Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining whether a first device is communicating under a bandwidth surplus with a fixed network, wherein the bandwidth surplus results at least in part from use by the first device of one or more link aggregation groups, wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise one or more satellite broadband communication channels as well as licensed cellular wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination of the licensed cellular and unlicensed spectrum; determining whether a second device is communicating under a bandwidth deficit with the fixed network; and responsive to the first device communicating under the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second device communicating under the bandwidth deficit, allocating at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus associated with the first device to the second device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to distributed wireline/wireless bandwidth orchestration/aggregation to PON/WAN nodes using licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum (including satellite).

BACKGROUND

With the ever-increasing presence of devices that are consuming bandwidth that reside inside the home, customers are often left with bandwidth constraints. These bandwidth constraints are often in the upstream and downstream queues that are defined at logical interfaces provisioned for users within the Passive Optical Network (PON) device that is delivering broadband service to the home. Many video streaming applications and the increase in internet-of-things (IOT) devices that consume considerably more bandwidth than what is often provisioned at the home can lead to bandwidth saturation with respect to bandwidth that is being delivered to the PON device. Various capacity engineering models typically only build to 80% of the maximum being delivered to the PON device; however, if that 80% is exceeded this would lead to bandwidth saturation at the PON and the inability to deliver subscribed bandwidth of the user. Many customers, however, do not know that they are operating in a bandwidth constrained environment as they have become accustomed to the occasional slow internet speeds and/or degraded performance from their applications.

Further, it is difficult to predict the incoming demand (which can fluctuate at different points of the day) at a location and to properly size the pipe to fit the incoming demand. In rural applications, this can be especially challenging, as the economics of scale often don't make it conducive to provide higher broadband speeds to rural subscribers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As the demand for network connectivity can fluctuate throughout the day depending on the location, it can be difficult to predict the network capacity (or the “size” of the “pipe”) that is needed to accommodate the varying levels of traffic. This is especially so for large venues where waves of visitors may come and go and where many different types of data traffic may be transported over the network infrastructure. For applications that require extremely low latency, a “bandwidth event” can be quite problematic.

A typical solution is to simply oversize the network capacity so that it can accommodate high utilization scenarios. However, this leaves much of the available capacity underutilized for a vast majority of the time, and performance and user experience can also suffer in cases of unexpectedly high demand that exceeds what the oversized pipe can handle. Another solution is to leverage quality-of-service (QoS) to prioritize certain essential traffic that have low latency requirements. However, this introduces performance degradation for non-priority traffic during network congestion. Further, traditional QoS is deployed only in Layer 2 (L2) and Layer 3 (L3) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, and thus offers no Layer 1 (L1)-based capacity expansions.

Presently, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards provide user equipment (UEs) with carrier aggregation (CA) and/or long-term evolution (LTE)-wireless local area network (WLAN) aggregation (LWA) technologies that leverage both licensed and unlicensed carrier channels to service bandwidth needs. While these technologies are generally effective at increasing bandwidth for UEs and supporting faster data transfers, the competition for intra-band and inter-band carriers can be fierce in a high utilization or congestion scenario (such as at a large sporting event or conference) where numerous UEs are in close proximity to one another and contend for carrier channels. As UEs start consuming other channels to accommodate for bandwidth demands, CA devices can be left with a spectrum deficit. Furthermore, UE power consumption can also increase in the competition for uplink connection aggregations.

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments of a dynamic link aggregation (or allocation) system for augmenting network capacity of a wireless network device. The wireless network device may be an Internet-facing, customer premises equipment (CPE), such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or WAP. In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system may operate in Layer 1 of the network stack, and may be configured to augment a fixed (e.g., wired) network connection of the wireless network device by adding additional wireless network connections using available connectivity provided by mobile networks (including from any associated network edge cloud (NEC) mediums) and/or nearby WAPs. In various embodiments, connectivity provided by mobile network(s) may be over licensed spectrum (e.g., frequency bands licensed for use with 4G LTE, 5G, etc.) and connectivity provided by WAPs may be over unlicensed spectrum (e.g., frequency bands used by devices that conform to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x standards or the like). In one or more embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system may deploy, or otherwise utilize, the added connections in one or more link aggregation groups (LAGs) in combination with the wireless network device's fixed network connection to expand the total network capacity (or logical size of the pipe) for the device. Various embodiments also provide for consumption-based tracking to determine costs for using the additional wireless network connections, as described in more detail below.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system may monitor network traffic through the wireless network device (e.g., for traffic statistics) to ascertain the bandwidth demand, and determine the additional capacity needed as well as the type(s) and/or quantity of additional network connections that need to be added based on that demand. As described in more detail below, where the demand satisfies a saturation level or threshold (e.g., exceeds a certain capacity of the fixed, physical connection) for a particular period of time, the dynamic link aggregation system may link the wireless network device with added connection(s) in the LAG(s) to enable increased throughput; and where the demand does not satisfy a threshold (e.g., does not exceed a certain capacity of the fixed, physical connection) for a certain period of time, the dynamic link aggregation system may drop or disconnect some or all of the added connections to avoid further incurred costs.

In this way, and as described in more detail below, the dynamic link aggregation system can, according to changes in bandwidth demand, leverage available (e.g., unused) licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum via LTE/5G networks or the like, WLANs, fixed wireless networks, and so on, and combine them in a logical manner to provide the necessary bandwidth for the wireless network device.

Providing on-site operators (whether individuals or owners of establishments, such as hotels, retail spaces, convention spaces, sporting venues, airports, and so on) with the ability to access available network capacity of nearby wireless or cloud-based connectivity and to allocate and de-allocate them in a dynamic manner, as described herein, reduces operational costs that might otherwise need to be expended for an oversized pipe (which can often come with increased facility buildout complexity and capital costs as well as delayed time-to-market if a business is involved). Dynamic link aggregation, as described herein, also reduces or eliminates the need to rely on QoS-based traffic management (which, as indicated above, can negatively impact non-priority traffic in congested environments), simplifies customer premises network setups (by alleviating the need for software defined networking (SDN) logical resources or additional fixed, physical connections or physical equipment at the premises), and allows individuals and business to take advantage of other wireless network connectivity (over licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum) without being limited to what their own service provider might offer. An Internet-facing CPE, as described herein, may be leveraged to optimize traffic at a customer premises and provide improved management and analytics over dispersed UEs.

Example embodiments of the dynamic link aggregation system, as described herein, can be employed in emergency or disaster situations to improve network capacity and connectivity in affected regions. For instance, a standalone L2/L3-capable wireless network device equipped with the dynamic link aggregation system may be deployed to provide (or “propagate”) Internet connectivity to a small, disaster-inflicted area by aggregating (or joining) available licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum in a LAG configuration. In a larger affected area where an existing network infrastructure might lack commercial power to deliver L3 service to subscribers, various (e.g., subtending) wireless network devices may be employed in strategic locations to aggregate or join available unlicensed spectrum from neighboring or nearby WAPs and propagate the resulting network connectivity to the affected area.

Implementing the dynamic link aggregation system in a centralized, wireless network device, where a fixed (e.g., Ethernet) connection can be dynamically augmented with other network connections operating over licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum to service UEs and other Wi-Fi clients based on fluctuations in bandwidth demand and analytics of available links, also alleviates UE carrier aggregation issues (which frequently occur in large venues where carrier competition and carrier interference at the UE level may be high), and reduces or eliminates a need to implement complex, carrier aggregation-based updates to UE technology. Further, dynamic link aggregation through a wireless network device, as described herein, also provides WLAN (e.g., 802.11x) support, which is typically lacking in 3GPP carrier aggregation. In various embodiments, dynamic link aggregation may be used in conjunction with carrier aggregation for UEs or other WLAN (e.g., 802.11x) devices that lack LTE/5G (or similar) capabilities. In any case, dynamic link aggregation can provide enhanced network capacity and performance even in extremely congested environments.

Embodiments of the dynamic link aggregation system can also be leveraged to provide network connectivity to areas that restrict communications in particular spectrum, such as 5G-restricted areas in or near airports. As described in more detail below, one or more wireless network devices equipped with the dynamic link aggregation system may be positioned outside of the restricted area, and configured to aggregate group(s) of licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum and utilize WLAN (e.g., 802.11x) frequencies or other unlicensed spectrum to provide network connectivity from these aggregated group(s) to various other wireless network devices located within the restricted area. This can, in the case of airports or other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) areas, address concerns over the use of restricted frequencies (or frequencies that might be reserved for critical communications) in such areas.

Embodiments of the dynamic link aggregation system also enable network operators to monetize on available network capacity within their mobile networks (e.g., LTE, 5G, etc.), fixed wireless networks, and/or NEC spaces by offering unused bandwidth to retail spaces, sporting venues, small businesses, and so on. Network operators can also expand service offerings to potentially unrealized markets that are consumption-based.

In certain embodiments, dynamic link aggregation may be implemented in an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) having wireless router and/or WAP functionalities, and may be deployed in different regions to facilitate propagation of aggregated network connections as needed.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device, comprising a processing system including a processor, and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can include determining that a network condition is satisfied, wherein the device comprises a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP) associated with a fixed network connection. Further, the operations can include, based on the determining that the network condition is satisfied, detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum and available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum. Further, the operations can include, responsive to the detecting, identifying a first available network operating in licensed spectrum and a second available network operating in unlicensed spectrum. Further, the operations can include aggregating, in one or more link aggregation groups, a first connection established with the first available network and a second connection established with the second available network, thereby augmenting a network capacity of the fixed network connection.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP) including a processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can include forming a first link aggregation group that includes a first set of network connections that operate over licensed spectrum. Further, the operations can include forming a second link aggregation group that includes a second set of network connections that operate over unlicensed spectrum. Further, the operations can include performing packet scheduling for first traffic associated with the first set of network connections in the first link aggregation group, second traffic associated with the second set of network connections in the second link aggregation group, and third traffic associated with a fixed network connection of the wireless router or the WAP.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method. The method can comprise establishing, by a processing system of a first wireless network device, a network connection with a second wireless network device, wherein the first wireless network device is located within an area that restricts use of a particular portion of licensed spectrum, wherein the second wireless network device is located external to the area, and wherein the second wireless network device is configured to dynamically aggregate a plurality of network connections that are established with one or more mobile networks operating in the particular portion of licensed spectrum. Further, the method can include using, by the processing system, the network connection to facilitate network connectivity for one or more client devices located within the area.

As described herein, various embodiments can leverage unused licensed spectrum (e.g., from neighboring 5G and/or LTE Towers) and/or unlicensed spectrum from Internet-facing access points to increase the bandwidth availability at the Passive Optical Network (PON) level. This additional bandwidth can be made available once bandwidth availability at the PON goes below, for example, 20% of the average bandwidth being consumed by the subscribers. Once the additional bandwidth is provided it can be used to augment the switching fabric at the PON to increase the bandwidth to those subscribers where bandwidth saturation is being detected.

Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 100 in accordance with various aspects described herein. For example, system 100 can facilitate, in whole or in part, dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP, to augment overall network capacity. In particular, a communications network 125 is presented for providing broadband access 110 to a plurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal 142. In addition, communications network 125 is coupled to one or more content sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media. While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 and media access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms of access can be combined to provide multiple access services to a single client device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content via media terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access via switching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements (NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or the distribution of content from content sources 175. The communications network 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) network, Internet protocol (IP) network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G, or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network, UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless access network, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communications network.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem termination system (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal. The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interface specification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modem such as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/or other access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can include a 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point that operates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or other wireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobile phones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or other mobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a private branch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VOIP gateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. The telephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with or without a terminal adapter), VOIP telephones and/or other telephony devices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cable head-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or other media terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions with or without a set top box, personal computers and/or other display devices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcast television and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streaming video and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks, data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or other sources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can include wired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transfer points, service control points, network gateways, media distribution hubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and other network nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic over wired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and other public networks as well as one or more private networks, for managing subscriber access, for billing and network management and for supporting other network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 200 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the system 200 can include a wireless network device 202, a RAN node 204, and a WAP 206. The wireless network device 202 may include one or more devices capable of receiving, storing, generating, processing, and/or transferring traffic (e.g., packets) associated with client devices, such as UEs (not shown). For example, the wireless network device 202 may include a router, a gateway, a switch, a hub, a bridge, an access point, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a web server, a host server, a storage server, a server in a data center or cloud computing environment, etc.), a firewall, a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a similar type of device, or a combination of some or all of these devices. In example embodiments, the wireless network device 202 may be an Internet-facing CPE, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP.

The wireless network device 202 may be communicatively coupled to the Internet over one or more networks via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. In example embodiments, the wireless network device 202 may be equipped with one or more “fixed” (e.g., physical) interfaces, such as an Ethernet interface, a fiber optic interface, a coaxial interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a broadband interface, a similar interface, or a combination of some or all of these interfaces, via which the wireless network device 202 may communicatively couple with a network provided by a service provider.

The RAN node 204 may be an access point (e.g., a base station or the like) in a cellular or mobile network, and may be in communication with a mobility core network (not shown). The core network may be in further communication with one or more content delivery networks (CDNs), and may include various network devices and/or systems that provide a variety of functions, such as mobility management, session management, data management, user plane and/or control plane function(s), policy control function(s), and/or the like. The RAN of the cellular or mobile network may include any number/type of network configurations or network nodes and/or various types of heterogeneous cell configurations with various quantities of cells and/or types of cells. In example embodiments, the RAN node 204 may employ one or more radio access technologies (RATs). For example, the RAN node 204 may be an eNodeB (eNB) or the like that employs 4G/LTE technology or a gNodeB (gNB) or the like that employs 5G new radio (NR) technology. The RAN node 204 may include a radio resource control (RRC) entity capable of exchanging network traffic (e.g., protocol data units (PDUs)) with various UEs (not shown). A UE can be equipped with transmitter (Tx) device(s) and/or receiver (Rx) device(s) configured to communicate with, and utilize network resources provided via, the RAN node 204.

The WAP 206 may include one or more devices capable of receiving, storing, generating, processing, and/or transferring traffic (e.g., packets) associated with client devices, such as UEs (not shown). For example, the WAP 206 may include a router, a gateway, a switch, a hub, a bridge, an access point, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a web server, a host server, a storage server, a server in a data center or cloud computing environment, etc.), a firewall, a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a similar type of device, or a combination of some or all of these devices. In various embodiments, the WAP 206 may be a CPE or a fixed wireless device that has access to the Internet over one or more networks via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. For instance, the WAP 206 may (e.g., similar to the wireless network device 202) be equipped with interface(s) for coupling to the Internet.

It is to be appreciated and understood that the types and quantities of the various node(s), device(s), and access point(s) shown in FIG. 2A are merely examples. That is, the system 200 may include any number of (e.g., more) wireless network devices 202, RAN nodes 204, and WAPs 206. For instance, the system 200 may include multiple wireless network devices 202, multiple RAN nodes 204, multiple WAPs 206, one or more other devices, and so on.

As depicted in FIG. 2A, the wireless network device 202 may be equipped with a dynamic link aggregation system 202d. In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may be configured to operate in Layer 1 of the network stack and augment the wireless network device 202's fixed connection with additional wireless network connections using available connectivity provided by mobile networks (including from any associated network edge cloud mediums) and/or nearby WAPs. The wireless network device 202 may be equipped with hardware and/or software that enables the wireless network device 202 to communicate with devices over licensed spectrum (e.g., RAN node 204 via LTE, 5G, etc.) and devices over unlicensed spectrum (e.g., WAP 206 via fixed wireless (e.g., 802.11x or the like), etc.), and aggregate the various network connections in one or more LAGs. Serving as a convergence point for traffic at a particular location, such as a customer premises, the wireless network device 202 may be utilize the dynamic link aggregation system 202d to optimize or improve its overall network capacity to accommodate for changes in bandwidth demand.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may be configured to detect for available licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum to aggregate in one or more LAG configurations. For instance, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may perform such detection based on receiving and/or analyzing of signals transmitted by the RAN node 204 and/or the WAP 206. In one or more embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may obtain or extract identification information from a given signal received from the RAN node 204 or the WAP 206 (e.g., carrier information 204i and/or 206i), and utilize the identification information to identify (e.g., via a lookup operation) a corresponding service provider. In various embodiments, the wireless network device 202 may exchange data with either or both of the RAN node 204 or the WAP 206 to establish respective links—e.g., links 204k and 206k via corresponding component carriers (CC1, CC2) in uplink and downlink directions. The wireless network device 202 may be capable of establishing a link with a network associated with a service provider that is the same as or different from the service provider associated with the wireless network device 202's own fixed connection, which enables flexible augmentation of the overall network capacity for the wireless network device 202.

In various embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may obtain, from the RAN node 204 and/or the WAP 206, cost information associated with usage of their respective network resources. Cost information can include, for example, the monetary cost per unit of data transfer over a unit period of time, limit(s) on the total data usage over a certain period of time, and/or the like. In one or more embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may derive metrics or identify conditions associated with the RAN node 204 and/or the WAP 206 based on signals or information received from the respective devices. Metrics or conditions may relate to signal quality, interference, noise, noise floor, decibel-milliwatt (dBm), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), radio frequency (RF) group and neighborhood, transmit power control, dynamic channel assignment, etc.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may aggregate different types of network connections in different LAGs. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2A, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may aggregate mobile network connections operating in licensed spectrum (such as that associated with the RAN node 204) in a LAG 1 and other connections operating in unlicensed spectrum (such as that associated with the WAP 206) in a LAG 2, where an aggregate of LAGs 1 and 2 and the wireless network device 202's own fixed connection forms a logical combination of connections for the wireless network device 202. In certain alternate embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may aggregate all types of connections in a single LAG.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may perform link aggregation based on bandwidth demand relative to the available network capacity of its (e.g., presently) managed connection(s). In various embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may, via one or more algorithm(s), define a first (e.g., rolling) sampling window (e.g., of a certain duration, such as 10 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.) based on a default or user setting, and use the window to identify whether there is a bandwidth deficit, where such a deficit may warrant the addition of one or more additional network connections in a LAG. Identification of a bandwidth deficit may be based on a determined difference between current bandwidth demand and a threshold capacity level (e.g., 85% of the total available network capacity), latency measurement(s) relative to threshold(s), time-out data, and/or other (e.g., real-time) traffic statistics. For instance, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may seek to augment the wireless network device 202's network capacity with one or more additional network connections (e.g., by discovering and establishing connections with available networks, by establishing connections with previously-discovered networks, etc.) if the current bandwidth demand exceeds the threshold capacity level.

After one or more links have been aggregated in one or more LAGs, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may, via one or more algorithm(s), define a second (e.g., rolling) sampling window (e.g., of a certain duration, such as 30 minutes, 45 minutes, etc.) based on a default or user setting, and use the window to identify whether there is a bandwidth surplus, where such a surplus may warrant removal of one or more of the network connections in the LAG(s) (and further costs associated with those connection(s) can then be avoided). Identification of a bandwidth surplus may be based on a determined difference between current bandwidth demand and a threshold capacity level (e.g., 50% of the total available network capacity), latency measurement(s) relative to threshold(s), time-out data, and/or other (e.g., real-time) traffic statistics. In various embodiments, the aforementioned first sampling window (for determining whether additional network capacity is needed to address a bandwidth deficit) may be shorter than the second sampling window (for detecting a bandwidth surplus) since it can be more important for the dynamic link aggregation system 202d to act more quickly in situations where bandwidth demand ramps up within a short period of time. In other embodiments, the first sampling window may be equal to or longer than the second sampling window.

In example embodiments, link establishment for aggregation purposes may be facilitated based on a global unique identifier. For instance, the wireless network device 202 may be associated with a unique identifier, such as a media access control (MAC) address, a user account ID (e.g., associated with service provided via the fixed connection), other similar information, or a combination of some or all of this information, which the RAN node 204 (or system(s) associated therewith) or the WAP 206 (or system(s) associated therewith) can utilize for identification, authentication, and/or authorization of the wireless network device 202 as part of (e.g., prior to) establishing a link or network connection with the wireless network device 202. In one or more embodiments, the RAN node 204 (or system(s) associated therewith) or the WAP 206 (or system(s) associated therewith) may utilize the unique identifier to track the wireless network device 202's usage of the respective network connections (e.g., based on throughput, goodput, etc.) for accounting/billing purposes. In various embodiments, identification of the wireless network device 202 by the RAN node 204 (or system(s) associated therewith) or the WAP 206 (or system(s) associated therewith) may be performed any in suitable manner, such as via lookup of central database(s), user management server(s) of other network service providers, and so on. In certain embodiments, different service providers may establish agreements (in advance) to share unique identifiers and/or associated account data for their corresponding subscribers and to set forth billing procedures for any cross-carrier network usage by their corresponding subscribers, which can facilitate later (e.g., real-time) negotiations for link aggregation. In this way, for instance, a first service provider associated with the RAN node 204 may leverage account data associated with the wireless network device 202's unique identifier to directly bill the account for any network usage, or may bill a second service provider associated with the unique identifier/wireless network device 202 for any charges incurred, which the second service provider can then assess to the associated account.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may enable user (or administrator) configuration of the dynamic link aggregation system—e.g., pertaining to criteria for selecting sources/types of network connectivity and/or for general WAN/RAN resource management. Although not shown, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may enable such user management or configuration via one or more user interfaces (UIs). In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may be capable of operating in a manual mode or an automatic (self-discovery) mode, and may enable user selection of the operating mode. In the manual mode, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may enable user selection of the desired sources of networks/connections (e.g., any network/connection associated with any service provider or only networks/connections associated with specific service providers, such as a service provider with whom the user already has an account) and/or desired types of networks/connections (e.g., only networks that operate over licensed spectrum, only networks that operate over unlicensed spectrum, only networks that operate over a certain portion of licensed or unlicensed spectrum, any network that operates over any spectrum, etc.) that the dynamic link aggregation system 202d is permitted to add to LAG(s). Additionally, or alternatively, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may enable user customization/selection of one or more bandwidth-related thresholds for triggering link aggregation/de-aggregation, one or more of the above-described sampling windows for triggering link aggregation/de-aggregation, and/or one or more metrics or conditions (e.g., relating to signal quality, interference, noise, noise floor, decibel-milliwatt (dBm), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), radio frequency (RF) group and neighborhood, transmit power control, dynamic channel assignment, monetary cost for data usage, etc.) and associated threshold(s) that need to be satisfied in order for a given network/connection to be considered for link aggregation/de-aggregation. In various embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may provide (e.g., via the UI(s)) real-time/historical network and usage statistics associated with the wireless network device 202 and/or detected available networks (e.g., available network capacity and/or latency of a given network X, typical time periods during which bandwidth demand increases by Y %, and so on) to aid the user with some or all of the aforementioned selections. In this way, a user may perform local/dynamic resource management to customize the operation of the dynamic link aggregation system 202d for optimized or improved performance based on useful statistics, as needed—i.e., so that, for instance, only network connections from certain eNBs/gNBs or WAPs are aggregated in LAG(s) during certain time periods, only a certain neighbor's WAP is ever aggregated in LAG(s), only network connections that have sufficiently low latencies and/or that are associated with low costs are aggregated in LAG(s), etc.

