Patent Publication Number: US-2009231997-A1

Title: Method for displaying a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to handheld electronic devices and in particular, although not exclusively, to displaying on a display screen of an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many wireless communication services now support both circuit switched (CS) communications and packet switched (PS) communications. For example, the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is incorporated into existing circuit-switched Global System for Mobile (GSM) networks. PS communications are becoming increasingly popular and are used, for example, for facsimile services, messaging, internet access, data uploads and downloads, and voice communications using voice over internet protocol (VOIP). 
     Packet-switched data communications are based on specific protocol procedures. For example, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications define PS Core Network (CN) services for GSM and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks. The CN services employ a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) to route Protocol Data Units (PDUs) through a network based on factors such as a required Quality of Service (QoS). Each mobile station operating in a network then uses a specific PDP context that includes mapping and routing information for transferring PDP PDU&#39;s between the mobile station and another network node such as a Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN). PDP contexts thus can be activated, modified and deactivated by a mobile station based on the mobile station&#39;s immediate need for network resources. However, the quality and speed of PS communication services can be significantly reduced when a PS services network is congested. Thus users may prefer to use PS communication services during periods of light network congestion. For example, during periods of light network congestion downloading and uploading files can require less time, VOIP calls can be clearer, and internet access can be faster. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference now will be made to exemplary embodiments as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views. The figures together with a detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate the embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, in accordance with the present invention, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an electronic device in the form of a mobile telephone, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication network comprising a circuit switched (CS) network, a packet switched (PS) network, and the mobile telephone of  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a message sequence chart illustrating an exchange of messages in the wireless communication network shown in  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a series of three images of an embodiment of the mobile telephone of  FIG. 1 , where each image includes a different PS traffic status icon displayed on a display screen, according to some embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying on an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and device components related to displaying on an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the device components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, front and back, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or device. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram illustrates an electronic device in the form of a mobile telephone  100 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. The mobile telephone  100  comprises a radio frequency communications unit  102  coupled to be in communication with a common data and address bus  117  of a processor  103 . The mobile telephone  100  also has a keypad  106  and a display screen  105 , such as a touch screen coupled to be in communication with the processor  103 . 
     The processor  103  also includes an encoder/decoder  111  with an associated code Read Only Memory (ROM)  112  for storing data for encoding and decoding voice or other signals that may be transmitted or received by the mobile telephone  100 . The processor  103  further includes a microprocessor  113  coupled, by the common data and address bus  117 , to the encoder/decoder  111 , a character Read Only Memory (ROM)  114 , a Random Access Memory (RAM)  104 , programmable memory  116 , a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface  118 , and a camera  119 . The programmable memory  116  and a SIM operatively coupled to the SIM interface  118  each can store, among other things, a telephone number database (TND) comprising a number field for telephone numbers and a name field for identifiers uniquely associated with the telephone numbers in the number field. 
     The radio frequency communications unit  102  is a combined receiver and transmitter having a common antenna  107 . The communications unit  102  has a transceiver  108  coupled to the antenna  107  via a radio frequency amplifier  109 . The transceiver  108  is also coupled to a combined modulator/demodulator  110  that is coupled to the encoder/decoder  111 . 
     The microprocessor  113  has ports for coupling to the keypad  106  and to the display screen  105 . The microprocessor  113  further has ports for coupling to an alert module  115  that typically contains an alert speaker, vibrator motor and associated drivers; to a microphone  120 ; and to a communications speaker  122 . The character ROM  114  stores code for decoding or encoding data such as control channel messages that may be transmitted or received by the communications unit  102 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the character ROM  114 , the programmable memory  116 , or a SIM also can store operating code (OC) for the microprocessor  113  and code for performing functions associated with the mobile telephone  100 . For example, the programmable memory  116  can comprise packet switched (PS) congestion status program code components  125  configured to cause execution of a method for displaying on the display screen  105  a PS congestion status of a wireless communication network. 
     Thus some embodiments of the present invention include a method for displaying on an electronic device such as the mobile telephone  100  a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network. The method includes transmitting a packet switched congestion status inquiry message from the electronic device to a first network element in the wireless communication network. A reply message received from the first network element in response to the packet switched congestion status inquiry message is then processed. The reply message includes transmission delay information obtained from a device transmission delay between the first network element and the electronic device and a network transmission delay between the first network element and at least one packet switched support node in the wireless communication network. The packet switched congestion status of the wireless communication network is then determined based on the transmission delay information. Finally, the packet switched congestion status is displayed on a display screen of the electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a diagram illustrates a wireless communication network  200  comprising a circuit switched (CS) network  205 , a packet switched (PS) network  210 , and the mobile telephone  100 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. Consider that the mobile telephone  100  executes PS communication services through the wireless communication network  200 . To do so, the mobile telephone  100  first establishes communications with a radio access network (RAN)  215  in the CS network  205 . The RAN  215  then communicates with a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN)  220  in the PS network  210 . Next, the SGSN  220  communicates with a gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN)  225 . Finally, the GGSN  225  contacts another network element (not shown) that is in operative communication with a callee device (not shown). PS data can then flow back and forth between the mobile telephone  100  and the GGSN  225 . 
     As described above, the quality and speed of PS communication services can be significantly reduced when a PS services network is congested. For example, if the PS network  210  is processing a large amount of PS data traffic, a quality of service (QoS) between the PS network  210  and the CS network  205  can degrade. Thus a user of the mobile telephone  100  may prefer to use PS communication services during periods of light network congestion. However, according to the prior art, there is not a convenient way for a user to become aware of a packet switched congestion status of a network. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a message sequence chart illustrates an exchange of messages in the wireless communication network  200 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. At line  300 , a PS congestion status inquiry message is transmitted from a mobile station (MS) such as the mobile telephone  100  to the SGSN  220 . For example, such a message may be only a single frame transmitted through the RAN  215 . There are many types of prior art interactions that occur between mobile telephones and SGSNs such as, for example, Attach messages and periodic radio access (RA) update messages. Thus a PS congestion status inquiry message according to the present invention can, for example, be incorporated into or based on such messages. 
     At line  305 , in response to the PS congestion status inquiry message, an initial test packet including, for example, sample packet data, is transmitted from the SGSN  220  to the GGSN  225 . Then, at line  310 , at least one return test packet is transmitted from the GGSN  225  to the SGSN  220  in response to the initial test packet. The time at which the return test packet arrives at the SGSN  220  enables the SGSN  220  to calculate a total round trip time between the SGSN  220  and the GGSN  225 . For example, a time of arrival of the return test packet can be simply subtracted from a time of transmission of the initial test packet to calculate a total round trip time. The total round trip time thus can provide a benchmark for a current network transmission delay based on current network operating conditions, including network congestion, of the PS network  210 . 
     At line  315 , a reply message is then transmitted from the SGSN  220  to the mobile telephone  100 . The reply message includes transmission delay information concerning PS communications in the wireless communication network  200 . For example, the reply message can include an information element (IE) that includes the total round trip time between the SGSN  220  and the GGSN  225 , and a sent time indicating when the reply message was sent. The mobile telephone  100  then can calculate a total delay time between the mobile telephone  100  and the GGSN  225  by subtracting the sent time of the reply message from a time of receipt of the reply message by the mobile telephone  100 , and adding half of the round trip time between the SGSN  220  and the GGSN  225 . 
     At block  320 , the total delay time is used by the mobile telephone  100  to determine a PS congestion status of the wireless communication network  200 . Finally, the congestion status is displayed on the display screen  105  of the mobile telephone  100  using, for example, a congestion status icon. 
     The total delay time can be converted to a congestion status in various ways, as will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the total delay time can be compared to established benchmark delay times established by operators of the wireless communication network  200 . Alternatively, the total delay time can be compared with average, maximum and minimum delay times observed by the mobile telephone  100  during previous operating periods, for example delay times observed during previous days, weeks or months, and recorded in the programmable memory  116  of the mobile telephone  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a series of three images are provided of an embodiment of the mobile telephone  100 , where each image includes a different PS traffic status icon displayed on the display screen  105 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. A first PS traffic status icon  405  corresponds with a light amount of PS traffic congestion in the wireless communication network  200 . The first PS traffic status icon  405  is shown as a short length bar along a lower edge of the display screen  105 , and may be a color-coded status icon using the color green to indicate that a light amount of PS traffic congestion likely corresponds with faster and higher quality PS communications. 
     A second PS traffic status icon  410  corresponds with a medium amount of PS traffic congestion in the wireless communication network  200 . The second PS traffic status icon  410  is shown as a medium length bar along a lower edge of the display screen  105 , and may be a color-coded status icon using the color orange to indicate that a medium amount of PS traffic congestion likely corresponds with average speed and average quality PS communications. 
     A third PS traffic status icon  415  corresponds with a heavy amount of PS traffic congestion in the wireless communication network  200 . The third PS traffic status icon  415  is shown as a long length bar along a lower edge of the display screen  105 , and may be a color-coded status icon using the color red to indicate that a heavy amount of PS traffic congestion likely corresponds with slower and lower quality PS communications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow diagram illustrates a method  500  for displaying on an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network, according to some embodiments of the present invention. At step  505 , a packet switched congestion status inquiry message is transmitted from the electronic device to a first network element in the wireless communication network. For example, in the wireless communication network  200 , as shown at line  300  of  FIG. 3 , a PS congestion status inquiry message is transmitted from the mobile telephone  100  to the SGSN  220 . 
     At step  510 , a reply message received from the first network element in response to the packet switched congestion status inquiry message is processed, wherein the reply message includes transmission delay information obtained from a device transmission delay between the first network element and the electronic device and a network transmission delay between the first network element and at least one packet switched support node in the wireless communication network. The transmission delay information can thus comprise a network elapsed time for a transmission between a gateway general packet radio service support node and a serving general packet radio service support node and a device elapsed time for a transmission between the serving general packet radio service support node and the electronic device. For example, in the wireless communication network  200 , as shown at line  315  of  FIG. 3 , a reply message is sent from the SGSN  220  to the mobile telephone  100 . The reply message includes transmission delay information obtained from a device transmission delay between the SGSN  220  and the mobile telephone  100 , and a network transmission delay between the SGSN  220  and the GGSN  225 . 
     At step  515 , the packet switched congestion status of the wireless communication network is determined based on the transmission delay information. For example, in the wireless communication network  200 , a packet switched congestion status, such as a “light”, “medium”, or “heavy” congestion status is determined based on a comparison of a total delay time between the mobile telephone  100  and the GGSN  225  with 1) benchmark delay times established by operators of the wireless communication network  200 , or 2) observed average, maximum and minimum delay times. 
     Finally, at step  520 , the packet switched congestion status is displayed on a display screen of the electronic device. For example, the congestion status is displayed on the display screen  105  of the mobile telephone  100  using one of the PS traffic status icons  405 ,  410 , or  415 . 
     Advantages of the present invention thus include enabling a user of an electronic device to be aware of a present packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network to which the device is operatively connected. The user then can be better able to determine an expected quality of service concerning packet switched services, such as facsimile transmissions, data uploads and downloads, and internet access. 
     It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of displaying on an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network as described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method of displaying on an electronic device a packet switched congestion status of a wireless communication network. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims.