Abstract:
A method for offering wireless data at a discounted rate is provided. A wireless service provider is queried to discover discounted data transfer rates. A discount rate proposal is sent to the querying mobile user. The discount rate proposal includes a discount rate, a data bit rate, and an offered time period. If the mobile unit accepts the discount rate proposal, user data is carried at the data bit rate during the offered time period priced at the discount rate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to communication systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wireless data traffic has increased greatly in recent years, forcing wireless service providers (WSPs) to upgrade their networks. One problem is that the capacity of wireless networks must currently be upgraded according to peak cell utilization, rather than average cell utilization. For example, typical wireless networks operate at roughly 30% of capacity. Capital expense costs for WSPs could be reduced if these utilization peaks were smoothed. 
         [0003]    A possible solution to smoothing peaks in cell utilization would be to allocate less cell capacity to users who have less need for bandwidth. However, there are currently no mechanisms in place for a WSP to learn of the bandwidth needs of individual users. 
         [0004]    The best existing solution to the problem is for the WSP to engineer the system to limit overloads by controlling call admissions, cell balancing and capacity engineering. Assigning certain types of traffic, such as voice or video, to a higher priority QoS and/or guaranteeing its bit rate can also help mitigate the ill effects of congestion for that traffic. However, giving certain types of traffic high priority does not help in reducing peak utilization. Furthermore, prioritizing traffic based on its type does not necessarily serve the needs of the WSP&#39;s users. For example, a user about to board a flight may want a movie download to proceed as quickly as possible, but the download will only receive best effort treatment. Another user may care only that the movie downloads within two or three hours, and in this case even normal, best effort treatment is not required. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a need exists for a way of providing more optimal data traffic utilization in wireless communication systems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An exemplary embodiment provides for a WSP to offer lower-speed wireless data at a discount to users when cell utilization is high. The price can be set dynamically depending on the level of cell utilization. Users could then decide whether to accept the discount depending on their data needs. For example, this provides a method by which the WSP can learn of the users&#39; requirements. 
         [0007]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a user utilizes an application on their mobile unit to query the WSP at any time for discounts. The WSP preferably responds with a discount rate, a data bit rate, plus a time period over which the discount rate is valid. The user can then ignore this discount offer, or accept by responding to the WSP. If the offer is accepted, the user&#39;s data traffic is carried at the offered bit rate over the time window, and the price of the data during this period is set according to the offer. 
         [0008]    Discounts preferably take the form of a reduction in how bits sent or received are counted against the user&#39;s monthly data quota. For example, the discount for a lowered bit rate might be 0.5, meaning that every bit sent or received by a user is counted as only half a bit. 
         [0009]    The incentive to agree to a lower bit rate may be an offer of additional bits to be added to the users monthly quota or an offer of free or reduced price bits at a time of lesser network utilization. 
         [0010]    The WSP may also send discount advertisements to opted-in users as well, possibly sometime in advance of the period for which the discount is applicable. The same procedure as stated above is then applied if the user accepts the offer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts the functional architecture of a communication network in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a call flow diagram in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts the functional architecture of communication network  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Communication network  100  preferably includes wireless network  101  and mobile unit  103 . Communication network can be any suitable wireless network. 
         [0014]    Wireless network  101  preferably includes base station  105 , wireless service provider (WSP) server  111 , prediction server  121 , and charging system  131 . 
         [0015]    Base station  105  is a wireless communications station installed at a fixed location and used to communicate with mobile units and network elements located within wireless network  101 . Although only one base station (base station  105 ) is depicted in  FIG. 1  for clarity, it should be understood that a typical wireless network includes a plurality of base stations. 
         [0016]    WSP server  111  is preferably responsible for receiving user requests, for sending offers in response to these requests, and for receiving user acceptances of offers. 
         [0017]    Prediction server  121  is preferably responsible for predicting utilization levels of cells in the WSP network. 
         [0018]    Charging system  131  is a server that provides processing of information relating to charging mobile unit  103  for data used. 
         [0019]    Mobile unit  103  is a mobile unit that can communicate with wireless network  101 . Mobile unit  103  can be, for example, a smart phone or tablet. Mobile Unit  103  preferably includes a user client application  113 . 
         [0020]    User client application  113  preferably utilizes a “RESTful” API, typically implemented as messages in the XML format over the HTTP protocol used for web traffic. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts a call flow diagram  200  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0022]    User client application  113  sends Request Discount message  201  to WSP Server  111 . Request Discount message preferably includes an identification of mobile unit  103 . 
         [0023]    WSP Server  111  sends Request Prediction of Cell Utilization message  202  to Prediction Server  121 . 
         [0024]    Prediction Server  121  sends Prediction message  203  to WSP Server  111 . 
         [0025]    WSP Server  111  computes ( 204 ) the terms of any discount offer. Upon receiving the request, WSP Server  111  computes the elements of the offer, preferably based on user information and predicated cell utilization, which is obtained from Prediction Server  121 . In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the elements of the offer include a discount rate, a data rate, and an offered time period. 
         [0026]    WSP Server  111  sends Discount Offer message  205  to User client application  113 . Discount Offer message  205  preferably includes a digital signature so that a user could not “spoof” the WSP Network  111  by accepting a discount never actually offered by WSP Network  111 . 
         [0027]    If the user wants to accept the offer sent in Discount Offer message  205 , User client application  113  sends Accept Offer message  206  to WSP Server  111 . WSP Server  111  would then implement the reduced bandwidth rate, preferably using mechanisms that are available at the cell site. In an exemplary embodiment, this is accomplished by limiting total traffic throughput. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, this is accomplished via reducing the priority through QoS settings. In addition, both of these can be used in conjunction. WSP Network  111  can alternately offload mobile unit  103  to an alternative access network, not shown. Additionally, a user that accepts an offer is preferably able to terminate the terms of the offer at any time during the period of the offer. 
         [0028]    In response to receiving Accept Offer message  206 , WSP Server  111  sends Set Discounted Charging Level message  207  to Charging System  131 . In addition, WSP Server  111  preferably updates the billing system on the way bits are counted towards the user&#39;s monthly quota in accordance with the offer. 
         [0029]    WSP Server  111  sends Set Bit Rate for User Cell message  208  to base station  105 , which implements the bit rate discounted offered to and accepted by mobile unit  103 . In an exemplary embodiment, wireless network  101  is an LTE network and the mechanism for bit-rate control comprises reducing the amount of user traffic allowed for best effort flows through the eNodeB by lowering the user&#39;s UE-AMBR setting. This could also be accomplished by lowering settings and limiting bandwidth for the user in the packet gateway, such as via APN-AMBR. 
         [0030]    In a further exemplary embodiment, wireless network  101  is an LTE network and the mechanism for bit-rate control comprises establishing a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) bearer to a very low value that will carry all of the user traffic, effectively reducing the user&#39;s rate proportionally compared to best effort users. In a further exemplary embodiment, wireless network  101  is an LTE network and the mechanism for bit-rate control comprises assigning discount traffic to a QCI (QoS) value that has a lower priority than standard best effort. For example, discount users would be assigned the lowest QCI value of 9. In a further exemplary embodiment, users can be offloaded to a slower network, such as CDMA or W-CDMA. 
         [0031]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention thereby provides for reduced peak cell utilization, thereby reducing WSP capital expenditure. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a user can transmit more data each month without any perceived loss of utility. This facilitates users getting more value from their monthly data quota. Furthermore, user satisfaction is increased for all of the WSP&#39;s users, because wireless data performance decreases at times of high utilization. This increased user satisfaction is in turn a benefit to the WSP, for example in retaining customers. 
         [0032]    While this invention has been described in terms of certain examples thereof, it is not intended that it be limited to the above description, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow.