Patent ID: 7489690
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of scheduling packet transmissions, for use in providing packet communication service to wireless subscriber client devices through a hybrid network having a wireline portion and a wireless portion, the method comprising: determining a time budget for delivery of each respective packet through a combination of the wireline and wireless portions of the network to each of a plurality of the wireless subscriber client devices; recording a respective time stamp indicating time of entry into the network for each packet; routing the packets through the wireline portion of the network to the wireless portion of the network, using a first scheduling algorithm; routing the packets through the wireless portion of the network using a second scheduling algorithm different from the first scheduling algorithm; with respect to a point in the wireline network or a point in the wireless network before transmission of packets over wireless link to respective wireless subscriber client devices, subtracting a difference between time of arrival of each packet at the point before transmission over wireless link and the time of entry indicated by the respective time stamp, from the time budget for the packet, to compute a slack time representing a remaining amount of the time budget for delivery of each respective packet from said point through the network to one of the wireless subscriber client devices; and at said point, reordering at least two of the packets intended for different wireless subscriber client devices for routing in accord with at least one of the scheduling algorithms, based on the computed slack times for said at least two packets in such a manner as will allow for delivery of the packets intended for different wireless subscriber client devices before expiration of respective timing budgets.