the allowed NAPs may be integrated into roaming agreements preference list

(RAPL) information.

[0041] Further, the SS QoS profile may be included into the device management object.

[0042] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a terminal may determine if terminal-initiated service flow creation is allowed by means of a capability exchange.

[0043] A new TLV may be added, or an existing TLV may be extended, into a WiMAX MAC capability exchange, such as SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP messages, or into some other message or to a new message. The SBC-REQ may be extended with a new TLV indicating whether the terminal supports terminal-initiated service flows, or whether the network's support is requested. Then, the SBC-RSP would contain a TLV indicating the support of the network.

[0044] If the terminal is unable to determine whether the network supports terminal-initiated service flow creation, the terminal may attempt to create a service flow with DSA-REQ, and if the attempt fails, may determine that the network does not support the specific service flow. A confirmation code in the DSA-RSP may be used to detect the reason of the failure.

Further, a reject-add-abort code may potentially be used or a new confirmation code may be added, such as a reject-SS-initiated-not-supported code.

[0045] Further, information included in the DM object may be extended with a capability indicating whether a NAP supports terminal-initiated service flow creation. This information may be added, for example, into CAPL on a per NAP basis.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via a device management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, dashed lines indicate that the following operations are not necessarily tight to the previous operations. FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via a device management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a SS QoS profile may be transferred to a terminal via normal device management procedures (S lOl, S201). As previously noted, normal device management procedures may be defined by at least WMF's NWG Release 1.5 and OMA Device Management. DM in the context of certain embodiments of the present invention may include any protocol used for device management purposes regardless whether it is specified for a WiMAX MAC layer or any other layer. [0048] The terminal may perform normal network entry procedures to enter the network (S 102, S202). In a SBC exchange, the terminal may determine that the network supports terminal-initiated service flow creation. [0049] In steps S 103, S203, the SS QoS profile may be transferred from the H-AAA to the ASN, more specifically to the SFA, as part of a Subscriber QoS profile. Although this scenario is for a non-roaming terminal, similar procedures may apply in the case of a roaming terminal with the exception of a V-AAA serving as a proxy to transfer the profile information to the ASN. Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, although the SFA is described as being located in the ASN-GW, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the SFA may be an insolated function unit or in some other system component. [0050] In steps S 104, S204, the terminal may determine that it needs to create a new service flow. The determination may be performed, for example, by an application that commands a creation of a new service flow. Additionally, a WiMAX MAC layer implementation may identify that none of the existing service flows can be used for the specific data traffic, but a new service flow may be created. In this case, the application may notify an abstract level QoS to lower layers from which the lowered layers are able to determine if existing service flows are appropriate.

[0051] In steps S 105, S205, the terminal may check that the required service flow fits into a restriction defined by the SS QoS profile and information on which parts of the profile are already in use in the form of other service flows created by the terminal. If the exact service flow determined to be the best for the needed data flow cannot be created according to the SS QoS profile and existing service flows, the terminal may try to determine the best alternative service flow that fits into the SS QoS profile and existing service flows.

[0052] In steps S 106, S206, the terminal may create a new service flow by sending DSA-REQ with appropriate parameters into the base station.

[0053] In steps S 107, S207, service flow creation may be authorized inside the ASN by the SFA. The authorization may be performed against the Subscriber QoS profile which may include the SS QoS profile.

[0054] In steps S 108, S208, the base station may respond successfully to the DSA-REQ with a DSA-RSP.

[0055] In steps S 109, S209, the service flow may be created and may be used to transfer data to and from the Internet.

[0056] In steps S 110, S210, the SS QoS profile may be updated by means of normal device management procedures. The need for updating may occur, for example, if the SS QoS profile changes.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via

WiMAX management messages, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram for a transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via WiMAX management messages, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0058] In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, usage of the SS QoS profile may be similar to the usage of the SS QoS profile as described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2; therefore, steps S 104, S204 through S 109, S209 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively, may also be valid in the context of the process described in FIG.

3 and FIG. 4, respectively.

[0059] In steps S301, S401, a terminal may perform normal network entry procedures to enter a network.

[0060] In steps S302, S402, a SS QoS profile may be transferred from a

H-AAA to an ASN, more specifically to a SFA, as part of a Subscriber QoS profile. Although this scenario is for a non-roaming terminal, similar procedures may apply in the case of a roaming terminal with the exception of a V-AAA serving as a proxy to transfer the profile information to the

ASN. The SFA may modify the SS QoS profile according to a NAP's support, e.g. if the NAP does not support all the features that the SS QoS profile defined by the H-AAA indicates, the NAP may convert the SS QoS profile according to the NAP's own support and the agreement between the

NAP and a H-NSP.

[0061] In steps S303, S403, the SFA may transfer the SS QoS profile into a base station.

[0062] In steps S304, S404, the network may send the SS QoS profile into the terminal utilizing a DSA-REQ. The DSA-REQ may also be used during a connection to update the SS QoS profile.

[0063] In steps, S305, S405, the terminal may respond with a DSA-RSP that the terminal has received a SS QoS profile.

[0064] In steps, S306, S406, the usage of the SS QoS profile may be similar to the usage of the SS QoS profile as described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively.

[0065] The transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via a device management system as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be implemented in a system including at least a terminal and a base station, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system may further include an access service network gateway (ASN-GW), a home-authentication, authorization, and accounting (H-AAA) server, and a device management server (DM server).

[0066] The terminal in the system would receive a SS QoS profile via normal device management procedures. The terminal may perform normal network entry procedures to enter the network. The H-AAA in the system may transfer the SS QoS profile to the ASN, more specifically to the SFA, as part of a Subscriber QoS profile.

[0067] When the terminal determines that it needs to create a new service flow, the terminal may check that the required service flow fits into a restriction defined by the SS QoS profile and information on which parts of the profile are already in use in the form of other service flows created by the terminal. If the exact service flow determined to be the best for the needed data flow cannot be created according to the SS QoS profile and existing service flows, the terminal may try to determine the best alternative service flow that fits into the SS QoS profile and existing service flows. The terminal then may create a new service flow by sending DSA-REQ with appropriate parameters into the base station. The ASN may then authorize the service flow creation and the authorization is performed against the Subscriber QoS profile which may include the SS QoS profile. The base station may respond successfully to the DSA-REQ with a DSA-RSP. The service flow may then be created and used to transfer data to and from the Internet. The SS QoS profile may then be updated using normal device management procedures.

[0068] The transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via WiMAX MAC management messages illustrated in FIG. 3 and the transfer and usage of a SS QoS profile via WiMAX MAC management illustrated in FIG. 4 may be implemented in a system including at least a terminal and a base station, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system may further include the ASN-GW, the H-AAA, and the DM server (not shown). [0069] In this system, the usage of the SS QoS profile may be similar to the usage of the SS QoS profile as described in the system corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The terminal may perform normal network entry procedures to enter a network. The H-AAA may transfer the SS QoS profile to the ASN, more specifically to a SFA, as part of a Subscriber QoS profile. The SFA may modify the SS QoS profile according to a NAP's support, e.g. if the NAP does not support all the features that the SS QoS profile defined by the H-AAA indicates, the NAP may convert the SS QoS profile according to the NAP's own support and the agreement between the NAP and a H-NSP.

[0070] The SFA may transfer the SS QoS profile into a base station. The network may send the SS QoS profile into the terminal utilizing a DSA-REQ. The DSA-REQ may also be used during a connection to update the SS QoS profile. The terminal may then respond with a DSA-RSP that the terminal has received a SS QoS profile. The usage of the SS QoS profile may be similar to the usage of the SS QoS profile as described in the system associated with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively.

[0071] FIG. 5 illustrates a terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] The terminal 500 may include a receiving unit 501 configured to receive a SS QoS profile. The terminal 500 may further include a transmitting unit 502 configured to perform normal network entry procedures for connecting to a network 504. The terminal 500 may further include a processing unit 503 configured to determine whether the terminal 500 needs to create a new service flow.

