Patent Publication Number: US-2007121525-A1

Title: Method and sytem for increasing bandwidth usage in a network

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This Application Claims Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/739473 filed Nov. 25, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention generally relates to the field of networks. More specifically, the invention relates to optimizing bandwidth usage in a network.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Nowadays, the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) has increased tremendously. Electronic devices use various services. Examples of such services include a voice-calling service, a multimedia message service (MMS) service, an online gaming service, an online gambling service, and so forth. Data related to a service is transferred through a network. The network can transmit only a limited amount of data per unit time, referred to as the bandwidth of the network. The bandwidth is generally expressed in kilobytes per second (kbps). For example, a typical CDMA network can operate at 16 kbps to 128 kbps. In the network, the amount of data transferred at a particular instant of time is referred to as the bandwidth usage. The bandwidth usage varies throughout a day due to variation in the use of services. The bandwidth usage can be very low at times, typically during the night, due to the minimal usage of the services.  
      Typically, the revenue of a network provider depends on the bandwidth usage. Therefore, a low bandwidth usage translates into low revenue. Since a major component of the operational cost for the network provider is generally fixed and is not affected by the bandwidth usage, this translates into high operational costs. The high operational cost, along with the reduced revenue, can result in a reduction in the profits, as well as huge losses to the network provider.  
      There are various methods for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network. In one such method, the tariff for communication among electronic devices is reduced during a fixed period of time, to encourage the users of the electronic devices to increase their communication, and thereby boost the bandwidth usage. In another method, the tariff for accessing the Internet is reduced during a fixed period of time every day, to encourage the users to use the Internet.  
      However, these methods have one or more of the following limitations. Firstly, the bandwidth usage at a time other than the fixed time period cannot be increased, even when the bandwidth usage is very low. Secondly, the one or more methods offer a reduction in the tariff for using only some specific services such as the Internet. This does not offer the user the flexibility of choosing a service of his choice with reduced tariff. Thirdly, only reduction in the tariff is offered whereas other options, such as prizes and gift coupons, are not offered.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to increase the bandwidth usage in a network even at a time other than the fixed period of time.  
      Another object of the present invention is to offer flexibility to a user of an electronic device to choose a service of his choice, with reduced tariffs.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to offer various types of incentives for using services including a reduction in the tariffs.  
      The present invention provides a method for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network. The method includes monitoring the bandwidth usage. When the bandwidth usage is less than a threshold value, one or more incentives are offered to a user of an electronic device for using one or more services. The one or more services are provided at the electronic device through the network and use the bandwidth in the network.  
      The present invention also provides a bandwidth management system for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network. The bandwidth management system includes a monitoring module, a comparator and a processing module. The monitoring module monitors the bandwidth usage. The comparator compares the bandwidth usage with a threshold value. Thereafter, the processing module offers one or more incentives for using one or more services, based on the comparison between the bandwidth usage and the threshold value. Thereafter, the one or more services use the bandwidth in the network. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary environment, in which various embodiments of the present invention can be practiced;  
       FIG. 2  depicts a bandwidth management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting a method for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting a method for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  shows a bandwidth fluctuation pattern illustrating an exemplary variation in the bandwidth usage in a network in a day, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS  
      Various embodiments of the invention provide a method, a system and a computer program product for increasing the bandwidth usage in a network. Specifically, various embodiments of the invention provide a method and a system for increasing the bandwidth usage in the network by offering one or more incentives for using one or more services when the bandwidth usage is less than a threshold value.  
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary environment  100 , in which various embodiments of the present invention can be practiced. Environment  100  includes a plurality of electronic devices  102 , and a network  104 . Examples of an electronic device include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a personal computer, and a laptop. Plurality of electronic devices  102  uses various services that are provided through network  104 . Examples of network  104  include a CDMA network, a GSM network, the Internet, a UMTS network, a TDMA network, and the like. It should be noted that network  104  can be a wired network or a wireless network. Network  104  can have components such as a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Base Station Controller (BSC), and Mobile Switching Center (MSC) associated with it. A BTS communicates with several mobile phones in a network through radio signals. A BSC controls one or more BTS&#39;s. Typically, a BSC can control around 200 BTS&#39;s. The BSC allocates radio channels for communication and controls handovers from the BTS&#39;s. A MSC controls several BSC&#39;s and carries out switching functions. The services can be offered through the components of network  104 . Usage of the services at the plurality of electronic devices  102  consumes the bandwidth of network  104 . Examples of a service include, but are not limited to, voice calling, online gaming, online gambling, the Internet, video streaming, audio streaming, content downloading, online shopping, online dating, and online stock quotes.  
       FIG. 2  depicts a bandwidth management system  202 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Bandwidth management system  202  includes a monitoring module  204 , a comparator  206  and a processing module  208 . Monitoring module  204  monitors the bandwidth usage in network  104 . Comparator  206  compares the bandwidth usage with a threshold value. The threshold value can depend on various factors such as the number of electronic devices operating in network  104 , the capacity of the network hardware such as routers and switches associated with network  104 , the past patterns of the bandwidth usage, and so forth. The variation in the bandwidth usage is explained in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 . After comparing the bandwidth usage with the threshold value, processing module  208  offers one or more incentives to a user of an electronic device, for using one or more services. The one or more incentives are offered based on the comparison between the bandwidth usage and the threshold value. Examples of an incentive include a reduction in the tariffs of the one or more services, free talktime for voice calling, gifts, free credit points, lucky draws, and gift coupons. For example, whenever the bandwidth usage is less than 60 percent of the capacity, a user of an electronic device may be offered free credit points for online gambling. In another example, whenever the bandwidth usage is less than 30 kbps in a CDMA network, the user of the electronic device may be offered reduced tariffs for playing online games, accessing news channels or downloading ring tones.  
      In an embodiment of the present invention, bandwidth management system  202  also includes a communication module  21   0  for communicating with an electronic device to relay the offer to the users. Communication module  210  sends a message to the electronic device and also receives a response from the electronic device. In an embodiment of the present invention, an analyzer in a processing module  208  can analyze the response from the user, to determine whether the user intends to use the one or more services.  
      In another embodiment of the present invention, bandwidth management system  202  further includes a memory  214  for storing data associated with the one or more services, the data associated with the one or more incentives, the preferences of users of the plurality of electronic devices  102 , and so forth. Further, memory  214  can also store games, videos, music, wallpapers, ring tones and advertisements. For example, memory  214  can store the bets of the users involved in online gambling. In another example, memory  214  can store the past and present scores of users playing online games such as FIFA. In still another example, memory  214  can store the bids of users in an online auction.  
      It will be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that bandwidth management system  202  can be implemented in the form of hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting a method for increasing the bandwidth usage in network  104 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step  302 , the bandwidth usage in network  104  is monitored. The bandwidth usage can be continuously monitored in real time. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth usage can be monitored after a pre-defined time period. For example, the bandwidth usage can be determined after every 10 minutes. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth usage can be monitored at a component associated with network  104  such as a BTS, a BSC, and a MSC. Thereafter, at step  304 , one or more incentives are offered to a user of an electronic device, for using one or more services. The one or more incentives are offered when the bandwidth usage is less than the threshold value. Usage of the one or more services consumes the bandwidth in the network  104 . Examples of a service include, but are not limited to, online gaming, online gambling, the Internet, video streaming, audio streaming, content downloading, online shopping, voice calling, online dating, and online stock quotes.  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting a method for increasing the bandwidth usage in network  104 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the method can contain a greater or fewer number of steps than shown in  FIG. 4 . At step  402 , the bandwidth usage in network  104  is monitored. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bandwidth usage is monitored by monitoring module  204 . At step  404 , it is checked if the bandwidth usage is less than the threshold value. In an embodiment of the present invention, comparator  206  checks whether the bandwidth usage is less than the threshold value. The variation in the bandwidth usage is explained in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 . When the bandwidth usage is not less than the threshold value, then the bandwidth usage is continuously monitored at step  402 .  
      When the bandwidth usage is less than the threshold value, step  406  is followed. At step  406 , a message is sent to an electronic device in network  104 , to provide information about the incentives being offered for using the services. In an embodiment of the present invention, communication module  210  sends the message. Based on the response to the message, it is determined whether a user of the electronic device intends to use the services, at step  408 . In an embodiment of the present invention, analyzer  212  determines whether the user of the electronic device intends to use the services, based on the response to the message. For example, a message can include the following ‘Please reply to this message if you want to avail of our offer yourself’. If a user replies to the message, analyzer  212  can determine that the user intends to use the services.  
      When the user of the electronic device intends to use the services, a service is provided at the electronic device through network  104 , at step  410 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the service can be provided based on the preferences defined by the user. For example, the user can indicate that he should be provided with online gambling service whenever incentives are being offered. In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may specify the service and the corresponding incentive. For example, the user may specify that the tariff for playing an online game should be reduced whenever incentives are being offered. The amount by which the tariff will be reduced can be defined by processing module  208 . In an embodiment of the present invention, processing module  208  offers the incentives through communication module  210 .  
      In another embodiment of the present invention, a message is sent to the electronic device, to offer the incentives. The message can include the names of the services or the incentives offered for using the services. The message can also include names of the services and corresponding incentives. In an embodiment of the present invention, communication module  210  can send the message to the electronic device. Based on the response of the user of the electronic device to the message, a service can be provided at the electronic device. In an embodiment of the present invention, processing module  208  can provide the service at the electronic device by using communication module  210 . The service can be offered through Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), and so forth.  
      For example, a SMS can be sent to a mobile phone. This SMS may inform the user of the mobile phone about free credit points being offered for using online gambling service, and the reduced tariff for playing online games on the mobile phone. The reply to the SMS by the user may contain “online gambling”. Therefore, online gambling with free credit points can be provided at the mobile phone.  
      When the user of the electronic device does not intends to use the services the method ends.  
       FIG. 5  shows a bandwidth fluctuation pattern  500  illustrating an exemplary variation in the bandwidth usage in network  104  in the day, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In bandwidth fluctuation pattern  500 , the X-axis represents the time in the day and the Y-axis represents the bandwidth usage in network  104 . At any time in the day, when the bandwidth usage falls below the threshold value, for example, 90 Megabytes per second (Mbps), incentives are offered for using services provided through network  104 . For example, the incentives can be offered from 00:00 hours (hrs) to 03:00 hrs, since the bandwidth usage is less than 90 Mbps. The incentives can also be offered at 07:00 hrs and 11:00 hrs. Thereafter, the incentives can be offered after 20:00 hrs. In an embodiment of the present invention, the incentives can be offered for a fixed period of time, for example, for an hour, whenever the bandwidth usage falls below 90 Mbps.  
      In an embodiment of the present invention, the threshold value can be different for every hour. For example, based on past bandwidth fluctuation patterns it can be ascertained that the peak period of the bandwidth usage is from 13:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs. If on a particular day, the bandwidth usage during the peak period falls below the threshold value, the incentives need not be offered, since the bandwidth usage can be expected to rise anytime based on past patterns. In another embodiment of the present invention, the threshold value for the peak period can be higher than the threshold value for the rest of the day.  
      An advantage of the method and system as described earlier is that it increases the bandwidth usage in a network whenever the bandwidth usage is low even at a time other than a fixed time period. The method and system also offer flexibility to a user of an electronic device to choose a service of his choice, with reduced tariffs. Further, the method and system offer various types of incentives for using services including a reduction in the tariffs.  
      The system for increasing bandwidth usage in a network, as described in the present invention or any of its components, may be embodied in the form of a computer system. Typical examples of a computer system includes a general-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integrated circuit element, and other devices or arrangements of devices that are capable of implementing the steps that constitute the method of the present invention.  
      The computer system comprises a computer, an input device, a display unit and the Internet. The computer further comprises a microprocessor. The microprocessor is connected to a communication bus. The computer also includes a memory. The memory may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). The computer system also comprises a storage device, which can be a hard disk drive or a removable storage drive, such as a floppy disk drive, optical disk drive, etc. The storage device can also be other similar means for loading computer programs or other instructions into the computer system. The computer system also includes a communication unit, which allows the computer to connect to other databases and the Internet through an Input/Output (I/O) interface. The communication unit allows the transfer as well as reception of data from other databases. The communication unit may include a modem, an Ethernet card, or any similar device that enables the computer system to connect to databases and networks such as LAN, MAN, WAN and the Internet. The computer system facilitates inputs from a user through input device, accessible to the system through I/O interface.  
      The computer system executes a set of instructions that are stored in one or more storage elements, in order to process input data. The storage elements may also hold data or other information as desired. The storage element may be in the form of an information source or a physical memory element present in the processing machine.  
      The set of instructions may include various commands that instruct the processing machine to perform specific tasks such as the steps that constitute the method of the present invention. The set of instructions may be in the form of a software program. Further, the software may be in the form of a collection of separate programs, a program module with a larger program or a portion of a program module, as in the present invention. The software may also include modular programming in the form of object-oriented programming. The processing of input data by the processing machine may be in response to user commands, results of previous processing or a request made by another processing machine.  
      While various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.