In the automatic (self-discovery) mode, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may detect available networks/connections and select, from among the available networks/connections, specific networks/connections to aggregate in LAG(s) with minimal to no user intervention. Here, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may rank available networks/connections based on one or more factors, and selectively add networks/connections according to the ranking. The factors may relate to network/connection type (e.g., fixed, wireless, 4G, 5G, network cloud, etc.), bandwidth demand relative to current available capacity, historical usage information, goodput measurements (e.g., at the time of link establishment with a network), latency measurements (e.g., at the time of link establishment with a network), network/connection usage cost, and/or some or all of the user settings or constraints described above with respect to the manual mode.

In certain embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may provide the capability for reserved carrier aggregation. Here, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may offer the user with more granular control of how and whether mobile carrier network connections are aggregated in a LAG. In one or more embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may enable a user to prioritize certain traffic type(s) (e.g., video, voice, or point-of-sale (POS) application traffic) or network destination(s) (e.g., PoS servers) for particular mobile carrier(s) (e.g., a mobile network of a particular service provider) such that aggregated network connections associated with those particular mobile carrier(s) are dedicated for those traffic types/network destination(s). In this way, a user or administrator can ensure that non-essential traffic (e.g., large file downloading, streaming, etc.) will not consume crucial bandwidth of a given network that is needed for certain critical application traffic.

In example embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may provide network-related data to a global network control server (e.g., associated with the service provider of the fixed connection of the wireless network device 202), which can function as a centralized radio network controller and/or network manager for the wireless network device 202 and other like wireless network devices across an RF Group or RF neighborhood. In various embodiments, the global network control server may obtain enhanced data analytics based on network-related data received from the various wireless network devices, which can reveal valuable information regarding network usage in various geographic regions and enable generation of recommendations at the global/macro-level. For instance, indications (in various network-related data received by a global network control server of a first service provider) that wireless network devices associated with the first service provider are constantly establishing links with a network of a competing second service provider, can inform the first service provider on whether to install new equipment or upgrade its existing infrastructure to address the increased network resource demand of its subscribers in the area.

In certain embodiments, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may be configured to detect for available licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum to aggregate and/or otherwise perform link aggregation in a predictive manner. For instance, the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may predict whether aggregation will be needed in an upcoming time period (e.g., in the next ten minutes, fifteen minutes, etc. for a duration of an hour, two hours, etc.) based on historical traffic data, current traffic/service type, timing of prior user requests, and/or the like, and may detect for available licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum to aggregate and/or otherwise perform link aggregation based on the prediction.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 220 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network 100 of FIG. 1 and/or the system 200 of FIG. 2A in accordance with various aspects described herein. In various embodiments, the system 220 may be similar to the system 200 of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, the system 220 may include the wireless network device 202, multiple RAN access points 204, and multiple WAPs 206, and may be coupled to the Internet via a fixed connection 202c associated with network resources 202r. Here, the RAN access points 204 may correspond to different mobile networks of different service providers or to network(s) of the same service provider, and the WAPs 206 may correspond to different entities (e.g., different service providers, different individual users, different customer premises, etc.) or to the same entity. The wireless network device 202 may thus be capable of aggregating links associated with a variety of service providers and entities, and thereby provide flexible (e.g., cross-carrier) augmentation of the fixed connection 202c.

As depicted in FIG. 2B, the wireless network device 202 may include a switch fabric 202f, a mediation layer 202m, and a packet scheduler 202s. Some or all of the functionality of the dynamic link aggregation system 202d may be implemented in one or more of the switch fabric 202f, the mediation layer 202m, and the packet scheduler 202s. In various embodiments, the mediation layer 202m may include input and/or output components that provide points of attachment for physical links, and a control component configured to receive packets, send packets, and/or store packets. A packet may include a payload and header data (e.g., ingress/egress port and/or address identifier(s), including, for example, Layer 2 header data, such as Ethernet header data (e.g., media access control (MAC) address information, etc.) and/or Layer 3 header data, such as Internet Protocol (IP) header data (e.g., IP address information, time to live (TTL) information, etc.)).

In example embodiments, the mediation layer 202m may function as a master scheduler for the wireless network device 202 that schedules packets for transmission on output physical links. The mediation layer 202m may support data link layer encapsulation or decapsulation and/or a variety of higher-level protocols, and may include one or more packet processing components (e.g., in the form of integrated circuits and/or software), such as one or more packet forwarding components, processors, memories, and/or output queues.

The switch fabric 202f may interconnect some or all of the components of the mediation layer 202m and the packet scheduler 202s. In various embodiments, the switch fabric 202f may be implemented via one or more crossbars and/or busses with shared memories. The shared memories may act as temporary buffers to store packets from input components before the packets are eventually scheduled for delivery to output components.

The packet scheduler 202s may be communicatively coupled to the mediation layer 202m, and may include interfaces that are configured to communicate with the RAN nodes 204 and/or the WAPs 206. For instance, as shown, the packet scheduler 202s may be configured to communicate with the RAN nodes 204 and/or the WAPs 206 according to the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP). Additional or alternative protocols may also be employed. The interfaces may be implemented such that the wireless network device 202 treats or “sees” them as physical interfaces, which can enable logical association or aggregation of the connections over these interfaces. The packet scheduler 202s may thus facilitate handshaking over these interfaces to join or combine connections associated with different protocols into one or more LAG configurations.

In various embodiments, PDCP may be employed to schedule or reorder packets for the different types of licensed spectrum-based links (e.g., 5G, LTE, etc.) and unlicensed spectrum-based links (e.g., WLAN). In one or more embodiments, the packet scheduler 202s may include different sub-schedulers for different link types. For instance, the packet scheduler 202s may include a sub-scheduler for licensed spectrum-based links (e.g., LAG 1) and a different sub-scheduler for unlicensed spectrum-based links (e.g., LAG 2), which can simplify the implementation from a scheduling perspective. Alternatively, the packet scheduler 202s may include a single scheduling function that performs scheduling-related tasks for all types of links. In any case, the packet scheduler 202s may coordinate with, or operate under the control of, the mediation layer 202m to facilitate overall packet scheduling.

In example embodiments, the mediation layer 202m may be configured to utilize or combine connections that conform to a variety of communications standards, including mobile network technology standards (e.g., LTE/5G or other radio access technologies), WLAN standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11x or other similar standards), fixed connection standards (e.g., IEEE 802.3 or other similar standards), and so on. By leveraging PDCP, the mediation layer 202m may perform master packet scheduling/reordering for (or between) the different standards associated with the RAN nodes 204, the WAPs 206, and the fixed connection 202c, and “converge” this to the switch fabric 202f. In other words, the mediation layer 202m may operate in Layer 1 and “holistically” schedule packets for the fixed connection 202c and for LAGs 1, 2 to operate within the framework of the switch fabric 202f. In this way, the wireless network device 202 may aggregate links associated with a variety of devices (e.g., eNBs/gNBs, upstream L2/L3 virtual network functions (VNFs), and other devices operating in unlicensed spectrum, such as frequencies utilized by 802.11x) and perform scheduling and flow control to optimize or improve the LAG in an efficient manner.

Although not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in some alternate embodiments, one or more servers (e.g., implemented in a network associated with the fixed connection (e.g., 202c) of the wireless network device 202, such as in the form of a network edge system or the like) may be configured to perform some or all of the abovementioned dynamic link aggregation functions as needed, with or without involvement of the wireless network device 202.

It is to be understood and appreciated that the quantity and arrangement of systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and fabrics, shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics, fewer systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics, different systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics, or differently arranged systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. For example, the systems 200 and/or 220 can include more or fewer systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics, etc. In practice, therefore, there can be hundreds, thousands, millions, billions, etc. of such systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics. In this way, each of the example systems can coordinate, or operate in conjunction with, a set of systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, and/or fabrics and/or operate on data sets that cannot be managed manually or objectively by a human actor. Furthermore, two or more systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, or fabrics shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B may be implemented within a single system, node, device, access point, resource, scheduler, layer, or fabric, or a system, node, device, access point, resource, scheduler, layer, or fabric shown in any of FIGS. 2A and 2B may be implemented as multiple systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, or fabrics. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, or fabrics of the example systems may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of systems, nodes, devices, access points, resources, schedulers, layers, or fabrics of the example systems.

It is also to be understood and appreciated that, although FIGS. 2A and 2B are described above as pertaining to various processes and/or actions that are performed in a particular order, some of these processes and/or actions may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other processes and/or actions from what is depicted and described above. Moreover, not all of these processes and/or actions may be required to implement the systems and/or methods described herein.

FIG. 2C illustrates various example scenarios in which wireless network device(s) equipped with dynamic link aggregation functionality may perform aggregation/de-aggregation of network connections in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown in FIG. 2C, embodiments of the wireless network device 202 may be employed in different contexts (e.g., in a customer/retail premises, at a sporting venue, at a lodging area/business park, and so on) to perform dynamic link aggregation/de-aggregation for a variety of types of network connections, including those for mobile networks, NECs, fixed wireless, SDN fixed connections, and other Layer 3 systems.

As depicted in example scenario 252, the wireless network device 202 may aggregate network connections from network nodes 204, an L3 Internet gateway, and a NEC in one or more LAG configurations. For instance, the wireless network device 202 may, based upon detecting an increase in traffic or bandwidth demand (e.g., above a threshold level) and/or identifying a bandwidth deficit in its fixed network connection (e.g., bandwidth usage above a threshold for a certain period of time, such as, for example, 85% of the total capacity of the fixed network connection for longer than 15 minutes), employ dynamic link aggregation by detecting for available networks and selecting one or more of these available networks to join in one or more LAGs (e.g., similar to that described above with respect to one of more of FIGS. 2A and 2B). In various embodiments, the wireless network device 202 may attempt to aggregate links until a total target capacity is obtained (such as, for example, until bandwidth usage is equal to or less than 50% of the total aggregated capacity). Consumption-based monitoring and billing may also be performed for usage of the links in the aggregation.

Example 254 illustrates a scenario where the wireless network device 202 may disconnect or drop one or more network connections in one or more LAGs. Here, for instance, the wireless network device 202 may, based upon determining that bandwidth usage remains below a threshold for a certain period of time (e.g., is less than 40% of the total aggregate capacity of the LAG(s) for more than 30 minutes, and thus there is a bandwidth surplus), disconnect or drop some or all of the connections in the LAG(s) until a target bandwidth surplus value is obtained—e.g., until the bandwidth usage is equal to or under about 50% of the total aggregated capacity.

Example 256 illustrates a scenario where the wireless network device 202 (e.g., continuously) performs dynamic aggregation/de-aggregation of links depending on bandwidth deficit or surplus, similar to that in examples 252 and 254. In various embodiments, the wireless network device 202 may select connections to remove or drop based on cost. Cost may relate to monetary cost (e.g., cost per unit of data usage over time) and/or performance cost (e.g., based on latency, noise, etc.). For instance, the wireless network device 202 may compare the monetary cost and/or performance cost of each of the connections in an aggregation, and selectively drop one or more of the connections that are associated with the highest monetary cost and/or performance cost.

Still referring to FIG. 2C (and in the context of LAG dynamic allocation use cases), a discussion will now be made regarding a “Traffic Increases Use Case” (see, in particular, example scenario 252). In this use case, operation can be as follows: (1) Traffic increases; (2) A bandwidth deficit is detected via a sampling window; (3) A network selection algorithm detects available network(s) and (based on selection criteria) selects the most appropriate network(s) to overcome the bandwidth deficit; (4) Wireless and network and cloud resources would be joined in the LAG configuration on the customer premises Internet-facing WAP or router; and (5) The user is billed on consumption based on the additional network(s) needed to overcome the bandwidth deficit.

Still referring to FIG. 2C (and in the context of LAG dynamic allocation use cases), a discussion will now be made regarding a “Traffic Reduction Use Case” (see, in particular, example scenario 254). In this use case, operation can be as follows: (1) Traffic decreases; (2) A bandwidth surplus is detected via a sampling window; (3) A network selection algorithm would cause a leaving of any joined network(s) until the bandwidth surplus is negated to a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) line capacity of the combined LAG; (4) Wireless and network and cloud resources would be joined in the LAG configuration on the customer premises Internet-facing WAP or router.

Still referring to FIG. 2C (and in the context of LAG dynamic allocation use cases), a discussion will now be made regarding a “Traffic Fluctuate Use Case” (see, in particular, example scenario 256). In this use case, operation can be as follows: (1) A bandwidth deficit is detected via a sampling window; (2) A network selection algorithm detects available network(s) and (based on selection criteria) selects the most appropriate network(s) to overcome the bandwidth deficit; (3) Wireless and network and cloud resources would be joined in the LAG configuration on the customer premises Internet-facing WAP or router; (4) The user is billed on consumption based on the additional network(s) needed to overcome the bandwidth deficit; (5) The sampling window would detect a bandwidth surplus and then drop the network that has the highest cost to reduce the bandwidth surplus to achieve a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) of the combined line capacity.

FIG. 2D illustrates an example implementation 260 in which multiple wireless network devices equipped with dynamic link aggregation functionality provide network connectivity to a restricted area in accordance with various aspects described herein. As depicted in FIG. 2D, the example restricted area may be an FAA 5G-restricted area, although the configuration may be employed in other types of restricted areas. Here, one or more wireless network devices 202 equipped with dynamic link aggregation functionality may be positioned outside of the restricted area, and configured to aggregate group(s) of licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum—e.g., link aggregation groups 1-4. As shown, the various wireless network devices 202 may utilize WLAN (e.g., 802.11x) frequencies or other unlicensed spectrum to provide network connectivity from these aggregated group(s) to various other wireless network devices 202x located within the restricted area, and these wireless network devices 202x may further “propagate” the connectivity to yet other wireless network devices 202y in the restricted area. This advantageously addresses any concerns that might exist over the use of restricted frequencies (or frequencies that might be reserved for critical communications) in the restricted area.

FIG. 2E depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 270 in accordance with various aspects described herein. In some embodiments, one or more process blocks of FIG. 2E can be performed by a wireless network device, such as the wireless network device 202.

At 271, the method can include determining, by a wireless network device, that a network condition is satisfied. For example, the wireless network device 202 can, similar to that described elsewhere herein, perform one or more operations that include determining that a network condition is satisfied.

At 272, the method can include, based on the determining that the network condition is satisfied, detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum and available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum. For example, the wireless network device 202 can, similar to that described elsewhere herein, perform one or more operations that include, based on the determining that the network condition is satisfied, detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum and available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum.

At 273, the method can include, responsive to the detecting, identifying a first available network operating in licensed spectrum and a second available network operating in unlicensed spectrum. For example, the wireless network device 202 can, similar to that described elsewhere herein, perform one or more operations that include, responsive to the detecting, identifying a first available network operating in licensed spectrum and a second available network operating in unlicensed spectrum.

At 274, the method can include aggregating, in one or more link aggregation groups, a first connection established with the first available network and a second connection established with the second available network, thereby augmenting a network capacity of a fixed network connection of the wireless network device. For example, the wireless network device 202 can, similar to that described elsewhere herein, perform one or more operations that include aggregating, in one or more link aggregation groups, a first connection established with the first available network and a second connection established with the second available network, thereby augmenting a network capacity of a fixed network connection of the wireless network device 202.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the determining that the network condition is satisfied comprises identifying that there is a bandwidth deficit associated with the fixed network connection.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the first available network comprises a mobile network, wherein the detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum comprises receiving one or more signals from one or more radio access network (RAN) nodes.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the second available network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a fixed wireless network, wherein the detecting for available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum comprises receiving one or more signals from one or more WAPs.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the fixed network connection comprises an Ethernet connection or a broadband connection.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the one or more link aggregation groups comprise a first link aggregation group that includes the first connection and a second link aggregation group that includes the second connection.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the determining that the network condition is satisfied involves use of a sampling window.

In some implementations of these embodiments, a first network system associated with the first available network and a second network system associated with the second available network utilize a global unique identifier associated with the wireless network device to assess charges for usage of the first available network and the second available network.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the method may further include performing a first determination that a first performance associated with the first connection satisfies one or more performance criteria and performing a second determination that a second performance associated with the second connection satisfies the one or more performance criteria, wherein the aggregating is effected based on the first determination and the second determination. In some implementations of these embodiments, the one or more performance criteria relate to network latency, network speed, noise, interference, signal quality, signal strength, transmit power, usage cost, or a combination thereof.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the method may further include, after the aggregating, determining that a second network condition is satisfied and removing the first connection, the second connection, or both from the one or more link aggregation groups based on the determining that the second network condition is satisfied. In some implementations of these embodiments, the determining that the second network condition is satisfied comprises identifying a bandwidth surplus in total network capacity of the one or more link aggregation groups.

In some implementations of these embodiments, the method may further include providing a user interface (UI) that enables a user or an administrator to select operational settings relating to dynamic link aggregation.

Referring now to FIG. 2F, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 2000 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

As seen in this figure, dynamic link aggregator 2001 is configured for bi-directional communication with a group 2002 of network elements (e.g., WAP, LTE tower, 5G tower) and is configured for bi-directional communication with Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) 2003. Further, dynamic link aggregator 2004 is configured for bi-directional communication with a group 2005 of network elements (e.g., WAP, LTE tower, 5G tower) and is configured for bi-directional communication with GPON 2003 as well as with LAG controller 2006. Further still, GPON 2003 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2007 as well as with neighborhood 2008 (which can include customer premises, such as houses, retail establishments, shops, restaurants, etc.). Further still, GPON 2003 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of L3 routers 2009.

As described herein (see, e.g., FIG. 2F), a link aggregation apparatus can have the ability to leverage a logical pipe for an Internet-facing WAP and/or Premises Service Router from nearby service provider(s) and use traffic statistics to determine the size and number of available pipes needed to accommodate the incoming demand. If demand superseded the physical capacity of the pipe the apparatus can have the ability to link from other service provider(s) and/or join to a Link Aggregation Group in a dynamic fashion to further increase the throughput. The wireless Internet-facing device can have the ability to dynamically leverage existing LTE, 5G and/or fixed wireless connections (e.g., to increase the size of the logical pipe) being delivered to the PON element in the last mile of the network,

Referring now to FIG. 2G, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 2100 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

As seen in this figure (which relates to “Use Case 1”—Bandwidth Re-allocation to End-User), end-user device 2101 (along with a plurality of other end-user devices) are configured for bi-directional communication with Passive Optical Network (PON) data plane 2102. Further, PON data plane 2102 is configured for bi-directional communication with link aggregator 2103. Further still, link aggregator 2103 is configured for bi-directional communication with LAG controller 2104. Further still, LAG controller 2104 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2105.

Still referring to FIG. 2G, in a “Scenario 1” (end-user can connect to a link aggregator), operation can be as follows: (1) Bandwidth deficit is detected; (2) Available bandwidth in link aggregator exceeds the bandwidth deficit needed by the end-user; (3) End-user connects (e.g., wirelessly) to the link aggregator; (4) LAG controller determines the amount of bandwidth that can be shifted to the link aggregator and what portion will remain on the PON controller; (5) The bandwidth surplus is calculated and the surplus is provided to the PON controller to apply to another end-user.

Referring now to FIG. 2H, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 2200 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

As seen in this figure (which relates to “Use Case 1”—Bandwidth Re-allocation to End-User), end-user device 2201 (along with a plurality of other end-user devices) are configured for bi-directional communication with Passive Optical Network (PON) data plane 2202. Further, PON data plane 2202 is configured for bi-directional communication with link aggregator 2203. Further still, PON data plane 2202 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2204.

Still referring to FIG. 2H, in a “Scenario 2” (end-user cannot connect to a link aggregator), operation can be as follows: (1) Bandwidth deficit is detected; (2) Available bandwidth in link aggregator exceeds the bandwidth deficit needed by the end-user; (3) End-user cannot connect to the link aggregator; (4) PON controller determines if a bandwidth surplus is available and if the bandwidth surplus exceeds the amount to eliminate the bandwidth deficit; (5) The bandwidth surplus is applied to the end-user to eliminate the bandwidth deficit.

Referring now to FIGS. 2G and 2H, it is noted that each of these embodiments can operate separately (e.g., each of Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 can operate separately) or each of these embodiments can operate together (e.g., each of Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 can operate together).

Referring now to FIG. 2I, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 2300 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein.

As seen in this figure (which relates to “Use Case 2”—Bandwidth Re-allocation PON), a group of end-user devices 2301 are configured for bi-directional communication with Passive Optical Network (PON) data plane 2302. Further, PON data plane 2302 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2303. Further still, a group of end-user devices 2304 are configured for bi-directional communication with PON data plane 2305. Further still, PON data plane 2305 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2303. Further still, a group of end-user devices 2306 are configured for bi-directional communication with PON data plane 2307. Further still, PON data plane 2307 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2303. Further still, PON data plane 2305 is configured for bi-directional communication with link aggregator 2309, which in turn is configured for bi-directional communication with LAG controller 2310. Further still, PON data plane 2307 is configured for bi-directional communication with link aggregator 2311, which in turn is configured for bi-directional communication with LAG controller 2310. Further still, LAG controller 2310 is configured for bi-directional communication with PON controller 2303.

Referring now to FIG. 2J, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 2400 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. As seen in this figure (which relates to “Use Case 3”-Bandwidth Re-Allocation WAN), a SDN WAN orchestration element 2401 (including Bandwidth manager 2401A and SDN WAN controller 2401B) is configured for bi-directional communication with Passive Optical Network (PON) controller 2402. Further, PON controller 2402 is configured for bi-directional communication with LAG controller 2403. Further still, in this example the system includes the following virtual network functions: VNF 2404, VNF 2405, VNF 2406, VNF 2407, and VNF 2408. VNF 2404 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of PON data plane elements, shown collectively as 2404A (in this example, all of these elements of 2404A have a bandwidth surplus except for the second from the right, which as a bandwidth deficit). VNF 2405 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of cloud/internet elements, shown collectively as 2405A (in this example, VNF 2405 has a bandwidth deficit). VNF 2406 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of PON data plane elements, shown collectively as 2406A (in this example, all of these elements of 2406A have a bandwidth surplus). VNF 2407 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of PON data plane elements, shown collectively as 2407A (in this example, the two middle elements of 2407A have a bandwidth surplus while the left-most and right-most have a bandwidth deficit). VNF 2408 is configured for bi-directional communication with a number of PON data plane elements, shown collectively as 2408A (in this example, all of these elements of 2408A have a bandwidth surplus). Further still, each of VNF 2404, VNF 2405, VNF 2406, VNF 2407, and VNF 2408 is configured for bi-directional communication with each other as shown.

Referring now to FIG. 2K, various steps of a method 2500 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2K, step 2502 comprises determining whether a first device, which is wireless-capable, is communicating under a bandwidth surplus with a fixed network via a first fixed network connection, wherein the bandwidth surplus results at least in part from use by the first device of one or more link aggregation groups, wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise licensed wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination thereof, and wherein the determining with respect to the first device results in a first determination. Next, step 2504 comprises determining whether a second device is communicating under a bandwidth deficit with the fixed network via a second fixed network connection, wherein the determining with respect to the second device results in a second determination. Next, step 2506 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first device is communicating under the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the second device is communicating under the bandwidth deficit, allocating at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus associated with the first device to the second device.

Referring now to FIG. 2L, various steps of a method 2600 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2L, step 2602 comprises determining whether a first device, which is wireless-capable and which is associated with a first fixed network, is communicating under a bandwidth surplus with the first fixed network via a first fixed network connection, wherein the bandwidth surplus results at least in part from use by the first device of one or more link aggregation groups, and wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise licensed wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination thereof, wherein the determining with respect to the first device results in a first determination. Next, step 2604 comprises determining whether at least one second device associated with a second fixed network is communicating under a bandwidth deficit with the second fixed network, resulting in a determination, wherein the determining with respect to the at least one second device results in a second determination. Next, step 2606 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first device is communicating under the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the second device is communicating under the bandwidth deficit, providing at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus associated with the first device to the at least one second device associate with the second fixed network.

Referring now to FIG. 2M, various steps of a method 2700 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2M, step 2702 comprises determining, by a processing system including a processor, whether a first fixed network communicating with a plurality of first devices has a bandwidth surplus, wherein the bandwidth surplus of the first fixed network results at least in part from use by one or more of the first devices of one or more link aggregation groups, wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise licensed wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination thereof, and wherein the determining with respect to the first fixed network results in a first determination. Next, step 2704 comprises determining, by the processing system, whether a second fixed network communicating with a plurality of second devices has a bandwidth deficit, wherein the determining with respect to the second fixed network results in a second determination. Next, step 2706 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first fixed network has the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the second fixed network has the bandwidth deficit, providing at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus to the second fixed network.

Referring now to FIG. 2N, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 3000 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. This FIG. 2N (which shows, in general, aspects of LAG setup and configuration), can operate in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 2A (but with the addition of the satellite features). More particularly, as seen in this FIG. 2N, bandwidth can be obtained from one or more satellites (in this example, one or more of GEO satellite 3010, LEO satellite 3012, LEO satellite 3014, and/or LEO satellite 3016). Of course, while these four satellites are shown in this example, any desired number and type of satellite(s) can be utilized.

Still referring to FIG. 2N, the system 3000 can include (in addition to the satellites) a satellite transceiver 3018, a wireless network device 3002, a RAN node 3004, and a WAP 3006. The wireless network device 3002 includes Dynamic Link Aggregation System 3002d. This Dynamic Link Aggregation System 3002d can operate in a manner similar to Dynamic Link Aggregation System 202d (of FIG. 2A) but with the additional capability of communicating with and obtaining bandwidth from one or more satellites as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2O, this is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system 3100 that can function within, or be overlaid upon, the communication network 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. This FIG. 2O (which shows, in general, aspects of architecture and communication), can operate in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 2B (but with the addition of the satellite features). More particularly, as seen in this FIG. 2O, bandwidth can be obtained from one or more satellites (in this example, one or more of GEO satellite 3110, LEO satellite 3112, LEO satellite 3114, and/or LEO satellite 3116). Of course, while these four satellites are shown in this example, any desired number and type of satellite(s) can be utilized.

Still referring to FIG. 2O, the system 3100 can include (in addition to the satellites) a satellite transceiver 3118, a wireless network device 3102, a plurality of RAN nodes 3104, and a plurality of WAPs 3106. The various components can operate in a manner similar to the components of FIG. 2B but with the additional capability of communicating with and obtaining bandwidth from one or more satellites as described herein.

Reference will now be made to a network selection apparatus/method according to various embodiments. Such network selection apparatus/method can utilize one or more of two different selection algorithms--a self-discovery option where the device detects what connections are available and selects the best available pipes (or connections) to accommodate demand; and a manual option where upon turn-up the user can select what network(s) and or connection(s), they want their device to connect to (and when the bandwidth is needed, the user device will only use those selected network(s)/connection(s) to build the LAG).

Referring now more specifically to the self-discovery mechanism, in various embodiments the Internet-facing WAP (or Internet-facing customer router) can have the ability to discover network(s)/connection(s) that are available for use (e.g., available for use after bandwidth saturation is detected by using real-time traffic statistics that are acquired from the Internet customer premises device). Based upon one or more of the following criteria, the self-discovery mechanism can rank the available connection(s) and then use the number of connection(s) required to overcome the bandwidth deficit: (a) The type of connection available (e.g., fixed, 802.11x wireless, 5G (or later), broadband satellite, network cloud); (b) The available connection being offered by the service provider at the time the connection is requested; (c) Cost of the connection (and, for example, is it a fixed or metered cost); (d) If there is a preferred service provider (and/or preferred network cloud service provider) requested by the user; (c) Throughput and latency measurements at the time of connection; and/or (f) any combination thereof.

Still referring to the self-discovery mechanism, in various embodiments, the algorithm can measure the available network(s) using the forementioned selection criteria at the time the physical connection reaches a threshold capacity (e.g., 85% capacity). The algorithm can link available connections in LAG configuration across wireless, 5G (or later), and any SDN fixed connections (if available) to achieve a desired target (e.g., 50%) of the total line capacity comprising all connections in the LAG.

Referring now more specifically to the manual input mechanism, in various embodiments the Internet-facing WAP (or Internet-facing customer router) can provide an option wherein the user can specify use of only connection(s) from a specific service provider (e.g., thereby limiting the network connectivity for the customer premises device to only an approved service provider where an account is already established and/or where there is licensed spectrum available from that same service provider). This manual input mechanism can be a desirable solution for clients that have an already established service relationship with a specific service provider. In various embodiments of the manual input mechanism, the algorithm to detect bandwidth saturation can operate in essentially the same manner (as the self-discovery mechanism) but will limit the LAG creation to only one or more specific service providers where connections are available).

As described herein, in various embodiments a wireless router can be the convergence point for the traffic (as this can allow for better leverage to optimize the incoming traffic at the customer premises). The wireless router (e.g., at the customer premises) can exchange information with one or more eNBs and/or one or more other wireless APs about what licensed and unlicensed spectrum and bandwidth is available to aggregate in LAG configuration. In addition, the wireless router can use Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) to determine which satellite(s) in the constellation are suitable to increase the bandwidth being provided. In one embodiment, based on the lowest SNR, the wireless AP can negotiate with a particular satellite (e.g., LEO or GEO satellite) operating in the Ka or Ku band using the feeder uplink/downlink (the negotiation can comprise: (a) determine at the satellite if satellite bandwidth is available to use to augment the bandwidth required to overcome the bandwidth deficit; and (b) if the satellite is able to participate in bandwidth sharing, receive back bandwidth availability data from the satellite at the Internet router via a feeder downlink. If a particular satellite used does not have enough available bandwidth to fully overcome the bandwidth deficit, then the router can elect to augment the bandwidth by adding additional broadband from one or more other satellites in the constellation into the LAG configuration (such one or more other satellites can comprise, for example, one or more adjacent satellites).

As described herein, in various embodiments, in addition to receiving information for the satellite(s), the wireless router can also gather carrier information from one or more eNBs and/or one or more other APs to aggregate in both in the up-link and down-link directions. The AP can leverage the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) to schedule and/or reorder packets for both Wireless LAN and LTE (or later) links. The wireless router can receive carrier and bandwidth information from eNB, upstream L2/L3 VNFs, and other unlicensed spectrum 802.11 sources and perform scheduling and flow control to optimize the LAG in the most efficient manner. The ability (according to various embodiments) to leverage at the customer premises Internet-facing router can facilitate better optimizing of traffic at the customer premises as well as improved management and analytics over dispersed UEs. FIG. 2N shows communication and handshakes (according to an embodiment) that can be used to join the different protocols in LAG configuration.

As described herein, in various embodiments each client device can have a unique identifier (e.g., a unique identifier that is only available to a service provider for account and billing purposes once the connection is established on the customer premises interfacing device). In one embodiment, once the traffic drops (after being elevated) during a particular time window (e.g., 30 min window) the Internet-facing router would drop the additional connection(s). The dropping can be carried out via communication with joined satellite(s), eNB(s), and/or adjacent wireless AP(s). Automatically dropping connection(s) during a particular time window can eliminate the need for a metered connection and/or can eliminate a situation in which the unlicensed spectrum is overly transmitted/received to/from neighboring wireless APs.

As described herein, in various embodiments there is provided an introduction of a mediation layer at the wireless router to combine: 802.3 Standards; LTE (or later), 802.11x standards, and/or satellite broadband (e.g., Ku and/or Ka Bands). Such mediation layer can leverage Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) to perform the scheduling and reordering between LTE, 5G (or later), 802.11, and/or satellite broadband signals before converging those to the customer premises device switch fabric (which can take 802.3 Ethernet protocols). FIG. 2O shows (according to an embodiment) a high-level architecture and communication with NEs and the customer premises router.

As described herein, in various embodiments, once a router determines that a broadband satellite (e.g., LEO or GEO) can participate in bandwidth sharing and that satellite bandwidth is available, the router will then communicate with the satellite to negotiate the bandwidth required (such negotiation can be carried out using the feeder uplink and downlink (e.g., in the Ka and/or Ku bands) in order to overcome the bandwidth deficit).

Referring now to FIG. 2P, various steps of a method 3200 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2P, step 3202 comprises determining whether a first device, which is wireless-capable, is communicating under a bandwidth surplus with a fixed network via a first fixed network connection, wherein the bandwidth surplus results at least in part from use by the first device of one or more link aggregation groups, wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise one or more satellite broadband communication channels as well as licensed cellular wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination of the licensed cellular and unlicensed spectrum, and wherein the determining with respect to the first device results in a first determination. Next, step 3204 comprises determining whether a second device is communicating under a bandwidth deficit with the fixed network via a second fixed network connection, wherein the determining with respect to the second device results in a second determination. Next, step 3206 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first device is communicating under the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the second device is communicating under the bandwidth deficit, allocating at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus associated with the first device to the second device.

Referring now to FIG. 2Q, various steps of a method 3300 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2Q, step 3302 comprises determining whether a first device, which is wireless-capable and which is associated with a first fixed network, is communicating under a bandwidth surplus with the first fixed network via a first fixed network connection, wherein the bandwidth surplus results at least in part from use by the first device of one or more link aggregation groups, and wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise at least one satellite broadband communication channel as well as licensed cellular wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination of the licensed cellular and unlicensed spectrum, and wherein the determining with respect to the first device results in a first determination. Next, step 3304 comprises determining whether at least one second device associated with a second fixed network is communicating under a bandwidth deficit with the second fixed network, resulting in a determination, wherein the determining with respect to the at least one second device results in a second determination. Next, step 3306 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first device is communicating under the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the at least one second device is communicating under the bandwidth deficit, providing at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus associated with the first device to the at least one second device associated with the second fixed network.

Referring now to FIG. 2R, various steps of a method 3400 according to an embodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2R, step 3402 comprises determining, by a processing system including a processor, whether a first fixed network communicating with a plurality of first devices has a bandwidth surplus, wherein the bandwidth surplus of the first fixed network results at least in part from use by one or more of the first devices of one or more link aggregation groups, wherein the one or more link aggregation groups comprise one or more satellite broadband communication channels as well as licensed cellular wireless spectrum, unlicensed wireless spectrum, or a combination of the licensed cellular and unlicensed spectrum, and wherein the determining with respect to the first fixed network results in a first determination. Next, step 3404 comprises determining, by the processing system, whether a second fixed network communicating with a plurality of second devices has a bandwidth deficit, wherein the determining with respect to the second fixed network results in a second determination. Next, step 3406 comprises responsive to the first determination being that the first fixed network has the bandwidth surplus and responsive to the second determination being that the second fixed network has the bandwidth deficit, providing at least a portion of the bandwidth surplus to the second fixed network.

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate merging of terrestrial and satellite communication (e.g., via use of link aggregation in order to increase bandwidth availability).

As described herein, various embodiments can operate in the context of a rural environment (e.g., where there is no (or limited) existing infrastructure and/or no (or limited) bandwidth).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate selection of one or more desired satellites (e.g., in order to augment bandwidth availability).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate communication with one or more satellites over control channel(s) and/or data transfer over data channel(s).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate satellite bandwidth sharing (e.g., via a negotiation process).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate a process in which a satellite shares a part (that is, less than all) of its bandwidth. In one embodiment, each satellite can determine (and report) its own bandwidth availability. In one embodiment, a satellite can report its bandwidth availability in response to being pinged from the ground. In one embodiment, a satellite can report partial bandwidth allocation in a dynamic fashion.

As described herein, various embodiments can operate whereby a satellite has knowledge of one or more restricted areas (e.g., one or more 5G (or later) restricted areas in which certain communication is prohibited by rule or regulation). In one embodiment, such knowledge can be used as an input in bandwidth allocation decisions. In one embodiment, a particular satellite can have the ability to communicate with equipment in a restricted area. In one embodiment, a particular satellite can be prohibited from communicating with equipment in a restricted area.

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate communication in a temporarily restricted area (e.g., where infrastructure is destroyed (or otherwise not usable) in a disaster area). In one embodiment, satellite bandwidth sharing can be used in connection with disaster recovery.

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate satellite bandwidth sharing on demand.

Reference will now be made again to PON Orchestration Layer and Bandwidth Re-allocation (End-User, PON, WAN) according to various embodiments. In general, use of a link aggregator can facilitate leveraging bandwidth reallocation scenarios across the End-User, PON and the WAN. The orchestration layer can be highly coupled with the link aggregator. Bandwidth “created” at the last mile can ultimately lead to bandwidth being reallocated to areas where link aggregation is unavailable or not possible. This can ultimately lead to service providers being able to strategically provide bandwidth to areas that require it at a given time while eliminating the need for infrastructure construction to increase the logical capacity in an area to accommodate a percentage of max demand. The three example uses cases leveraging the link aggregator at the last mile can provide significant advantages.

Reference will now be made more specifically to Use Case 1 (Bandwidth Re-Allocation End-User). In this context, the link aggregator can utilize a mediation layer to combine 802.3 standards, LTE standards and/or 802.11x standards. This mediation layer can leverage Packet Data Convergence Protocol to perform the scheduling and reordering between LTE, 5G and/or 802.11 signals before converging those to the Customer Premises Device Switch Fabric which will take (for example) 802.3 Ethernet protocols. After the convergence of the licensed and/or unlicensed traffic and fiber connection between the link aggregator and the PON device, the incoming bandwidth can converge into the PON switch fabric and be made available to end-users that are operating in a bandwidth constrained environment. The additional bandwidth to the end-user(s) can be made available via a direct wireless connection to the link aggregator and/or (e.g., in cases where wireless connectivity cannot be established to the end-user) via the use of OpenFlow protocols to apply additional bandwidth to the end-user at the data plane layer by what it was able to reclaim via the link aggregator.

Reference will now be made more specifically to Scenario 1 of Use Case 1 (see, e.g., FIG. 2G). In this scenario, the end-user is operating in a bandwidth constrained environment and the link aggregator has been able to reclaim bandwidth via the use of licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum. If the end-user is in close proximity to the link aggregator, then the end-user can leverage the additional bandwidth reclaimed by solely or partially connecting to the link aggregator and getting all the necessary bandwidth to cover the bandwidth deficit and/or to meet the promised committed rate to the end-user (e.g., by getting a percentage of the bandwidth needed). The PON/LAG orchestration can note the percentage bandwidth used by an end-user and utilize the surplus bandwidth captured to apply to another end-user. Below is a high-level formula for Bandwidth Surplus. The sampling interval can be (for example) 15 min with the use of a moving average to calculate the bandwidth surplus. However, the sampling interval can be changed to meet the needs of the service provider.

Reference will now be made more specifically to Scenario 2 of Use Case 1 (see, e.g., FIG. 2H). In this scenario, the end-user is operating in a bandwidth constrained environment and the link aggregator has been able to reclaim bandwidth via the use of licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum. However, in this scenario the end-user is not in close proximity to the link aggregator (and/or can otherwise not wirelessly connect to the link aggregator to increase bandwidth). In this scenario the PON Controller can use Open Flow protocols to connect to the PON's data plane layer and increase the logical connection to the end-user by using the surplus bandwidth reclaimed (via the use of the link aggregator).

Reference will now be made more specifically to Use Case 2 (Bandwidth Re-Allocation PON). This Use Case illustrates the use of a single PON controller that manages several PON Data Plane Fabrics and the use of bandwidth re-allocation by using a link aggregator to increase the bandwidth at the last mile (e.g., making it possible to reallocate that bandwidth to another PON data plane network).

Reference will now be made more specifically to Scenario 1 of Use Case 2 (see, e.g., FIG. 2I). In this scenario the PON controller used in conjunction with the LAG controller would utilize the link aggregator to determine how much available bandwidth could be achieved by using the link aggregator and which end-user(s) could be leveraged to increase the bandwidth from Use Case 1 (Bandwidth Re-Allocation End-User). In this present scenario the PON controller would take a cumulative measurement of bandwidth surplus across the end-users. The measured bandwidth surplus would be advertised at the PON control layer and other PON environment elements could apply the bandwidth surpluses based upon the bandwidth deficits measured by the PON controller from each of the end-user(s).

Reference will now be made more specifically to Use Case 3 (Bandwidth Re-Allocation WAN). This Use Case 3 illustrates the use of multiple PON controllers that manage several PON Data Plane Fabrics and the use of bandwidth re-allocation by using a link aggregator to increase the bandwidth at the last mile. This Use Case 3 also illustrates the taking of cumulative measurement(s) across several PON environments to determine a Bandwidth Surplus across the larger PON infrastructure and use WAN SDN Orchestration to redistribute the bandwidth across the WAN network and/or to other networks that have bandwidth deficit and/or to other networks that have an increase in demand that cannot be addressed with the current infrastructure.

Reference will now be made more specifically to Scenario 1 of Use Case 3 (see, e.g., FIG. 2J). In this scenario the PON Controller that manages several PON Data Plane Fabrics would leverage the bandwidth re-allocation mechanism by using a link aggregator to increase the bandwidth at the last mile making it possible to reallocate that bandwidth to another PON data plane network and up to a WAN Node. A cumulative bandwidth surplus measurement can be taken across several PON environments distributed across the WAN. The SDN Orchestration Layer in conjunction with a Bandwidth Manager application can have a complete picture of the cumulative bandwidth surplus and/or bandwidth deficit across several SDN nodes and how the traffic needs to be redistributed to eliminate the bandwidth deficit(s) seen at a SDN node. Using flow and the use of flow tables bandwidth can be redistributed from nodes that have a bandwidth surplus and provided to nodes that are operating in a bandwidth deficit environment for the defined sampling interval specified by the user. Leveraging the link aggregator, several orchestration nodes can benefit from bandwidth “creation” at the last mile and having the cumulative effect of that traffic across several nodes (e.g., to make it possible to redistribute bandwidth where it is most needed).

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for target Network Elements that will be the L3 Service Provider Router and Access Elements that deliver PON capabilities to a residential area and/or Broadband CPE.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for a dynamic link allocation mechanism to aggregate unused licensed and/or unused unlicensed spectrum (e.g., that is to be delivered to an XPON element).

As described herein, various embodiments provide for a link aggregator that utilizes a mediation layer to combine 802.3 standards, LTE standards, and/or 802.11x standards. This mediation layer can leverage the Packet Data Convergence Protocol to perform the scheduling and reordering between LTE, 5G and/or 802.11 signals before converging those to the Customer Premises Device Switch Fabric (which can take, for example, 802.3 Ethernet protocols). After the convergence of the licensed and/or unlicensed traffic and fiber connection between the link aggregator and the PON device (where the incoming bandwidth would converge into the PON switch fabric) the bandwidth can be made available to end-user(s) that are operating in a bandwidth constrained environment. The additional bandwidth to the end-user(s) could be made available via a direct wireless connection to the link aggregator and/or (e.g., in cases where wireless connectivity cannot be established to the end-user) the PON Orchestration can apply additional bandwidth to the end-user by what it was able to reclaim via the link aggregator.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for determining which users are operating in a bandwidth constrained environment (data can be captured, for example, for all devices using the provisioned HSIA interface defined for the end-user at the PON element and/or the home router itself). The defined algorithm could take (for example) a 30-day average bandwidth consumption and look at the peak bandwidth consumptions over a 30-day period. The algorithm can also look at traffic usage over (for example) a 15-minute period to make near-real-time projections on which user(s) are running in a constrained environment. The algorithm can assess peak bandwidth consumption hours over each day over the 30-day interval. The algorithm can determine if during these peak times the user(s) were operating in bandwidth constraint environment (the algorithm can, for example, look at the number of drops and/or packet retransmissions to identify signatures of bandwidth constraint). The output of this algorithm can go into defining upstream and/or downstream CIR and/or PIR for each target node. These changes can be made near real-time using a PON orchestrator and can apply the additional bandwidth needed to eliminate the bandwidth constraint by applying additional acquired bandwidth from licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum (such as acquired via a link aggregator). Certain details of an algorithm as described herein can be as follows:

As described herein, various embodiments provide for using the following performance KPIs to determine congestion (such KPIs can also be used as predictors to determine if greater bandwidth is required): (a) Transmission Delay; (b) Throughput; and/or (c) Packet Loss.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for use in residential and/or business environments.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for temporarily alleviating bandwidth constraints.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for allocation (and/or re-allocation) for elements on the cloud.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for a PON controller that can be on the cloud, can be hosted, can provide services for a network, or any combination thereof.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for allocation (and/or re-allocation) for virtual network functions.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for orchestrated allocation (and/or re-allocation) of merged licensed, unlicensed, and/or wired spectrum to alleviate bandwidth constraints.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for one or more of the following:

In one embodiment, a device comprises: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: determining that a network condition is satisfied, wherein the device comprises a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP) associated with a fixed network connection; based on the determining that the network condition is satisfied, detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum and available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum; responsive to the detecting, identifying a first available network operating in licensed spectrum and a second available network operating in unlicensed spectrum; and aggregating, in one or more link aggregation groups, a first connection established with the first available network and a second connection established with the second available network, thereby augmenting a network capacity of the fixed network connection.

In one example, the determining that the network condition is satisfied comprises identifying that there is a bandwidth deficit associated with the fixed network connection.

In one example, the first available network comprises a mobile network, and the detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum comprises receiving one or more signals from one or more radio access network (RAN) nodes.

In one example, the second available network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a fixed wireless network, and the detecting for available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum comprises receiving one or more signals from one or more WAPs.

In one example, the fixed network connection comprises an Ethernet connection or a broadband connection, and the determining, the detecting, the identifying, or the aggregating are performed according to a self-discovery mode of operation.

In one example, the one or more link aggregation groups comprise a first link aggregation group that includes the first connection and a second link aggregation group that includes the second connection.

In one example, the determining that the network condition is satisfied involves use of a sampling window.

In one example, the device is associated with a global unique identifier, and a first network system associated with the first available network and a second network system associated with the second available network utilize the global unique identifier to assess charges for usage of the first available network and the second available network.

In one example, the operations further comprise performing a first determination that a first performance associated with the first connection satisfies one or more performance criteria and performing a second determination that a second performance associated with the second connection satisfies the one or more performance criteria, and the aggregating is effected based on the first determination and the second determination.

In one example, the one or more performance criteria relate to network latency, network speed, noise, interference, signal quality, signal strength, transmit power, usage cost, or a combination thereof.

In one example, the operations further comprise, after the aggregating, determining that a second network condition is satisfied and removing the first connection, the second connection, or both from the one or more link aggregation groups based on the determining that the second network condition is satisfied.

In one example, the determining that the second network condition is satisfied comprises identifying a bandwidth surplus in total network capacity of the one or more link aggregation groups.

In one example, the operations further comprise providing a user interface (UI) that enables a user or an administrator to select operational settings relating to dynamic link aggregation.

In one embodiment, a non-transitory machine-readable medium comprises executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP) including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: forming a first link aggregation group that includes a first set of network connections that operate over licensed spectrum; forming a second link aggregation group that includes a second set of network connections that operate over unlicensed spectrum; and performing packet scheduling for first traffic associated with the first set of network connections in the first link aggregation group, second traffic associated with the second set of network connections in the second link aggregation group, and third traffic associated with a fixed network connection of the wireless router or the WAP.

In one example, the performing the packet scheduling is affected by a mediation layer of the processing system.

In one example, the performing the packet scheduling involves use of packet data convergence protocol (PDCP).

In one example, the network connections in the first set of network connections are established with a set of radio access network (RAN) access points.

In one example, the network connections in the second set of network connections are established with a set of WAPs.

In one embodiment, a method comprises: establishing, by a processing system of a first wireless network device, a network connection with a second wireless network device, wherein the first wireless network device is located within an area that restricts use of a particular portion of licensed spectrum, wherein the second wireless network device is located external to the area, and wherein the second wireless network device is configured to dynamically aggregate a plurality of network connections that are established with one or more mobile networks operating in the particular portion of licensed spectrum; and using, by the processing system, the network connection to facilitate network connectivity for one or more client devices located within the area.

In one example, the network connection is established according to a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for: determining, by a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP) associated with a fixed network connection, that a network condition is satisfied; based on the determining that the network condition is satisfied, detecting for available networks operating in licensed spectrum and available networks operating in unlicensed spectrum; responsive to the detecting, identifying a first available network operating in licensed spectrum and a second available network operating in unlicensed spectrum; and aggregating, in one or more link aggregation groups, a first connection established with the first available network and a second connection established with the second available network, thereby augmenting a network capacity of the fixed network connection.

As described herein, various embodiments can be implemented in the context of device manufacturers and/or service providers in wire-line and/or wireless formats.

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate distributed wireline/wireless bandwidth orchestration/aggregation to PON/WAN nodes using licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum (including licensed and/or unlicensed satellite spectrum) dynamic link aggregation, and more particularly to dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless router or a wireless access point (WAP).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate secure satellite to cellular communications, including dynamic assigning of links to an Internet-facing wireless access point. In various embodiments, the cellular communications can comprise fifth-generation (5G), sixth-generation (6G), and/or any subsequent generation, In various embodiments, the links that are dynamically assigned can comprise satellite broadband.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide a link aggregation apparatus having the ability to leverage a logical pipe for an Internet-facing WAP (or premises Service Router) from a nearby service provider and to use traffic statistics to determine the size and number of available pipes needed to accommodate the incoming demand. If demand superseded the physical capacity of the pipe, the apparatus can have the ability to link from one or more other service providers and to join a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) in a dynamic fashion to further increase the throughput. In various embodiments, the wireless Internet-facing device can have the ability to leverage existing LTE, 5G (and/or later), Fixed wireless and Satellite Broadband connections to increase the size of the logical pipe in a dynamic fashion.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide for service connections to be joined in a LAG configuration that can be dynamically adjusted based upon the demand. A defined sampling window can be used to determine the bandwidth deficit and/or the size and number of pipes needed to add to the existing fixed connection to make up the bandwidth deficit (in various examples, the sampling window can be a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 15 minutes) and/or can be defined by a user. Once the traffic drops during a particular window, the Internet-facing router would drop the additional connection(s) in the LAG to return to the original fixed connection (whereby the user would no longer pay for a larger fixed connection).

As described herein, in various embodiments a smaller pipe can be installed/utilized and a dynamic allocation mechanism can leverage additional connection(s) based on the incoming demand.

As described herein, various embodiments can be utilized in various target markets. For example, various embodiments can be utilized in any venue that has an influx of users/customers that would require a dynamic increase in network bandwidth to serve the users/customers. By utilizing one or more mechanisms described herein, such mechanism(s) can allow users/customers to move to a more consumption-based model (rather than an expanded fixed priced model that they typically are subject to in order to accommodate, for example, 95% capacity utilization). Applications can include the following: (1) Hotels; (2) Retail Spaces with WIFI (e.g., Coffee Shops, Bars); (3) Rural Applications; (4) Small to Medium Convention Spaces; (5) Sporting Venues; (6) Airports; and/or (7) Disaster and/or Emergency Preparedness Areas.

As described herein, various embodiments can enable a service provider to monetize unused network traffic utilization within the 5G (or later), Fixed Wireless networks and network edge cloud spaces by offering available bandwidth (e.g., to retail spaces, sporting venues and/or small businesses).

As described herein, various embodiments can enable a leveraging of customer premises equipment to allocate bandwidth using various network technologies (e.g., to overcome bandwidth deficits and allow a service provider to expand service offerings to potentially unrealized markets).

Reference will now be made to operation of various embodiments regarding quality of service (QOS). QoS prioritizes traffic that is deemed to have priority (e.g., deemed by the network administrator). This can be effective in the prioritization of essential traffic or traffic that must have a low latency environment. However, traditional QoS can introduce traffic degradation in a network congestion scenario for non-priority traffic (QOS typically does nothing to expand Layer 1 capacity to a given network as traditional network QoS is deployed at Layers 2 and 3). Using dynamic link allocation (according to various embodiments) can provide the ability to augment Layer 1, which can lessen the need for QOS and reduce impacts that QoS can have on non-priority traffic in a congestive environment.

Reference will now be made to operation of various embodiments regarding carrier aggregation and LTE WLAN aggregation using satellite broadband. Carrier aggregation and LTE WLAN aggregation are technologies that traditionally target a UE by aggregating carrier channels (licensed and/or unlicensed) to increase bandwidth to the UE. These enhancements to the traditional 3GPP standard are effective for increased bandwidth to allow for faster data transfers. However, in high utilization scenarios (such as at a large sporting event or conference) the competition for intra-band and inter-band carriers can become a challenge (due to carrier channel availability with so many UEs in close proximity with one another). Further, as phones start consuming other channels to accommodate bandwidth demands, the results can be a spectrum deficit for other carrier aggregation devices. Various embodiments described herein (e.g., with respect to satellite broadband) can help alleviate some (or all) of such spectrum deficit issues.

Reference will now be made to operation of various embodiments regarding UE power consumption. Traditional UE power consumption for aggregating uplink connections can become an issue, and complex UE updates can traditionally be required to fully maximize the use of carrier aggregation. By targeting a WIFI router to perform link aggregation (according to various embodiments) certain complexity can be reduced at the UE when performing carrier aggregation and when leveraging link allocation at the Internet-facing router where licensed spectrum from LTE (or later), unlicensed spectrum (e.g., Wireless APs, WLAN, Fixed Wireless, Satellite Broadband) and fixed ethernet connections can be aggregated together. Also, having a centralized wireless router (according to various embodiments) rather than relying on dispersed UEs can provide for improved management and analytics of links that are added and then dropped as the capacity demands increase and decrease with the increased/decreased demands from UEs and other WIFI clients.

Reference will now be made to certain benefits according to various embodiments. One such benefit is the ability for a premises owner to leverage wireless connections and/or cloud connections and have them allocated and de-allocated in a dynamic fashion (this can reduce the operational costs associated with otherwise overbuilding capacity to accommodate, for example, 95% of traffic during several hours during peak period). Various embodiments can facilitate a more consumption-based model in which the user (e.g., provider) would be able to reduce their operational costs for providing Internet connectivity for their usership.

Another benefit (according to various embodiments) provides for leveraging wireless in a dynamic fashion in order to reduce the setup for a customer premises. According to various embodiments, by doing this, the need for provisioning of SDN logical resources or engineering physical connections to the premises can be reduced (or eliminated).

Another benefit (according to various embodiments) provides for leveraging wireless in a case where physical capacity is limited to a premises (which could otherwise require an engineering project (and its associated capital costs and reduced time to market) in order to accommodate the desired capacity).

Another benefit (according to various embodiments) provides for using wireless and the ability to deploy in LAG to increase the exposure for a business that: (a) could otherwise not afford the costs for physical pipe connection(s); and/or (b) otherwise lacks the available licensed spectrum under the control of a service provider. According to various embodiments, this can reduce the need for additional more costly physical equipment at the premises and/or reduce the acquisition costs to acquire more spectrum (which is extremely limited).

Reference will now be made to WAN and RAN resource management according to various embodiments. Local resource management can be performed by the network administrator, wherein real-time network statistics and usage statistics can be provided to the network administrator in order to manage and configure a premises device accordingly. In addition, the user (e.g., the network administrator) can also have the ability to perform radio and network resource management to optimize the available pipes to accommodate the incoming demand. The network administrator can also have the ability to leverage dynamic RRM and use specific real-time metrics for the wireless communication to select the best available links. Such metrics can include (but not be limited to) the following: (1) Signal; (2) Interference; (3) Noise; (4) dBM; (5) RSSI; (6) Noise Floor; (7) SNR; (8) RF Group and RF Neighborhood; (9) Transmit Power Control; (10) Dynamic Channel Assignment; (11) any combination thereof.

Still referring to WAN and RAN resource management according to various embodiments, the network administrator can opt for a manual option (e.g., wherein upon turn-up the user (e.g., end-user) can select what network(s) and/or connection(s) they want their device to connect to and opt for dynamic network allocation). In various embodiments, global resource management can be available as well. Such global resource management can comprise a centralized global network control that would act as a radio network controller and network management for Internet-facing customer premises wireless routers (wherein RRM and network management can be performed across an RF Group and/or RG neighborhood). Such global management of the customer premises device(s) can provide an administrator with the ability to capture enhanced data analytics at the premises level and to provide global recommendations at a macro level.

Reference will now be made to reserved carrier aggregation according to various embodiments. Such reserved carrier aggregation can be a setting that will facilitate more granular control of how carriers are aggregated in the LAG configuration (and can be used to enhance the bandwidth for a particular traffic type that requires priority and/or a particular network destination that requires priority). An objective (according to various embodiments) is to tailor the aggregated carriers to target specific traffic type(s) and/or network destination(s) that are susceptible to latency (such as video, voice, or point-of-sale applications where the timing of payment transactions is critical). In one example, these carriers would be only used based upon a configuration setting (e.g., with the ability to be configured in the Internet-facing wireless router).

Reference will now be made to a discussion of use cases according to various embodiments. A first of these use cases relates to constructing a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) using different wireless mediums. Various embodiments can provide the ability to leverage 5G (or later), LTE, Network Edge, Satellite Broadband and fixed wireless technologies (e.g., 802.11x) and merge them into a LAG configuration (e.g., wherein merging is performed at the customer premises).

Another of these use cases relates to dynamic creation of LAG against Internet-facing router. Various embodiments can provide the ability to dynamically create a LAG configuration against an Internet-facing router (or WAP). Various embodiments can create LAGs in a dynamic fashion against a customer premises Internet-facing device (and can use relevant data to create and tear down in a dynamic fashion).

Another of these use cases relates to the providing of innovation to various 3GPP standards in a manner which leverages Integrated Satellite-2-5G innovation.

Another of these use cases relates to a global unique identifier for auto-negotiation. Various embodiments can provide the ability to recognize traffic increases and automatically join and negotiate the addition of logical pipe via Satellite Broadband, 5G (or later), LTE and/or Fixed Wireless using a globally unique identifier that is specific to the edge Internet-facing router (or WAP).

Another of these use cases relates to a network selection apparatus. Various embodiments can provide a selection algorithm to determine the quantity and size of pipes available to negate the bandwidth deficit at the customer premises Internet-facing device.

Another of these use cases relates to expansion into new markets. Various embodiments can provide mechanisms to monetize unused network traffic utilization within the 5G (or later), Fixed Wireless networks and network edge cloud spaces by offering available bandwidth to retail spaces, sporting venues and small businesses. Various embodiments can provide capabilities to leverage customer premises equipment to allocate bandwidth using various network technologies to overcome bandwidth deficits.

Another of these use cases relates to restricted airspace (see, e.g., FIG. 2D). Various embodiments can provide dynamic link aggregation that is leveraged to operate in a 5G (or later) restricted area (sch as airports). In this use case, the carrier aggregation nodes can be established outside of the 5G (or later) restricted area and use 802.11x frequencies and/or other unlicensed spectrum to establish carrier aggregation groups in the FAA Restricted Area using the Internet-facing gateways. This can negate the need to have 5G (or later) frequencies competing with restricted FAA frequencies at airports or other FAA restricted areas (where frequencies are reserved for FAA critical communication.

Another of these use cases relates to emergency and/or disaster areas. Various embodiments can operate in an area where a natural disaster has occurred. Dynamic link aggregation can be deployed against a standalone L2/L3 capable Internet-facing wireless router to deliver Internet to a small geographical area. This can be achieved by the L2/L3 Internet capable router joining available licensed and unlicensed spectrum in a LAG configuration to deliver Internet service. The unlicensed spectrum delivered by one Internet-facing device can be propagated though a larger area by allowing subtending wireless routers to join the unlicensed spectrum from its adjacent neighbor to deliver Internet service to an emergency area (e.g., where the existing network infrastructure does not have commercial power to deliver L3 service to subscribers).

Another of these use cases relates to utilize in conjunction with carrier aggregation. Various embodiments can provide dynamic link allocation that is used in conjunction with carrier aggregation specially for UEs (and/or other 802.11x devices) that do not have LTE (or later) capabilities in order to provide the ability to enhance bandwidth. In addition, large venues (such as concerts and sporting venues) where carrier competition is high (and/or carrier interference at the UE level is high) can benefit from use of various embodiments.

As described herein, various embodiments can be applied in the context of rural (and/or remote) use, where engineering jobs to build-out fiber can otherwise be extremely expensive and the payback period to recoup the initial capital investment can otherwise be very lengthy.

As described herein, various embodiments can be applied in the context of rural (and/or remote) use and can facilitate concurrent use of multiple technologies (e.g., satellite and fixed wireless) to accommodate the volume and type of traffic that is being transported.

As described herein, various embodiments can provide dynamic link aggregation that includes satellite broadband in conjunction with other spectrum (e.g., licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum). Such dynamic link aggregation (according to various embodiments) can be a mechanism to provide additional bandwidth to a subscriber (e.g., when a fixed medium engineering job is not cost effective).

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate dynamically adding (and/or dropping) connections from several wireless, network edge cloud medium, and/or broadband satellites to (and/or from) an Internet-facing wireless access point and/or an Internet-facing customer premise router. Such added (and/or dropped) connections can be deployed in a LAG (Link Aggregation Group) to increase the logical size of the pipe (or communication path). The dynamic link allocation can operate, for example, in Layer 1 of the network stack.

As described herein, various embodiments can facilitate secure satellite to 5G (or later) including dynamically assigning links (comprising satellite broadband) to an Internet-facing WAP or router in rural environments.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communications network in accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular, a virtualized communications network is presented that can be used to implement some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 100, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 200, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 220, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 2000, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 2100, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 2200, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 2300, some or all of the subsystems and functions of system 2400, and/or some or all of methods 270, 2500, 2600, and/or 2700. For example, virtualized communications network 300 can facilitate, in whole or in part, dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP, to augment overall network capacity.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leverages cloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via a transport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or one or more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, this cloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leverages application programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity from services and operations; supports more nimble business models; and rapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirements including traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity of performance and reliability expectations.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wired and/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces to provide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distribution of content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, in some cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place, and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times, the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannot be abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code and analog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementation as VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included in transport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transport layer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specific NFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325 leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to support networking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334 can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-one mapping of traditional network element function or alternately some combination of network functions designed for cloud computing. For example, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain name system (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility management entity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers for IP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers and other network elements. Because these elements don't typically need to forward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributed across a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of the capability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higher availability than its former monolithic version. These virtual network elements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using an orchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualized network function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilities of the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expanded capabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. In particular, network workloads may have applications distributed across the virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computing environment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrate workloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these third party locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. In order to provide additional context for various embodiments of the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of the subject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computing environment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point 122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented via computer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers, and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 can facilitate, in whole or in part, dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP, to augment overall network capacity.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise a computer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, a system memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406 to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as the processing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that can further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406 comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can be stored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer 402, such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette 418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or, to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as the DVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can be connected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, a magnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428, respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external drive implementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies are within contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412, comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs 432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions of the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also be cached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can be implemented utilizing various commercially available operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 through one or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and a pointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown) can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through an input device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408, but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected to the system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. It will also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444 can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display, a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving display information associated with computer 402 via any communication means, including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to the monitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remote computer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typically comprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer 402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storage device 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprise wired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/or larger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WAN networking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which can connect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can be connected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communications network interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise a wireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprise a modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN 454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal or external and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the system bus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are example and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform 510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156, and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitate, in whole or in part, dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP, to augment overall network capacity. In one or more embodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generate and receive signals transmitted and received by base stations or access points such as base station or access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform 510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobile network platform 510 can be included in telecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-side components as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance, mobility data stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 for telecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other devices, such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions can comprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to the mobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550, enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can be embodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at least in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Based on radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) or radio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packet data protocol contexts when a data session is established; other data structures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 can comprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises serving node(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) within technology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey the various packetized flows of data streams received through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that rely primarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s) 514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applications that can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided by mobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data session, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. In addition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utility server(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 to ensure network's operation and data integrity in addition to authorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512 and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or Global Positioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobile network platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider), such as distributed antenna networks that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more network coverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processors configured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobile network platform 510. To that end, the one or more processors can execute code instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It should be appreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, which operates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related to operation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational information can comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served through mobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also store information from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7 network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 can be, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as a remotely connected memory store.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as an illustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobile devices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devices for communication via communications network 125. For example, computing device 600 can facilitate, in whole or in part, dynamic assignment (or allocation) of links for a wireless (e.g., Internet-facing) network device, such as a wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) router or a WAP, to augment overall network capacity.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, a power supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, an orientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operations thereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth® and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VOIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device 600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display 610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In an embodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 with navigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, the communication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interface having graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the user interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housing assembly of the communication device 600 or an independent device communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard in proximity of a human car) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI 604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device 600 to facilitate long-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or in combination, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port or other suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used for facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618 can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motion of the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device 600 (north, south, west, and cast, as well as combined orientations in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wireless access points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits, and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executing computer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by the aforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communication device 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifying subscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so on.