[0073] The processing unit 503 may include an application configured to command creation of a new service flow. A WiMAX MAC layer associated with the application may be configured to identify whether any of the existing service flows can be used for specific data traffic and whether a new service flow may be created. The processing unit 503 may further be configured to notify an abstract level QoS to lower layers from which the lowered layers are able to determine if existing service flows are appropriate. [0074] The processing unit 503 may be further configured to check that the required service flow fits into a restriction defined by the SS QoS profile and information on which parts of the profile are already in use in the form of other service flows created by the terminal 500. If the exact service flow determined to be the best for the needed data flow cannot be created according to the SS QoS profile and existing service flows, the terminal 500 may try to determine the best alternative service flow that fits into the SS QoS profile and existing service flows.

[0075] The processing unit 503 may further be configured to create a new service flow by sending a DSA-REQ with the appropriate parameters to a base station 505 via the transmitting unit 502, whereby service flow creation may be authorized inside a ASN by a SFA. The authorization may be performed against a Subscriber QoS profile which may include the SS QoS profile.

[0076] The receiving unit 501 may further be configured to receive a DSA-RSP from the base station, whereby the service flow created by the processing unit 503 may be used to transfer data to and from the Internet. [0077] FIG. 6 illustrates details of the base station 505, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] Using the configuration described in FIG. 5, the terminal 500 may be configured to transmit a command creation of a new service flow or to create a new service flow by sending a DSA-REQ with the appropriate parameters to the base station 505. The base station 505 may include a receiving unit 506 configured to receive an extending dynamic service addition request (DSA-REQ) message, or by using some other existing or new MAC messages, with new type/length/values (TLVs) or extending the existing TLVs. The base station 505 may further include a transmitting unit 507 configured to transmit dynamic service addition response (DSA-RSP) messages back to the terminal 500. The base station 505 may further include a processing unit 508 configured to at least process the DSA-REQ message to the DSA-RSP message. The processing unit 508 may also transfer the SS QoS profile received from the SFA to terminal 500 with the DSA-REQ message utilizing the transmitting unit 507 if base station 505 supports such functionality. Alternatively, if the terminal 500 requests the profile using a DSA-REQ, using the processing unit 508, the base station 505 may transfer to the terminal 500 the SS QoS profile in the DSA-RSP message.

[0079] Using the configuration described in FIG. 5, the terminal 500 may be configured to receive the DSA-RSP from the transmitting unit 507 in the base station 505, whereby the service flow created by the terminal 500 is used to transfer data to and from the Internet.

[0080] As used above, a SS or a terminal, used interchangeably above, may include, for example, a user equipment, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a communication-ready multimedia device, or the like.

[0081] The various apparatuses above may implement the features described above using hardware, software, or a hybrid of software and hardware. The various methods above may be implemented using hardware, software, or a hybrid of software and hardware. Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention may include a computer program product embodied on a computer-readable storage medium and encoding instructions configured (when executed on a device) to cause the device to perform one or more of the various methods discussed above. The system, methods, and network elements described above may be used in various wireless/mobile communication systems in addition to WiMAX systems. A computer- readable storage medium may include random access memory (RAM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), hard disks, floppy disks, laser disk players, digital video devices, compact disks, video tapes, audio tapes, magnetic recording tracks, electronic networks, and other techniques to transmit or store electronic content such as, by way of example, programs and data. [0082] One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the claims of any non- provisional application that references this provisional application.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to configure a quality of service profile, and create a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message comprising the quality of service profile from the network element using device management procedures.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message comprising the quality of service profile from the network element using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the message comprises a request message comprising the quality of service profile, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a transmitter configured to send a response message to the network element, the response message being configured to notify the network element that the apparatus has received the quality of service profile.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the message comprises a request message comprising the quality of service profile, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a transmitter configured to send a response message to the network element, the response message being configured to notify the network element that the apparatus has received the quality of service profile.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to check that the existing service flow satisfies a quality of service requirement defined by the information within the quality of service profile and information on which portions of the quality of service profile are already in use in a form of other service flows created by the apparatus, and further configured to create the new service flow when the existing service flow fails to satisfy the quality of service requirement.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a transmitter configured to send a request message comprising a set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile through a gateway element to an authorizer to create the new service flow, wherein the authorizer is configured to authorize the creation of the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gateway element comprises a base station, and wherein the authorizer comprises an access service network gateway.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the new service flow is configured to transfer data between the user equipment and the network element.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate with the network element to determine whether the apparatus is configured to support a terminal-initiated service flow, or whether the network element's support is requested to create the new service flow.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate with the network element using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the quality of service profile comprises one of a service flow information, a number of service flows, a data delivery service type, service flow direction (uplink or downlink), media type list, a traffic priority, a maximum sustained traffic rate, a maximum traffic burst, a minimum reserved traffic rate, total traffic rate, a tolerated jitter, a maximum latency, and a plurality of packet classifiers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the service flow information comprises the number of service flows comprising a number and a type of service flows that the user equipment can use to transfer the packet from the user equipment to the network element.

14. A method, comprising: configuring a quality of service profile; and creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when a determination is made that an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the creating comprises receiving a message comprising the quality of service profile from the network element using device management procedures.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the creating comprises receiving a message comprising the quality of service profile from the network element using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a request message comprising the quality of service profile, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a response message to the network element, the response message being configured to notify the network element that the quality of service profile has been received.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the message comprises a request message comprising the quality of service profile, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a response message to the network element, the response message being configured to notify the network element that the quality of service profile has been received.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: checking that the existing service flow satisfies a quality of service requirement defined by the information within the quality of service profile and information on which portions of the quality of service profile are already in use in a form of other created service flows; and creating the new service flow when the existing service flow fails to satisfy the quality of service requirement.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising: sending a request message comprising a set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile through a gateway element to an authorizer to create the new service flow, wherein the authorizer is configured to authorize the creation of the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising: transferring data between the user equipment and the network element using the new service flow.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising: negotiating with the network element to determine whether the user equipment is configured to support a user equipment-initiated service flow, or whether the network element's support to create the new service flow is requested.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the negotiating comprises using medium access control management messages to determine whether the user equipment is configured to support a user equipment-initiated service flow, or whether the network element's support to create the new service flow is requested.

24. An apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to receive a request message, wherein the request message comprises a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow, and authorize a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile, wherein the new service flow is configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the quality of service profile to the user equipment.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the quality of service profile to the user equipment using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to get the quality of service profile from a home authentication, authorization, and accounting server.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate with the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is configured to support a user equipment-initiated service flow, or whether the apparatus's support is requested to create the new service flow is requested.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate with the user equipment using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the user equipment quality of service profile comprises one of a service flow information, a number of service flows, a data delivery service type, service flow direction (uplink or downlink), media type list, a traffic priority, a maximum sustained traffic rate, a maximum traffic burst, a minimum reserved traffic rate, total traffic rate, a tolerated jitter, a maximum latency, and a plurality of packet classifiers.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the service flow information comprises the number of service flows comprising a number and a type of service flows that the user equipment can use to transfer data between the user equipment and the network element.

32. A method, comprising: receiving a request message, wherein the request message comprises a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow; and authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile, wherein the new service flow is configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: transmitting the quality of service profile to the user equipment using worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising: obtaining the quality of service profile from a home authentication, authorization, and accounting server.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising: negotiating with the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is configured to support a user equipment-initiated service flow, or whether the network element's support to create the new service flow is requested.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the negotiating comprises using medium access control management messages to determine whether the user equipment is configured to support a user equipment-initiated service flow, or whether the network element's support to create the new service flow is requested.

37. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product being configured to control a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: configuring a quality of service profile; and creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when a determination is made that an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

38. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product being configured to control a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: receiving a request message, wherein the request message comprises a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow; and authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile, wherein the new service flow is configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.

39. An apparatus, comprising: processing means for configuring a quality of service profile, and servicing means for creating a new service flow based on information within the quality of service profile when an existing service flow is not configured to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element.

40. An apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receiving a request message, wherein the request message comprises a set of parameters associated with a quality of service profile configured to create a new service flow, and authorizing means for authorizing a user equipment to create the new service flow based on the set of parameters associated with the quality of service profile, wherein the new service flow is configured to transmit data between the user equipment and a network element.