Patent ID: 9161376
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: generate one or more test packets by an access point; communicate the one or more test packets from the access point to a test server using a broadband communication channel, wherein at least a portion of the broadband communication channel is maintained between the access point and a particular gateway and wherein the particular gateway is at least one of a home node b gateway or a home evolved node b gateway and wherein the test server is located proximate to the particular gateway; communicate the one or more test packets from the test server back to the access point using the broadband communication channel; measure at least one test communication characteristic based on the communication of the one or more test packets with the test server; determine at least one performance characteristic of the broadband communication channel maintained between the access point and the particular gateway based, at least in part, on the test communication characteristic; determine whether the performance characteristic indicates poor performance of the broadband communication channel; and manage access point communication channel utilization based, at least in part, on the performance characteristic indicating poor performance of the broadband communication channel, the access point communication channel utilization pertaining to at least one of: the broadband communication channel maintained between the access point and the particular gateway or at least one user equipment communication channel between the access point and at least one user equipment.