Title of Invention	AUTOMATIC QUALITY OF SERVICE CLASS MANAGEMENT
Abstract	To enhance quality of service management in support of application sessions running on top of bearer services, according to the present invention it is suggested to, firstly, execute a bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management. Heretofore, a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support of an application session is analysed for identification of different types of services by the application session. Related analysis information derived at an analysis unit 10 is then forwarded to a quality of service management unit 16, which is adapted to automatic quality of service class management. In particular, the quality of service management unit 16 determines and manages a quality of service class according to the identified quality of service class as forwarded by the bearer service analysis unit 10.

Title of Invention

AUTOMATIC QUALITY OF SERVICE CLASS MANAGEMENT

Abstract

To enhance quality of service management in support of application sessions running on top of bearer services, according to the present invention it is suggested to, firstly, execute a bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management. Heretofore, a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support of an application session is analysed for identification of different types of services by the application session. Related analysis information derived at an analysis unit 10 is then forwarded to a quality of service management unit 16, which is adapted to automatic quality of service class management. In particular, the quality of service management unit 16 determines and manages a quality of service class according to the identified quality of service class as forwarded by the bearer service analysis unit 10.

Full Text	FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to automatic quality of service class management, and in particular to automatic quality of service class management methods and networking nodes operated in support of an application running on top of a bearer service. BACKGROUND ART In XP-002325835, there is described a 3GPP technical specification of group services and system aspects, in particular an end-to-end quality of service concept and architecture. Also, there are described IP level mechanisms necessary in providing end-to-end quality of service involving GPRS networks, including possible interaction between the IP level and the GPRS level, as well as the application level and the IP level. Also, in XP-002325836, there is described an operation of a charging gateway and a related PDP context information with respect to session management parameters. Here, a quality of service profile information element includes quality of service negotiated between the mobile station and a serving data support node at PDP context activation or a. new quality 2 of service QoS negotiated in the PDP context modification procedure. Further, in XP-002325837, there is described a 3GPP technical specification of architectural enhancements for end-to-end quality of service operation. In particular, there is described a concept of an admission administrative domain, wherein the admission administrative domain defines a set of bearer devices and gateway whose resources and routes are managed. Recently, the variety.of application sessions to be operated on top of a wireless bearer has significantly increased. Typical examples are video clips, SMS short message services, MMS multi-media message services, ring tone downloads, WAP services, wireless WEB services, point-to-point multimedia services, etc. According to the different type of application sessions, usually different types of bearer services will be initiated, either in a core network or a wireless access network. Further, different application services require different quality of service classes for the underlying bearer services specifying maximum bit rate, delivery order, maximum service data unit size, service data unit format information, service 3 data unit error ratio, bit error ratio, delivery of erroneous service data units, transfer delay, guaranteed bit rate, traffic handling priority, allocation/retention priority, source statistics descriptor, signaling indication, to name just some of bearer service attributes specified according to quality of service classes. However, with existing solutions for identifying quality of service class for a specific application session in view of available bearer services a problem is that the application session running in the end terminal needs to request via an application programming interface from the bearer service a certain quality of service class. This requires that the application session as such needs to toe updated regarding functionality for quality of service class specification. Further, the conventional technology requires that the application session is aware of available quality of service class definitions on the bearer service level, which quality of service class definitions may differ and vary according to different standardizations. SUMMARY OF INVENTION In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to enhance quality of service management in support of application sessions running on top of bearer services. According to the present invention, this object is achieved, firstly, by a method of bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management. According to this method, a bearer service carrying packet switched 4 service traffic in support of an application session is analyzed for identification of at least one type of service used for the application session. Then, the result of bearer service analysis is forwarded to a networking unit adapted to automatic quality of. service class management according to the identified at least one least one type of service. Also, according to the present invention, the analysis of bearer services is achieved by applying a filtering approach, in particular with respect to characteristics of protocols used for exchange of packet switched service traffic. Preferably, such characteristics may identify address ranges, port number ranges and/or protocol types. According to the present invention, an analysis of bearer service may be based on reuse of information determined for flexible bearer service charges. A preferred embodiment of the present invention, is particularly efficient in that only information already derived for charging of networking functionality may be reused for automatic quality of service charging. AN important advantage of the present invention is that through the analysis of the bearer service carrying the packet switched traffic in support of an application session, it is possible to avoid involvement of the application session itself in the determination of type of service and related necessary quality of service classes. In other words, the application session itself may just initiate necessary traffic via bearer service in view of application requirements without being aware, firstly, of related quality of service class requirements and, secondly, 5 available bearer services at all. It is through forwarding of the result of the bearer analysis to the networking unit which handles quality of service class that management of the quality of service class is done in an automatic manner according to bearer service traffic rated in view of the application sessions. Further preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to the method of bearer service analysis. A further preferred embodiment, of the present invention with respect to bearer service analysis relies on identification of characteristics of actual service traffic. Such characteristics may preferably relate to, e.g., average length of a service message and/or timing lapsing between two service messages as characteristics identifying quality of service class requirements. A further preferred embodiment of the present invention regarding analysis of bearer service requests a highest quality of service class at the beginning of bearer service delivery, which is of particular advantage in that during wrap-up of a bearer service delivery situation, an application session remains inoperative due to lack of sufficient bearer service capacity which is strictly avoided. Further to the aspect of bearer analysis, the object outlined above is achieved by a method of automatic quality of service class management in support of an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic. Here, it is suggested that an indicabion of at least one type of service used by an application session is achieved at a networking node managing the quality of service class. Then, 6 a quality of service class is determined according to at least one type of service used by the application session, and then a quality of service class is requested for the bearer service according to the determined quality of service class. Still further, for management of quality of service classes, it is suggested to keep track of quality of service classes requested according to type of service and/or to notify a flexible bearer charging unit adapted to change of bearer service delivery on the change of quality of service class. The first is beneficial in that a repeated requesting of quality of service classes not supported by the bearer network may be avoided. The latter is beneficial in that always appropriate charging will be achieved also in view of a change of quality of service class during ongoing bearer service delivery, In other words, according to the present invention, the setting of the quality of service class is done by a method of automatic quality service class management operated in a network and not by an application running at a user equipment. Therefore, the inventive approach allows for automatic selection of quality of service classes without involvement of user equipment and related application sessions running thereat to improve portability and network independency of application functionality at the user and equipment. Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are related to automatic quality of service management within the network providing the services. 7 Here, according to a preferred embodiment, it is suggested to determine a quality of service class from the at least one type of service ab initio for start of an application session. Alternatively, according to a second preferred embodiment of this aspect, one could consider an ongoing application session and related bearer services. Assuming that bearer service level of the network is adapted to select a quality of service on its own, according to the present invention it is suggested to compare such a bearer level initiating quality of service class with a quality of service class determined according to a type of service. Should such comparison indicate a deviation between the two different values for the quality of service class, it is then suggested to request a quality of service class change of the bearer service initiated by the networking node managing the quality of service class. Here, it should be noted that generally, according to the present invention, the bearer service analysis and the quality of service class may either be operated in different networking nodes operating on a stand-alone basis or, alternatively, be combined to a single networking node handling both aspects of bearer service handling and quality of service class management which would typically be a gateway networking node. Preferably, for the management of the quality of service class according to the present invention it is suggested to reference a mapping table establishing a relation between at least one type of service and a related quality of service class. Optionally, such a pre-storage of quality of service 8 class relating information may also be a quality of service class setting range, defining an allowable range of quality of service class with respect to a single application, a class of applications, etc. This allows to consider a throughput of application traffic for the bearer service network as a whole to avoid a bottleneck due to assignment of a too high quality of service class for a single application session. Yet another preferred embodiment of quality of service class management according to the present invention is related to involvement of an application user during quality of service class management, here, as option and as specific part of end user satisfaction enhancement. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a networking node adapted to bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management comprising software code portions for performing the inventive bearer service analysis process when the product is run on a processor of a networking node adapted to bearer service analysis. Also, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a. computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management in support of an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic comprising software code portions for performing the inventive quality of service class management process when 9 the product is-run on a processor of the networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management. Therefore, the present invention is also provided to achieve an implementation of the inventive method steps on computer or processor systems. In conclusion, such implementation leads to the provision of computer program products for use with a computer system or more specifically a processor comprised in e.g., an apparatus for automatic quality of service class management. This programs defining the functions of the present invention can be delivered to a computer/processor in many forms, including, but not limited to information permanently stored on non-writable storage media, e.g., read only memory devices such as ROM or CD ROM discs readable by processors or computer I/O attachments; information stored on writable storage media, i,e. floppy discs and hard drives; or information convey to a computer/processor through communication media such as network and/or Internet and/or telephone networks via moderns or other interface devices. It should be understood that such media, when carrying processor readable instructions implementing the inventive concept represent alternate embodiments of the present invention. Thus, according to the present invention it is an important advantage that a user of an application does need to configure a quality of service class for an application session he is initiating. Also, application sessions running on a user equipment do not used to be updated for setting of quality of service classes, and further the user equipment does not need to be involved and to be provided with 10 information about quality of service class definition which is used in the network running the bearer services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the following, the best mode of the present invention and preferred embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node according to bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking unit adapted to bearer service analysis shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management according to the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows one application scenario for the concept underlying the present invention; Fig. 6 shows another application scenario for the concepts underlying the present invention. 11 BEST MODE AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION In the following, the best mode of the present invention as well as preferred embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the drawing. Insofar as different aspects, concepts and features of the present invention are described either on the level of function or structure, it should be noted that any such functionality according to the present invention may be realized either in software, hardware and/or a combination thereof. As will be outlined in more detail in the following, the present invention relates to the aspects of bearer service analysis and, on the basis thereof, to quality of service class management in support of application sessions running on top of a bearer service. Heretofore, a first networking node is related to the aspect of bearer service analysis, and a second networking node is related to the aspect of quality of service class management. Either both networking nodes are operated independently as stand-alone networking nodes, or integrated into one networking unit operated for delivery of bearer services. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node scene adapted to bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management. As shown in Fig. 1, the networking node 10 adapted to bearer service analysis comprises a bearer service analysis unit 12 adapted to analyze a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support an application session for 12 identification of at least one type of service used via the application session, and an interface unit 14 adapted to forward a result of bearer service analysis to a networking unit adapted to automatic quality of service class management according to the identified at least one type of service. Here, it should be noted that according to the present invention, the different structure of the units of the networking node 10 may be implemented using commercially available other components and processors, through application of special purpose hardware, or through development of appropriate computer program products. Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 10 adapted to bearer service analysis shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, operatively the bearer service analysis unit 10 executes a step S10 to analyze a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic for identification of a type of service. The basis thereof, the interface unit 14, executes a step S12 to forward the bearer service analysis result to a quality of service class management unit to be explained in more detail in the following. In the step S10, the bearer service analysis unit 12 may analyze the bearer service by filtering characteristics of protocols used for exchange of packet switched service traffic which, e.g., can be related to addresses of data packets, port number of data packets, and/or protocol types. Here, typical examples of distinguishing between different contents and service types, e.g., implemented in a gateway GGSM are the identification of different services based on the following filtering criteria: IP address/net mask; 13 UDP/TCP port number or ranges; Protocol types and ICMP types; and/or WAPL.x, URI/URL, host name and folder, WAP 2.x/http, URI/URL, host name and folder, WAP l.x/2.x connection signaling. As alternative to the above or in combination therewith, the step of analyzing a bearer service carrying packet switched service S10 may comprise a reuse of information determined for flexible bearer service charging. Here, this approach of the present invention relates to concepts of flexible bearer charging where three different types of possible charging are applied in a packet switched bearer network: Contents charging: Charging is based on the actual content value. Here, content charging is applicable when users purchase a content. The charging type is preferably performed using charging information from a content server in a service networking domain. Service: Charging is performed per transaction on a particular service, e.g., per short message service SMS per or multi-media message service MMS. This type of charging is preferably performed using charging information from an application server in the service networking domain. Bearer charging: Charging is based on the 14 transferred volume or application session duration if a charging is comparable to consume minutes for voice call in the circuit switched domain. This charging type is preferably performed in a network node of a core networking domain. From the above, it becomes clear that in view of the different prizing models, all these prizing models imply the derivation of information that also serves to identify the type of service which may then be forwarded to a networking node handling management of quality of service class, as will be explained in more detail in the following. Further to the above, operatively the bearer service analysis unit 12 may also analyze the bearer service in a step S10 in view of identifying characteristics of the packet switched service traffic. This implies that the bearer service analysis unit 12 identifies, e.g., the average length of a service message and/or timing lapsing between two service messages, etc., which may then form the basis for identifying the type of service. Typically, the length of a service message may be related to the amount of data transferred between the different application end points, and timing lapsing between two service messages may be used to characterize burstiness of application related traffic. In the following, further aspects of the present invention being related to quality of service class management will be illustrated with respect to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node 16 adapted to automatic quality of service class management in support of 15 an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic. Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 16 adapted to automatic quality of service class management shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management at least comprises an interface unit 18, a quality of service class assignment unit 20 and a quality of service class controlling unit 22. Optionally, the networking node 16 adapted to automatic quality of service class management may also comprise a quality of service class comparison unit 24, a quality of service class evaluation unit 26, and a quality of service class memory unit 28. Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 16 adapted to automatic quality of service class management shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, in a step S14 the interface unit 18 shown in Fig. 3 evaluates the receipt of an indication of at least one type of service used by an application session. This receipt is in correlation to the forwarding of a related indication of type of service by the networking node 10 adapted to bearer service analysis as outlined above with respect to Figs. 1 and 2. Further, should clarification of a type of service be received in the step S14, the further operation of the networking node 16 will be delayed until indication of such a receipt. As shown in Fig. 4, operatively the quality of service class assignment unit 20 will execute a step S16 to assign a quality 16 of service class according to at least the type of services by the application session. As shown in Fig. 4, operatively the quality of service class controlling unit 22 will execute a step S18 for requesting a quality of service class determined in step S16 from the bearer service level. While above quality of service classes have been referred to in general, a typical example of such quality of service classes could be: Traffic class: This is a quality of service class reporting fundamental characteristics for basic service delivery. Conversational class: This quality of service class preserves a time relation/ variation between information entities of a data stream and is typically selected for voice applications. Streaming class: This quality of service class preserves time relation/ variation between information entities of a data stream and is adapted, e.g., to the streaming of video. Interactive class: This quality of service class is related to best effort and adapted to request response pattern. The interactive class preserves payload content and is typically adapted to, e.g., web browsing. 17 Background: This quality of service class is provided for destinations which do not expect a data within a certain time limit, nevertheless, preserves payload content. It is typically applied to background applications like download of emails. It should be noted that one typical field of application of the quality of service classes listed above is mobile communication, e.g., according to UMTS. Further, it is important to keep in mind that a quality of service class is an end-to-end application characteristic between two communicating applications, which means that quality of service classes needs to be negotiated and then mapped to bearer service attributes. One example of the mapping of a quality of service class determined on a quality of service class management level onto attributes on the bearer service level like maximum bit rate, delivery order, maximum service data unit SDU size, service data unit SDU format information, service data unit SDU error ratio, residual bit error ratio, delivery of erroneous service data units, transfer delay, guaranteed bit rate, traffic handling priority, allocation/retention priority, source statistics descriptor, signaling indication, etc., could be as follows: Traffic class Conversational class Streaming class Interactive class Background class Maximum bit rate X X X X Delivery order X X X X Maximum SDU size X X X X 18 SDU format information X X SDU error ratio X X X X Residual bit error ratio X X X X Delivery of erroneous SDUs X X X X Transfer delay X X Guaranteed bit rate X X Traffic handling priority X Allocation/ retention priority X X X X Source statistics descriptor X X Signaling indication X In the following, further steps of quality of service class determination according to the present invention will be explained. Here, it is to be noted that these steps are to be optional and not mandatory during execution of the quality of service class management according to the present invention. 19 As shown in Fig. 4, a first such optional step S20 relates to the initiation of the overall quality of service class management process and is executed by the quality of service class controlling unit 22. Here, according to the present invention, a quality of service class controlling unit 22 assigns the highest quality of service class at the very beginning of quality of service class management to ensure appropriate initiation of bearer services in support of related application sessions. A further optional aspect of quality of service class management according to the present invention is related to interaction between the higher networking levels handling quality of service classes and the bearer service level. While existing communication networks have installed mechanisms that allow for quality of service class determination of the bearer service level, these quality of service classes are, as has been explained above, usually derived through interaction with the application sessions. However, according to the present invention, there is proposed to have an interaction between the bearer service level and the upper networking levels identifying a quality of service class in view of the analyzed type of service. Here, in a step S22 the quality of service class comparison unit 24 will compare the quality of service class derived from the type of service with the quality of service class determined on the bearer level. Should any deviation occur, then the quality of service class controlling unit 22 will execute the step S18 to request a quality of service class change at the bearer service level. Otherwise, the quality of service class controlling unit 22 will run idle so that no 20 request for quality of service class change will be forwarded to the bearer service level. Further, the determination of a quality of service class according to the type of quality service in step S16 may be determined by referencing a mapping table establishing a relation between the at least one type of service and a quality of service, i.e. a related data base. The same data base or a different data base may also be used for storing an allowable range of quality of service classes on the bearer level which will also be referred to as quality of service class setting range in the following. As shown in Fig. 4, the storage of a quality of service class setting range forms the prerequisite of the execution of a step S24 preceding the submission of a request to a quality of service class change request to the bearer service level. In this step S24, operatively executed by the quality of service class controlling unit 22, it is determined whether a quality of service class determined on the upper networking layer according to the type of service is allowable in view of the predetermined quality of service class setting range. If this is not the case, the procedure shown in Fig. 4 will branch back to step S14 to await indication of a new type of service for subsequent determination of the quality of service class. Otherwise, the request for the quality of service class change is allowable and will be forwarded to the bearer service level according to step S18. As shown in Fig. 4, optionally the quality of service class controlling unit 22 will execute a step S26 to forward the determined quality of service class/quality of service class 21 change to a flexible charging unit, which determines charges for delivered bearer services. This allows to always accurately determine charges irrespective of changes in quality of service charges in real-time accuracy. As shown in Fig. 4, optionally the quality of service class controlling unit 22 will store determined quality of service classes in the quality of service class memory unit 28. This is particularly beneficial when a request for a quality of service class change has been rejected, e.g., as lying outside a predetermined quality of service class setting range. Then, a reiterated resource consuming request of a same quality of service charge may be avoided for sake of networking resources. For the same reason, in the quality of service class memory unit also a notification of rejection of a request for quality of service class forwarded to the quality of service class management unit from the level of the bearer services may be stored therein. Yet another option for the execution of the present invention would be to involve end equipment, e.g., a user terminal, during settlement of a quality of service class. Here, optionally a request for change of quality of service class may be forwarded to an end terminal using the bearer service and running an application for which the request for change of quality service is initiated. Then, the request for change of quality of service class forwarded from the quality of service class management unit 16 to the end terminal may be compared with the quality of service class setting range which may be pre-stored at the end terminal for approval of the requested change of quality of service class. Alternatively or in combination, the approval of the request for change of quality of service class may be 22 achieved at the end terminal by prompting an end terminal user accordingly. Then, either after approval of the change of quality of service class the quality of service management unit will be notified accordingly, or otherwise a notification of rejection of the request of change of quality of service class will be returned from the end terminal to the quality of service class management unit. In the following, an application of the inventive quality of service management concepts outlined so far with respect to Figs. 1 to 4 will be explained with respect to an application scenario shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, one application scenario relates to the interaction between an application terminal 30 and a remote terminal 32. The application terminal 30 contains a unit 34 running the application, a connection termination unit 36, and a bearer service managing unit 38. Similarly, the remote terminal/server 32 contains an application unit 40, a connection termination unit 42 and a bearer transport unit 44. As shown in Fig. 5, the application terminal 30 and the remote terminal/server 32 are therefore embodied to allow for an end- to-end flow of application data. One typical scenario would be the interaction between a wireline communication network wherein the remote terminal/server 32 is operated in a wireless application terminal 30, e.g., in the form of a mobile telephone, a PDA, a laptop, etc. As shown in Fig. 5, heretofore the remote terminal/server 32 is connected on a bearer transport level 44 to a router 46. A router 46 contains a routing device 48, which receives transport 23 data from the remote terminal/server 32 and forwards it to a bearer transport channel 50. The bearer transport unit 50 is linking the router 46 with a gateway 52 provided for coupling the remote terminal/server domain network with the application terminal wireless network domain. As shown in Fig. 5, for the related application scenario the bearer transport channel 50 is connected to a routing device 54 of the gateway 52. The routing device 54 is interacting with a flexible charging unit 56 determining charges for bearer service. Further, the routing device 54 is interworking with the quality of service management unit 16 incorporated into the gateway 52. The quality of service management unit 16 interrogates a mapping table and a quality of service setting range from a data base 58 operated in combination with the gateway 52. Further, the routing device 54 is interacting with a bearer service manager 60 operated in the gateway 52 for exchange of data between the gateway 52 and the application terminal 30 in the application terminal networking domain. The bearer service analysis unit 10 according to the present invention is, as one example, shown as incorporated in the routing device 54 of the present invention for analysis of bearer service characteristics. Here, it should be noted that the bearer service analysis unit 10 may also be operated separately from the routing device 54 or as stand-alone unit outside the gateway 52, as outlined above. As shown in Fig. 5, the bearer service managing unit 16 is cooperating with a bearer service managing unit 62 of a switching node/radio access unit 64 operated in the application terminal networking domain. The bearer service managing unit 62 of the switching node/radio access node is cooperating with a 24 bearer service managing unit 38 for exchange of data on the bearer service level. From the above, it becomes clear that according to the present invention it is suggested to incorporate the bearer service analysis unit and any quality of service management unit into the quality of service framework, e.g., in the gateway 52. The end-to-end quality of service architecture according to the present invention is designed to meet a wide range of application quality of service requirements and to provide efficient network utilization, in particular via the radio interface. Further, the application layer relies on quality of service functionalities in different parts of the end-to-end path. The services executed between the quality of service management unit 16 and the bearer service analysis unit 10 reflect the characteristics/parameters of higher layer application functionalities. The present invention uses control plane functions such as admission control and negotiation in order to distribute access to the shared set of resources in a fair and efficient manner between application end points. It ensures rejection of new service requests in periods of congestion in order not to excessively degrade the quality of service characteristics of existing bearer services in view of ongoing applications. Fig. 6 shows a further application scenario for the different quality of service management concepts underlying the present invention outlined above. In particular, the application scenario illustrated with respect to Fig. 6 is related to the application of the Internet protocol IP in the remote terminal 25 server networking domain and to the application of wireless communication on the basis of UMTS in the application terminal networking domain. Insofar as units shown in Fig. 6 have a functionality comparable to those of Fig. 5, they are indicated with similar primed reference numerals, and explanation thereof will not be repeated. As shown in Fig. 6, according to the application scenarios shown in Fig. 6, the termination 42' in the remote terminal server 32' is an IP termination interacting with an L2 transport channel 44'. At the router 46', the routing device 48' is an IP routing device supporting DiffServ functions 66. The IP routing device cooperates with a L2 transport channel 50' for exchange of application data with a gateway 52' which in the application scenario shown in Fig. 6 is a gateway GPRS support node GGSN. As shown in Fig. 6, the gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52' comprises the routing device 54' being adapted to the IP protocol. The IP routing device 54' has an IPBS manager 16' executing the functionality of the quality of service management unit 16 shown previously with respect to Figs. 3 and 5, further the bearer analysis unit 10', which in addition to the bearer analysis functionality also has a flexible charging functionality. The IP routing device 54' also comprises a DiffServ function unit 68 in support of related IP functionality. As shown in Fig. 6, the IP routing device 54' interacts with a GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60' at instantiation of the bearer service management unit 60 shown in Fig. 5. The GPRS/CDMA management unit 60' establishes a PDB context with a related GPRS/CDMA managing unit 62' of the switching node/radio access 26 64', which according to the application example shown in Fig. 6 is a serving GPRS support node SGSN. The GPRS/CDMA managing unit 62' of the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 54' establishes a PDB context with a GPRS/CDMA managing unit 38' of the application terminal 30' via a UTRAN/BSS networking unit 70. Here, data exchange between the supporting GPRS support node SGSN and the gateway GPRS support node 52' is executed via GnP, and further the data exchange between the supporting GPRS support node SGSN and the UTRAN/BSS networking node 70 is achieved via IuPS or Gp, and further the data exchange between the UTRAN/BSS networking node 70 and the GPRS/CDMA managing unit 38' of the application terminal 30' is achieved via Uu/Um. As shown in Fig. 6, the IP termination unit 36' of the application terminal 30' also comprises an IP managing unit for handling of quality of service management related issues at the application terminal 30' side. Therefore, the application scenario shown in Fig. 6 relates to wireless IP networks and to QoS development towards fixed IP networks for set-up of a 3GPP QoS architecture. For the application scenario shown in Fig. 6, here again application entities require a determination of quality of service enabled bearer services between them. Therefore, for the application session it must be decided what media streams will be used, e.g., voice and video, and what performance requirements these media streams put on the quality of service enabled bearer services. These requirements are then consecutively fulfilled and mapped onto quality of service parameters of the available bearer services. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, quality of service management according to the present invention is executed across different 27 quality of service enabled networking domains interworking with each other via a gateway node 52' . The gateway GPRS supporting node GGSN shown as an example in Fig. 6 provides interworking functionality between the WCDMA/GPRS quality of service mechanisms and the IP QoS mechanisms in an automized manner without involvement of the end applications. As outlined previously, interworking at the gateway GPRS supporting node GGSN includes classification, mapping, marking/remarking and filtering for appropriate bearer service delivery. In addition, end-to-end application signaling may include information on successful establishment of local access bearer at each side. For the application scenario shown in Fig. 6, the ideas underlying the present invention have been implemented by using information available at the gateway GPRS support node GGSN for selection of a quality of service class in automized manner. As shown in Fig. 6, the application terminal 30' is not adapted to request a quality of service class from the IPBS managing unit 72. Further, a charging unit provided in the gateway GPRS supporting node 52' and a bearer service analysis unit 10' inform the IPBS managers 16' of the gateway GPRS supporting node GGSN 52' about an identified bearer service characteristic and related type of service. According to the present invention, it is then suggested that the IPBS manager of the gateway GPRS support node GGSN interacts with the GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60' to request from the WCDMA/GPRS BS managing unit 60' a quality of service change. Alternatively, the IPBS managing unit 16' interacts with the IPBS managing unit 72 of the application terminal 30' for confirmation of a quality of service of change request. 28 Here, according to the present invention it is suggested to use the flexible bearer charging which is available in the gateway GPRS support node 52'. The reason for this is that already the flexible bearer charging function examines the bearer service and performs a packet identification and service classification. Packet inspection means that the IP address, the UDP/TCP port and the high layer protocols which are used in the bearer connections are evaluated in the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' shown in Fig. 6. This information is then used to identify the bearer service which is performed via the respective bearer which information is used for charging the user dependent on the requested bearer service. According to the present invention, it is suggested to use this information, which is already derived for the purpose of flexible bearer charging, to select a quality of service class in the IPBS manager 16'. A gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52' requests from the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 64' a change of quality of service class in dependency of the used bearer service. A possible scenario would be that a user connects his application terminal 30', e.g., a notebook via GPRS to the Internet. By default, the lowest quality of service class or the highest quality of service class could be used at the beginning. Then, the user would start to download a file, and a packet inspection mechanism in the gateway GPRS support node would identify the protocol TCP and ftp as used protocols. In this case, the quality of service class would be maintained on a low level. After the download, the user would then start, e.g., a session initiated protocol SIP telephone session. Here, the packet inspection mechanism in the analysis/flexible charging 29 unit 10' would identify UDP and SIP as used protocols and would request from the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 64' to assign a higher quality of service class. The charging would be adapted accordingly. In more detail, for the application scenario shown in Fig. 6 it is suggested to reuse information of flexible bearer charging. The flexible bearer charging would filter certain parameters like protocol type, etc., of the IP connection and use a mapping table to determine a certain quality of service class. Then, the flexible bearer charging executed in the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' would trigger a request from the IPBS manager 16' to the GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60' to adapt the quality of service class accordingly. This could imply a comparison of quality of service classes and a related amendment if they differed. As alternative, the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' could as well be enhanced in a way that besides protocol properties like IP addresses, port numbers, protocol types, also traffic characteristics like average message length, duration between two messages, etc., are taken into account for selecting a certain quality of service class. This implies that at the beginning the highest quality of service class would be chosen to allow for reliable measurement. A mapping table maintained at the quality of service class memory shown in Fig. 3 would allow to determine which quality of service class corresponds to which measured traffic characteristics. Then, the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' would initiate request from the IPBS manager 16' to compare the determined quality of service class with the quality of service class 30 operated at the bearer service level and to manage appropriate amendment thereof, should they differ. Besides the usage of the flexible bearer charging and the usage of flexible characteristics, a further aspect relates to the operation of the IPBS managing unit 16' in the gateway GPRS support node 52'. Here, the IPBS managing unit 16' in the gateway GPRS support node 52' could keep track of end-to-end quality service classes of ongoing application connections. As outlined above, the flexible bearer charging unit of the traffic characteristic evaluation could request from the IPBS managing unit information about the quality of service class of an ongoing IP connection and further eventually request a change of a quality of service class. Here, three different alternatives are possible as follows: i The IPBS manager 16' requests from the CDMA/GPRS managing unit 16' to change a quality of service class of an ongoing connection. Heretofore, the gateway GPRS support node 52' also sends a quality of service class change request to the supporting GPRS support node 64'. ii. The subscriber could define, e.g., in his HLR settings, the highest and lowest quality of service class he accepts. Then, the gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52' interrogates the home location register HLR to get the settings and compare them with the request for quality of service class change initiated by the IPBS manager 16'. If the requested change is within the subscriber setting, the IPBS managing 31 unit 16' requests from the WCDMA/GPRS managing unit 60' to change the quality of service class. Otherwise, the IPBS managing unit 16' informs the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' that the quality of service class change is refused. Optionally, the rejection of the requested change of quality of service class is tracked for the application sessions, so that no further request for quality of service charge change would arise again. iii. The IPBS managing unit 16' sends a request for quality of service class change to the IPBS managing unit of the application terminal 30' for approval thereof at the application terminal side 30'. Then, the user may evaluate his personal setting about acceptable quality of service classes or get a notification on his display for acceptance or rejection of the quality of service class change. As outlined above, according to the present invention a user does not need to configure a quality of service class on the application level. Further, the applications running at a user end equipment do not need to be updated for setting of quality of service classes. According to the present invention, the communication system automatically selects a correct quality of service class, and an application does not need to have knowledge about a quality of service class definition which may be used in a communication network. 32 WE CLAIM : 1. Method of bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management, comprising the steps: analysing a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support of an application session for identification of at least one type of service used by the application session; and forwarding a result of bearer service analysis to a networking unit adapted to automatic quality of service class management according to the identified at least one type of service; wherein step of analysing of the bearer service comprises a -filtering of characteristics of protocols used for exchange of packet switched service traffic and a reuse of information determined for flexible beaxer service charging. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that characteristics o£ protocols are related to addresses of data packets, port number of data packets, and/or protocol types. 33 3, Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of analysing of the bearer service comprises 4, Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the step of analysing the bearer service comprises an identifying of characteristics of the packet switched service traffic. 5, Method according to claim A, characterized in that characteristics of the packet switched service traffic are related to average length of a service message and/or time elapsing between two service messages. 6. Method of automatic quality of service class management in support of an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic, comprising the steps; receiving an indication of at least one type of service used by the application session; determining a quality of service class according to at least one type of service used by the application session; evaluating whether a requested quality of service class change is allowable in view of the pre- determined quality of service class setting range; 34 changing the quality of service class at the bearer service level when the requested quality of service class change is allowable; requesting a quality of service class for the bearer service according to a determined quality of service class; and notifying a flexible bearer charging unit adapted to charge for bearer service delivery on the change of quality of service class. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a step of Interrogating a database (HLR) for identification of a pre-determined quality of service class setting range. 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the step of requesting a highest quality of service class at the beginning of service delivery. 9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that it comprises the steps; comparing the determined quality of service class with a quality of service class selected on a. bearer level; and requesting a quality of service class for the bearer service when the determined quality of service class differs froro quality of service class selected on the bearer level, 35 10. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a step of referencing a mapping table establishing a relation between at least one type of service and a quality of service class, 11. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a step of forwarding a request for change of quality of service class to a bearer service managing unit when the determined quality of service class differs from quality of service class selected on the bearer level. 12. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a step of keeping track of a quality of service class requested according to type of service. 13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises a step of forwarding the request for change of quality of service class to at least one bearer service switching unit (SSGN) operated for bearer service delivery. 14. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises; a step of receiving notification on rejection of the request for change of quality of service class when the requested quality of service class change is not allowable, 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a step of keeping track of a notified rejection of the request for change of quality of 36 service class for the time of establishment of the bearer service. 16. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 11, characterised in that it comprises the step of forwarding the request for change of quality of service class to an end terminal (MT) using the bearer service and running an application for which the request for change of quality of service class is initiated, 17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it comprises a step of comparing the request for change of quality of service class forwarded from the quality of service class management unit, with a quality of service charge setting range pre-stored at the end terminal for approval of the request for change of quality of service class, 18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that it comprises a step of approving the request for change of quality of service class at the end-terminal by prompting an end terminal user accordingly. 19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that it comprises a step of receiving notification on rejection of the request for change of quality of service class when the requested quality of service class change is not approved by the end terminal user, 37 20. Networking node adapted to bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class managememt, comprising : a bearer service analysis unit adapted to analyse a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support of an application session for identification of at least one type of service used by the application session; and an interface unit adapted to forward a result of bearer service analysis to a networking unit adapted to automatic quality of service class management according to the identified at least one type of service; wherein the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to filter characteristics of protocols used for exchange of packet switched service traffic and to reuse information determined for flexible bearer charging. 21. Networking node according to claim 20, characterized in that the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to filter characteristics of protocols as addresses of data packets, port number of data packets, and/or protocol types. 22. Networking node according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to identify characteristics of the packet switched service traffic. 38 23, Networking node according to claim 22, characterized in that the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to identify an average length of a service message and/or a time elapsing between two service messages. 24. Networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management in support of an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic, comprising: an interface unit adapted to receive an indication of at least one type of service used by the application session; a quality of service class evaluation unit adapted to evaluate whether a requested quality of service class change is allowable in view o£ the pre- determined quality of service class setting range. a quality of service class assignment unit adapted to assign a quality of service class according to at least one type of service used by the application session; and a Quality of service class controlling unit adapted to request a quality of service class according to the determined quality of service class; wherein the quality of service class controlling unit is adapted to request change of the quality of service 39 class when the requested quality of service class change is allowable; and the interface unit is adapted to notify change of quality of service class to a flexible charging unit adapted to charge for bearer service delivery. 25. Networking node according to claim 24, characterized in that the quality of service class assignment unit is adapted to request a highest quality of service class at the beginning of service delivery. 26. Networking node according bo claim 24 or 25, characterized in that it comprises the quality of service class comparison unit adapted to compare the determined quality of service class with a quality of service class selected on a bearer level; wherein the quality of service class controlling unit adapted to request a quality of service class change for the bearer service when the determined quality of service class differs from the quality of service class selected on the bearer level. 21, Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the quality of service class assignment unit is adapted to reference a mapping table establishing a relation between at least a type of service and a quality of service. 40 28. Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 27, characterized in that the interface unit is adapted to forward a request for change of quality of service class to a bearer service managing unit when, the determined quality of service class differs from the quality of service class selected on the bearer level. 29. networking node according to claim 24, characterised in that it comprises a memory unit adapted to keep track of a requested quality of service class. 30. Networking node according to claim 24, characterized in that the interface unit is adapted, to forward the request for change of quality of service class to at least one bearer service switching unit (SSGn) operated for bearer service delivery. 31. Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 30, characterized in that the quality of service class controlling unit is adapted to interrogate a database (HLR) for comparison of the requested quality of service class with a pre-determined quality of service class setting range. 32. Networking node according to claim 31, characterized in that the quality of service class controlling unit is adapted to maintain the quality of service class selected on the bearer service level when the requested quality of service class is not allowable. 33. Networking node according to claim 32, characterized in that it comprises a memory unit adapted to keep track of rejection of a request for change of quality of service 41 class for the time of establishment of the bearer service. 34. Networking code according to claim 24, characterized in that the interface unit adapted to forward the request for change of quality of service class to an end terminal (MT) using the bearer service and running an application for which to the request for change of quality of service class is initiated. 35, Networking node according to claim 34, characterized in that the interface unit is adapted to receive notification of a rejection of the request for change of. quality of service class when the requested quality of service class change is not approved at the end terminal. 36, Computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of an networking node adapted to bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management comprising software code portions for performing the steps of the claims 1 to 5 when the product is run. on a processor of the networking node adapted to bearer service analysis. 37. Computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of an networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management in support of an application session running on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic comprising 42 software code portions for performing the steps of the claims 6 to 19 when the product is run on a processor of the networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class management. Dated this 28th day of August 2007 43 To enhance quality of service management in support of application sessions running on top of bearer services, according to the present invention it is suggested to, firstly, execute a bearer service analysis in support of automatic quality of service class management. Heretofore, a bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in support of an application session is analysed for identification of different types of services by the application session. Related analysis information derived at an analysis unit 10 is then forwarded to a quality of service management unit 16, which is adapted to automatic quality of service class management. In particular, the quality of service management unit 16 determines and manages a quality of service class according to the identified quality of service class as forwarded by the bearer service analysis unit 10.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to automatic quality of service
class management, and in particular to automatic quality of
service class management methods and networking nodes
operated in support of an application running on top of a
bearer service.
BACKGROUND ART
In XP-002325835, there is described a 3GPP technical
specification of group services and system aspects, in
particular an end-to-end quality of service concept and
architecture. Also, there are described IP level mechanisms
necessary in providing end-to-end quality of service
involving GPRS networks, including possible interaction
between the IP level and the GPRS level, as well as the
application level and the IP level.
Also, in XP-002325836, there is described an operation of a
charging gateway and a related PDP context information with
respect to session management parameters. Here, a quality of
service profile information element includes quality of
service negotiated between the mobile station and a serving
data support node at PDP context activation or a. new quality
2

of service QoS negotiated in the PDP context modification
procedure.
Further, in XP-002325837, there is described a 3GPP technical
specification of architectural enhancements for end-to-end
quality of service operation. In particular, there is
described a concept of an admission administrative domain,
wherein the admission administrative domain defines a set of
bearer devices and gateway whose resources and routes are
managed.
Recently, the variety.of application sessions to be operated
on top of a wireless bearer has significantly increased.
Typical examples are video clips, SMS short message services,
MMS multi-media message services, ring tone downloads, WAP
services, wireless WEB services, point-to-point multimedia
services, etc.
According to the different type of application sessions,
usually different types of bearer services will be initiated,
either in a core network or a wireless access network.
Further, different application services require different
quality of service classes for the underlying bearer services
specifying maximum bit rate, delivery order, maximum service
data unit size, service data unit format information, service
3

data unit error ratio, bit error ratio, delivery of erroneous
service data units, transfer delay, guaranteed bit rate,
traffic handling priority, allocation/retention priority,
source statistics descriptor, signaling indication, to name
just some of bearer service attributes specified according to
quality of service classes.
However, with existing solutions for identifying quality of
service class for a specific application session in view of
available bearer services a problem is that the application
session running in the end terminal needs to request via an
application programming interface from the bearer service a
certain quality of service class. This requires that the
application session as such needs to toe updated regarding
functionality for quality of service class specification.
Further, the conventional technology requires that the
application session is aware of available quality of service
class definitions on the bearer service level, which quality
of service class definitions may differ and vary according to
different standardizations.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In view of the above, the object of the present invention is
to enhance quality of service management in support of
application sessions running on top of bearer services.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved,
firstly, by a method of bearer service analysis in support of
automatic quality of service class management. According to
this method, a bearer service carrying packet switched
4

service traffic in support of an application session is
analyzed for identification of at least one type of service
used for the application session. Then, the result of bearer
service analysis is forwarded to a networking unit adapted to
automatic quality of. service class management according to
the identified at least one least one type of service.
Also, according to the present invention, the analysis of
bearer services is achieved by applying a filtering approach,
in particular with respect to characteristics of protocols
used for exchange of packet switched service traffic.
Preferably, such characteristics may identify address ranges,
port number ranges and/or protocol types.
According to the present invention, an analysis of bearer
service may be based on reuse of information determined for
flexible bearer service charges. A preferred embodiment of
the present invention, is particularly efficient in that only
information already derived for charging of networking
functionality may be reused for automatic quality of service
charging.
AN important advantage of the present invention is that
through the analysis of the bearer service carrying the
packet switched traffic in support of an application session,
it is possible to avoid involvement of the application
session itself in the determination of type of service and
related necessary quality of service classes.
In other words, the application session itself may just
initiate necessary traffic via bearer service in view of
application requirements without being aware, firstly, of
related quality of service class requirements and, secondly,
5

available bearer services at all. It is through forwarding of
the result of the bearer analysis to the networking unit
which handles quality of service class that management of the
quality of service class is done in an automatic manner
according to bearer service traffic rated in view of the
application sessions.
Further preferred embodiments of the present invention relate
to the method of bearer service analysis.
A further preferred embodiment, of the present invention with
respect to bearer service analysis relies on identification
of characteristics of actual service traffic. Such
characteristics may preferably relate to, e.g., average
length of a service message and/or timing lapsing between two
service messages as characteristics identifying quality of
service class requirements.
A further preferred embodiment of the present invention
regarding analysis of bearer service requests a highest
quality of service class at the beginning of bearer service
delivery, which is of particular advantage in that during
wrap-up of a bearer service delivery situation, an
application session remains inoperative due to lack of
sufficient bearer service capacity which is strictly avoided.
Further to the aspect of bearer analysis, the object outlined
above is achieved by a method of automatic quality of service
class management in support of an application session running
on top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic.
Here, it is suggested that an indicabion of at least one type
of service used by an application session is achieved at a
networking node managing the quality of service class. Then,
6

a quality of service class is determined according to at
least one type of service used by the application session,
and then a quality of service class is requested for the
bearer service according to the determined quality of service
class.
Still further, for management of quality of service classes,
it is suggested to keep track of quality of service classes
requested according to type of service and/or to notify a
flexible bearer charging unit adapted to change of bearer
service delivery on the change of quality of service class.
The first is beneficial in that a repeated requesting of
quality of service classes not supported by the bearer
network may be avoided. The latter is beneficial in that
always appropriate charging will be achieved also in view of
a change of quality of service class during ongoing bearer
service delivery,
In other words, according to the present invention, the
setting of the quality of service class is done by a method
of automatic quality service class management operated in a
network and not by an application running at a user
equipment. Therefore, the inventive approach allows for
automatic selection of quality of service classes without
involvement of user equipment and related application
sessions running thereat to improve portability and network
independency of application functionality at the user and
equipment.
Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are
related to automatic quality of service management within the
network providing the services.
7

Here, according to a preferred embodiment, it is suggested to
determine a quality of service class from the at least one
type of service ab initio for start of an application
session.
Alternatively, according to a second preferred embodiment of
this aspect, one could consider an ongoing application
session and related bearer services. Assuming that bearer
service level of the network is adapted to select a quality
of service on its own, according to the present invention it
is suggested to compare such a bearer level initiating
quality of service class with a quality of service class
determined according to a type of service. Should such
comparison indicate a deviation between the two different
values for the quality of service class, it is then suggested
to request a quality of service class change of the bearer
service initiated by the networking node managing the quality
of service class.
Here, it should be noted that generally, according to the
present invention, the bearer service analysis and the
quality of service class may either be operated in different
networking nodes operating on a stand-alone basis or,
alternatively, be combined to a single networking node
handling both aspects of bearer service handling and quality
of service class management which would typically be a
gateway networking node.
Preferably, for the management of the quality of service
class according to the present invention it is suggested to
reference a mapping table establishing a relation between at
least one type of service and a related quality of service
class. Optionally, such a pre-storage of quality of service
8

class relating information may also be a quality of service
class setting range, defining an allowable range of quality of
service class with respect to a single application, a class
of applications, etc. This allows to consider a throughput of
application traffic for the bearer service network as a whole
to avoid a bottleneck due to assignment of a too high quality
of service class for a single application session.
Yet another preferred embodiment of quality of service class
management according to the present invention is related to
involvement of an application user during quality of service
class management, here, as option and as specific part of end
user satisfaction enhancement.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention there is provided a computer program product
directly loadable into the internal memory of a networking
node adapted to bearer service analysis in support of
automatic quality of service class management comprising
software code portions for performing the inventive bearer
service analysis process when the product is run on a
processor of a networking node adapted to bearer service
analysis.
Also, according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention there is provided a. computer program
product directly loadable into the internal memory of a
networking node adapted to automatic quality of service class
management in support of an application session running on
top of a bearer service carrying packet switched traffic
comprising software code portions for performing the
inventive quality of service class management process when
9

the product is-run on a processor of the networking node
adapted to automatic quality of service class management.
Therefore, the present invention is also provided to achieve
an implementation of the inventive method steps on computer
or processor systems. In conclusion, such implementation
leads to the provision of computer program products for use
with a computer system or more specifically a processor
comprised in e.g., an apparatus for automatic quality of
service class management.
This programs defining the functions of the present invention
can be delivered to a computer/processor in many forms,
including, but not limited to information permanently stored
on non-writable storage media, e.g., read only memory devices
such as ROM or CD ROM discs readable by processors or
computer I/O attachments; information stored on writable
storage media, i,e. floppy discs and hard drives; or
information convey to a computer/processor through
communication media such as network and/or Internet and/or
telephone networks via moderns or other interface devices. It
should be understood that such media, when carrying processor
readable instructions implementing the inventive concept
represent alternate embodiments of the present invention.
Thus, according to the present invention it is an important
advantage that a user of an application does need to
configure a quality of service class for an application
session he is initiating. Also, application sessions running
on a user equipment do not used to be updated for setting of
quality of service classes, and further the user equipment
does not need to be involved and to be provided with
10

information about quality of service class definition which is
used in the network running the bearer services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
In the following, the best mode of the present invention and
preferred embodiments thereof will be described with reference
to the drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node
according to bearer service analysis in support of
automatic quality of service class management
according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of operation of the
networking unit adapted to bearer service analysis
shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node
adapted to automatic quality of service class
management according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the
networking node adapted to automatic quality of
service class management shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 shows one application scenario for the concept
underlying the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows another application scenario for the
concepts underlying the present invention.
11

BEST MODE AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
In the following, the best mode of the present invention as well
as preferred embodiments thereof will be described with
reference to the drawing. Insofar as different aspects, concepts
and features of the present invention are described either on
the level of function or structure, it should be noted that any
such functionality according to the present invention may be
realized either in software, hardware and/or a combination
thereof.
As will be outlined in more detail in the following, the present
invention relates to the aspects of bearer service analysis and,
on the basis thereof, to quality of service class management in
support of application sessions running on top of a bearer
service. Heretofore, a first networking node is related to the
aspect of bearer service analysis, and a second networking node
is related to the aspect of quality of service class management.
Either both networking nodes are operated independently as
stand-alone networking nodes, or integrated into one networking
unit operated for delivery of bearer services.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node scene
adapted to bearer service analysis in support of automatic
quality of service class management.
As shown in Fig. 1, the networking node 10 adapted to bearer
service analysis comprises a bearer service analysis unit 12
adapted to analyze a bearer service carrying packet switched
service traffic in support an application session for
12

identification of at least one type of service used via the
application session, and an interface unit 14 adapted to forward
a result of bearer service analysis to a networking unit adapted
to automatic quality of service class management according to
the identified at least one type of service. Here, it should be
noted that according to the present invention, the different
structure of the units of the networking node 10 may be
implemented using commercially available other components and
processors, through application of special purpose hardware, or
through development of appropriate computer program products.
Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 10
adapted to bearer service analysis shown in Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 2, operatively the bearer service analysis unit
10 executes a step S10 to analyze a bearer service carrying
packet switched traffic for identification of a type of service.
The basis thereof, the interface unit 14, executes a step S12 to
forward the bearer service analysis result to a quality of
service class management unit to be explained in more detail in
the following.
In the step S10, the bearer service analysis unit 12 may analyze
the bearer service by filtering characteristics of protocols
used for exchange of packet switched service traffic which,
e.g., can be related to addresses of data packets, port number
of data packets, and/or protocol types. Here, typical examples
of distinguishing between different contents and service types,
e.g., implemented in a gateway GGSM are the identification of
different services based on the following filtering criteria:
IP address/net mask;
13

UDP/TCP port number or ranges;
Protocol types and ICMP types; and/or
WAPL.x, URI/URL, host name and folder, WAP
2.x/http, URI/URL, host name and folder, WAP
l.x/2.x connection signaling.
As alternative to the above or in combination therewith, the
step of analyzing a bearer service carrying packet switched
service S10 may comprise a reuse of information determined for
flexible bearer service charging.
Here, this approach of the present invention relates to concepts
of flexible bearer charging where three different types of
possible charging are applied in a packet switched bearer
network:
Contents charging: Charging is based on the
actual content value. Here, content charging is
applicable when users purchase a content. The charging
type is preferably performed using charging information
from a content server in a service networking domain.
Service: Charging is performed per transaction on a
particular service, e.g., per short message service SMS
per or multi-media message service MMS. This type of
charging is preferably performed using charging
information from an application server in the service
networking domain.
Bearer charging: Charging is based on the
14

transferred volume or application session duration if a
charging is comparable to consume minutes for voice
call in the circuit switched domain. This charging type
is preferably performed in a network node of a core
networking domain.
From the above, it becomes clear that in view of the different
prizing models, all these prizing models imply the derivation of
information that also serves to identify the type of service
which may then be forwarded to a networking node handling
management of quality of service class, as will be explained in
more detail in the following.
Further to the above, operatively the bearer service analysis
unit 12 may also analyze the bearer service in a step S10 in
view of identifying characteristics of the packet switched
service traffic. This implies that the bearer service analysis
unit 12 identifies, e.g., the average length of a service
message and/or timing lapsing between two service messages,
etc., which may then form the basis for identifying the type of
service. Typically, the length of a service message may be
related to the amount of data transferred between the different
application end points, and timing lapsing between two service
messages may be used to characterize burstiness of application
related traffic.
In the following, further aspects of the present invention being
related to quality of service class management will be
illustrated with respect to Figs. 3 and 4.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a networking node 16 adapted
to automatic quality of service class management in support of
15

an application session running on top of a bearer service
carrying packet switched traffic.
Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 16
adapted to automatic quality of service class management shown
in Fig. 3.
As shown in Fig. 3, the networking node adapted to automatic
quality of service class management at least comprises an
interface unit 18, a quality of service class assignment unit 20
and a quality of service class controlling unit 22. Optionally,
the networking node 16 adapted to automatic quality of service
class management may also comprise a quality of service class
comparison unit 24, a quality of service class evaluation unit
26, and a quality of service class memory unit 28.
Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of operation of the networking node 16
adapted to automatic quality of service class management shown
in Fig. 3.
As shown in Fig. 4, in a step S14 the interface unit 18 shown in
Fig. 3 evaluates the receipt of an indication of at least one
type of service used by an application session. This receipt is
in correlation to the forwarding of a related indication of type
of service by the networking node 10 adapted to bearer service
analysis as outlined above with respect to Figs. 1 and 2.
Further, should clarification of a type of service be received
in the step S14, the further operation of the networking node 16
will be delayed until indication of such a receipt.
As shown in Fig. 4, operatively the quality of service class
assignment unit 20 will execute a step S16 to assign a quality
16

of service class according to at least the type of services by
the application session.
As shown in Fig. 4, operatively the quality of service class
controlling unit 22 will execute a step S18 for requesting a
quality of service class determined in step S16 from the bearer
service level.
While above quality of service classes have been referred to in
general, a typical example of such quality of service classes
could be:
Traffic class: This is a quality of service class
reporting fundamental characteristics for basic service
delivery.
Conversational class: This quality of service class
preserves a time relation/ variation between
information entities of a data stream and is typically
selected for voice applications.
Streaming class: This quality of service class
preserves time relation/ variation between information
entities of a data stream and is adapted, e.g., to the
streaming of video.
Interactive class: This quality of service class is
related to best effort and adapted to request response
pattern. The interactive class preserves payload
content and is typically adapted to, e.g., web
browsing.
17

Background: This quality of service class is
provided for destinations which do not expect a data
within a certain time limit, nevertheless, preserves
payload content. It is typically applied to background
applications like download of emails.
It should be noted that one typical field of application of the
quality of service classes listed above is mobile communication,
e.g., according to UMTS. Further, it is important to keep in
mind that a quality of service class is an end-to-end
application characteristic between two communicating
applications, which means that quality of service classes needs
to be negotiated and then mapped to bearer service attributes.
One example of the mapping of a quality of service class
determined on a quality of service class management level onto
attributes on the bearer service level like maximum bit rate,
delivery order, maximum service data unit SDU size, service data
unit SDU format information, service data unit SDU error ratio,
residual bit error ratio, delivery of erroneous service data
units, transfer delay, guaranteed bit rate, traffic handling
priority, allocation/retention priority, source statistics
descriptor, signaling indication, etc., could be as follows:

Traffic
class Conversational
class Streaming
class Interactive
class Background
class
Maximum bit
rate X X X X
Delivery
order X X X X
Maximum SDU
size X X X X
18

SDU format
information X X
SDU error
ratio X X X X
Residual bit
error ratio X X X X
Delivery of
erroneous
SDUs X X X X
Transfer
delay X X
Guaranteed
bit rate X X
Traffic
handling
priority X
Allocation/
retention
priority X X X X
Source
statistics
descriptor X X
Signaling
indication X
In the following, further steps of quality of service class
determination according to the present invention will be
explained. Here, it is to be noted that these steps are to be
optional and not mandatory during execution of the quality of
service class management according to the present invention.
19

As shown in Fig. 4, a first such optional step S20 relates to
the initiation of the overall quality of service class
management process and is executed by the quality of service
class controlling unit 22. Here, according to the present
invention, a quality of service class controlling unit 22
assigns the highest quality of service class at the very
beginning of quality of service class management to ensure
appropriate initiation of bearer services in support of related
application sessions.
A further optional aspect of quality of service class management
according to the present invention is related to interaction
between the higher networking levels handling quality of service
classes and the bearer service level. While existing
communication networks have installed mechanisms that allow for
quality of service class determination of the bearer service
level, these quality of service classes are, as has been
explained above, usually derived through interaction with the
application sessions. However, according to the present
invention, there is proposed to have an interaction between the
bearer service level and the upper networking levels identifying
a quality of service class in view of the analyzed type of
service. Here, in a step S22 the quality of service class
comparison unit 24 will compare the quality of service class
derived from the type of service with the quality of service
class determined on the bearer level. Should any deviation
occur, then the quality of service class controlling unit 22
will execute the step S18 to request a quality of service class
change at the bearer service level. Otherwise, the quality of
service class controlling unit 22 will run idle so that no
20

request for quality of service class change will be forwarded to
the bearer service level.
Further, the determination of a quality of service class
according to the type of quality service in step S16 may be
determined by referencing a mapping table establishing a
relation between the at least one type of service and a quality
of service, i.e. a related data base. The same data base or a
different data base may also be used for storing an allowable
range of quality of service classes on the bearer level which
will also be referred to as quality of service class setting
range in the following.
As shown in Fig. 4, the storage of a quality of service class
setting range forms the prerequisite of the execution of a step
S24 preceding the submission of a request to a quality of
service class change request to the bearer service level. In
this step S24, operatively executed by the quality of service
class controlling unit 22, it is determined whether a quality of
service class determined on the upper networking layer according
to the type of service is allowable in view of the predetermined
quality of service class setting range. If this is not the case,
the procedure shown in Fig. 4 will branch back to step S14 to
await indication of a new type of service for subsequent
determination of the quality of service class. Otherwise, the
request for the quality of service class change is allowable and
will be forwarded to the bearer service level according to step
S18.
As shown in Fig. 4, optionally the quality of service class
controlling unit 22 will execute a step S26 to forward the
determined quality of service class/quality of service class
21

change to a flexible charging unit, which determines charges for
delivered bearer services. This allows to always accurately
determine charges irrespective of changes in quality of service
charges in real-time accuracy.
As shown in Fig. 4, optionally the quality of service class
controlling unit 22 will store determined quality of service
classes in the quality of service class memory unit 28. This is
particularly beneficial when a request for a quality of service
class change has been rejected, e.g., as lying outside a
predetermined quality of service class setting range. Then, a
reiterated resource consuming request of a same quality of
service charge may be avoided for sake of networking resources.
For the same reason, in the quality of service class memory unit
also a notification of rejection of a request for quality of
service class forwarded to the quality of service class
management unit from the level of the bearer services may be
stored therein.
Yet another option for the execution of the present invention
would be to involve end equipment, e.g., a user terminal, during
settlement of a quality of service class. Here, optionally a
request for change of quality of service class may be forwarded
to an end terminal using the bearer service and running an
application for which the request for change of quality service
is initiated. Then, the request for change of quality of service
class forwarded from the quality of service class management
unit 16 to the end terminal may be compared with the quality of
service class setting range which may be pre-stored at the end
terminal for approval of the requested change of quality of
service class. Alternatively or in combination, the approval of
the request for change of quality of service class may be
22

achieved at the end terminal by prompting an end terminal user
accordingly. Then, either after approval of the change of
quality of service class the quality of service management unit
will be notified accordingly, or otherwise a notification of
rejection of the request of change of quality of service class
will be returned from the end terminal to the quality of service
class management unit.
In the following, an application of the inventive quality of
service management concepts outlined so far with respect to
Figs. 1 to 4 will be explained with respect to an application
scenario shown in Fig. 5.
As shown in Fig. 5, one application scenario relates to the
interaction between an application terminal 30 and a remote
terminal 32. The application terminal 30 contains a unit 34
running the application, a connection termination unit 36, and a
bearer service managing unit 38. Similarly, the remote
terminal/server 32 contains an application unit 40, a connection
termination unit 42 and a bearer transport unit 44.
As shown in Fig. 5, the application terminal 30 and the remote
terminal/server 32 are therefore embodied to allow for an end-
to-end flow of application data. One typical scenario would be
the interaction between a wireline communication network wherein
the remote terminal/server 32 is operated in a wireless
application terminal 30, e.g., in the form of a mobile
telephone, a PDA, a laptop, etc.
As shown in Fig. 5, heretofore the remote terminal/server 32 is
connected on a bearer transport level 44 to a router 46. A
router 46 contains a routing device 48, which receives transport
23

data from the remote terminal/server 32 and forwards it to a
bearer transport channel 50. The bearer transport unit 50 is
linking the router 46 with a gateway 52 provided for coupling
the remote terminal/server domain network with the application
terminal wireless network domain.
As shown in Fig. 5, for the related application scenario the
bearer transport channel 50 is connected to a routing device 54
of the gateway 52. The routing device 54 is interacting with a
flexible charging unit 56 determining charges for bearer
service. Further, the routing device 54 is interworking with the
quality of service management unit 16 incorporated into the
gateway 52. The quality of service management unit 16
interrogates a mapping table and a quality of service setting
range from a data base 58 operated in combination with the
gateway 52. Further, the routing device 54 is interacting with a
bearer service manager 60 operated in the gateway 52 for
exchange of data between the gateway 52 and the application
terminal 30 in the application terminal networking domain. The
bearer service analysis unit 10 according to the present
invention is, as one example, shown as incorporated in the
routing device 54 of the present invention for analysis of
bearer service characteristics. Here, it should be noted that
the bearer service analysis unit 10 may also be operated
separately from the routing device 54 or as stand-alone unit
outside the gateway 52, as outlined above.
As shown in Fig. 5, the bearer service managing unit 16 is
cooperating with a bearer service managing unit 62 of a
switching node/radio access unit 64 operated in the application
terminal networking domain. The bearer service managing unit 62
of the switching node/radio access node is cooperating with a
24

bearer service managing unit 38 for exchange of data on the
bearer service level.
From the above, it becomes clear that according to the present
invention it is suggested to incorporate the bearer service
analysis unit and any quality of service management unit into
the quality of service framework, e.g., in the gateway 52. The
end-to-end quality of service architecture according to the
present invention is designed to meet a wide range of
application quality of service requirements and to provide
efficient network utilization, in particular via the radio
interface.
Further, the application layer relies on quality of service
functionalities in different parts of the end-to-end path. The
services executed between the quality of service management unit
16 and the bearer service analysis unit 10 reflect the
characteristics/parameters of higher layer application
functionalities. The present invention uses control plane
functions such as admission control and negotiation in order to
distribute access to the shared set of resources in a fair and
efficient manner between application end points. It ensures
rejection of new service requests in periods of congestion in
order not to excessively degrade the quality of service
characteristics of existing bearer services in view of ongoing
applications.
Fig. 6 shows a further application scenario for the different
quality of service management concepts underlying the present
invention outlined above. In particular, the application
scenario illustrated with respect to Fig. 6 is related to the
application of the Internet protocol IP in the remote terminal
25

server networking domain and to the application of wireless
communication on the basis of UMTS in the application terminal
networking domain. Insofar as units shown in Fig. 6 have a
functionality comparable to those of Fig. 5, they are indicated
with similar primed reference numerals, and explanation thereof
will not be repeated.
As shown in Fig. 6, according to the application scenarios shown
in Fig. 6, the termination 42' in the remote terminal server 32'
is an IP termination interacting with an L2 transport channel
44'. At the router 46', the routing device 48' is an IP routing
device supporting DiffServ functions 66. The IP routing device
cooperates with a L2 transport channel 50' for exchange of
application data with a gateway 52' which in the application
scenario shown in Fig. 6 is a gateway GPRS support node GGSN.
As shown in Fig. 6, the gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52'
comprises the routing device 54' being adapted to the IP
protocol. The IP routing device 54' has an IPBS manager 16'
executing the functionality of the quality of service management
unit 16 shown previously with respect to Figs. 3 and 5, further
the bearer analysis unit 10', which in addition to the bearer
analysis functionality also has a flexible charging
functionality. The IP routing device 54' also comprises a
DiffServ function unit 68 in support of related IP
functionality.
As shown in Fig. 6, the IP routing device 54' interacts with a
GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60' at instantiation of the bearer
service management unit 60 shown in Fig. 5. The GPRS/CDMA
management unit 60' establishes a PDB context with a related
GPRS/CDMA managing unit 62' of the switching node/radio access
26

64', which according to the application example shown in Fig. 6
is a serving GPRS support node SGSN. The GPRS/CDMA managing unit
62' of the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 54' establishes a
PDB context with a GPRS/CDMA managing unit 38' of the
application terminal 30' via a UTRAN/BSS networking unit 70.
Here, data exchange between the supporting GPRS support node
SGSN and the gateway GPRS support node 52' is executed via GnP,
and further the data exchange between the supporting GPRS
support node SGSN and the UTRAN/BSS networking node 70 is
achieved via IuPS or Gp, and further the data exchange between
the UTRAN/BSS networking node 70 and the GPRS/CDMA managing unit
38' of the application terminal 30' is achieved via Uu/Um. As
shown in Fig. 6, the IP termination unit 36' of the application
terminal 30' also comprises an IP managing unit for handling of
quality of service management related issues at the application
terminal 30' side.
Therefore, the application scenario shown in Fig. 6 relates to
wireless IP networks and to QoS development towards fixed IP
networks for set-up of a 3GPP QoS architecture. For the
application scenario shown in Fig. 6, here again application
entities require a determination of quality of service enabled
bearer services between them. Therefore, for the application
session it must be decided what media streams will be used,
e.g., voice and video, and what performance requirements these
media streams put on the quality of service enabled bearer
services. These requirements are then consecutively fulfilled
and mapped onto quality of service parameters of the available
bearer services.
Also, as shown in Fig. 6, quality of service management
according to the present invention is executed across different
27

quality of service enabled networking domains interworking with
each other via a gateway node 52' . The gateway GPRS supporting
node GGSN shown as an example in Fig. 6 provides interworking
functionality between the WCDMA/GPRS quality of service
mechanisms and the IP QoS mechanisms in an automized manner
without involvement of the end applications. As outlined
previously, interworking at the gateway GPRS supporting node
GGSN includes classification, mapping, marking/remarking and
filtering for appropriate bearer service delivery. In addition,
end-to-end application signaling may include information on
successful establishment of local access bearer at each side.
For the application scenario shown in Fig. 6, the ideas
underlying the present invention have been implemented by using
information available at the gateway GPRS support node GGSN for
selection of a quality of service class in automized manner.
As shown in Fig. 6, the application terminal 30' is not adapted
to request a quality of service class from the IPBS managing
unit 72. Further, a charging unit provided in the gateway GPRS
supporting node 52' and a bearer service analysis unit 10'
inform the IPBS managers 16' of the gateway GPRS supporting node
GGSN 52' about an identified bearer service characteristic and
related type of service. According to the present invention, it
is then suggested that the IPBS manager of the gateway GPRS
support node GGSN interacts with the GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60'
to request from the WCDMA/GPRS BS managing unit 60' a quality of
service change. Alternatively, the IPBS managing unit 16'
interacts with the IPBS managing unit 72 of the application
terminal 30' for confirmation of a quality of service of change
request.
28

Here, according to the present invention it is suggested to use
the flexible bearer charging which is available in the gateway
GPRS support node 52'. The reason for this is that already the
flexible bearer charging function examines the bearer service
and performs a packet identification and service classification.
Packet inspection means that the IP address, the UDP/TCP port
and the high layer protocols which are used in the bearer
connections are evaluated in the analysis/flexible charging unit
10' shown in Fig. 6. This information is then used to identify
the bearer service which is performed via the respective bearer
which information is used for charging the user dependent on the
requested bearer service.
According to the present invention, it is suggested to use this
information, which is already derived for the purpose of
flexible bearer charging, to select a quality of service class
in the IPBS manager 16'. A gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52'
requests from the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 64' a change
of quality of service class in dependency of the used bearer
service.
A possible scenario would be that a user connects his
application terminal 30', e.g., a notebook via GPRS to the
Internet. By default, the lowest quality of service class or the
highest quality of service class could be used at the beginning.
Then, the user would start to download a file, and a packet
inspection mechanism in the gateway GPRS support node would
identify the protocol TCP and ftp as used protocols. In this
case, the quality of service class would be maintained on a low
level. After the download, the user would then start, e.g., a
session initiated protocol SIP telephone session. Here, the
packet inspection mechanism in the analysis/flexible charging
29

unit 10' would identify UDP and SIP as used protocols and would
request from the supporting GPRS support node SGSN 64' to assign
a higher quality of service class. The charging would be adapted
accordingly.
In more detail, for the application scenario shown in Fig. 6 it
is suggested to reuse information of flexible bearer charging.
The flexible bearer charging would filter certain parameters
like protocol type, etc., of the IP connection and use a mapping
table to determine a certain quality of service class. Then, the
flexible bearer charging executed in the analysis/flexible
charging unit 10' would trigger a request from the IPBS manager
16' to the GPRS/CDMA managing unit 60' to adapt the quality of
service class accordingly. This could imply a comparison of
quality of service classes and a related amendment if they
differed.
As alternative, the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' could as
well be enhanced in a way that besides protocol properties like
IP addresses, port numbers, protocol types, also traffic
characteristics like average message length, duration between
two messages, etc., are taken into account for selecting a
certain quality of service class. This implies that at the
beginning the highest quality of service class would be chosen
to allow for reliable measurement. A mapping table maintained at
the quality of service class memory shown in Fig. 3 would allow
to determine which quality of service class corresponds to which
measured traffic characteristics.
Then, the analysis/flexible charging unit 10' would initiate
request from the IPBS manager 16' to compare the determined
quality of service class with the quality of service class
30

operated at the bearer service level and to manage appropriate
amendment thereof, should they differ.
Besides the usage of the flexible bearer charging and the usage
of flexible characteristics, a further aspect relates to the
operation of the IPBS managing unit 16' in the gateway GPRS
support node 52'.
Here, the IPBS managing unit 16' in the gateway GPRS support
node 52' could keep track of end-to-end quality service classes
of ongoing application connections. As outlined above, the
flexible bearer charging unit of the traffic characteristic
evaluation could request from the IPBS managing unit information
about the quality of service class of an ongoing IP connection
and further eventually request a change of a quality of service
class.
Here, three different alternatives are possible as follows:
i The IPBS manager 16' requests from the CDMA/GPRS managing
unit 16' to change a quality of service class of an ongoing
connection. Heretofore, the gateway GPRS support node 52'
also sends a quality of service class change request to the
supporting GPRS support node 64'.
ii. The subscriber could define, e.g., in his HLR settings, the
highest and lowest quality of service class he accepts.
Then, the gateway GPRS support node GGSN 52' interrogates
the home location register HLR to get the settings and
compare them with the request for quality of service class
change initiated by the IPBS manager 16'. If the requested
change is within the subscriber setting, the IPBS managing
31

unit 16' requests from the WCDMA/GPRS managing unit 60' to
change the quality of service class. Otherwise, the IPBS
managing unit 16' informs the analysis/flexible charging
unit 10' that the quality of service class change is
refused. Optionally, the rejection of the requested change
of quality of service class is tracked for the application
sessions, so that no further request for quality of service
charge change would arise again.
iii. The IPBS managing unit 16' sends a request for quality of
service class change to the IPBS managing unit of the
application terminal 30' for approval thereof at the
application terminal side 30'. Then, the user may evaluate
his personal setting about acceptable quality of service
classes or get a notification on his display for acceptance
or rejection of the quality of service class change.
As outlined above, according to the present invention a user
does not need to configure a quality of service class on the
application level. Further, the applications running at a user
end equipment do not need to be updated for setting of quality
of service classes. According to the present invention, the
communication system automatically selects a correct quality of
service class, and an application does not need to have
knowledge about a quality of service class definition which may
be used in a communication network.
32

WE CLAIM :
1. Method of bearer service analysis in support of
automatic quality of service class management,
comprising the steps:
analysing a bearer service carrying packet switched
service traffic in support of an application
session for identification of at least one type of
service used by the application session; and
forwarding a result of bearer service analysis to a
networking unit adapted to automatic quality of
service class management according to the
identified at least one type of service; wherein
step of analysing of the bearer service comprises a
-filtering of characteristics of protocols used for
exchange of packet switched service traffic and a
reuse of information determined for flexible beaxer
service charging.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that
characteristics o£ protocols are related to addresses of
data packets, port number of data packets, and/or
protocol types.
33

3, Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the
step of analysing of the bearer service comprises
4, Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the step of analysing the bearer
service comprises an identifying of characteristics of
the packet switched service traffic.
5, Method according to claim A, characterized in that
characteristics of the packet switched service traffic
are related to average length of a service message
and/or time elapsing between two service messages.
6. Method of automatic quality of service class management
in support of an application session running on top of a
bearer service carrying packet switched traffic,
comprising the steps;
receiving an indication of at least one type of
service used by the application session;
determining a quality of service class according to
at least one type of service used by the
application session;
evaluating whether a requested quality of service
class change is allowable in view of the pre-
determined quality of service class setting range;
34

changing the quality of service class at the bearer
service level when the requested quality of service
class change is allowable;
requesting a quality of service class for the
bearer service according to a determined quality of
service class; and
notifying a flexible bearer charging unit adapted
to charge for bearer service delivery on the change
of quality of service class.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it
comprises a step of Interrogating a database (HLR) for
identification of a pre-determined quality of service
class setting range.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it
comprises the step of requesting a highest quality of
service class at the beginning of service delivery.
9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that
it comprises the steps;
comparing the determined quality of service class
with a quality of service class selected on a.
bearer level; and
requesting a quality of service class for the
bearer service when the determined quality of
service class differs froro quality of service class
selected on the bearer level,
35

10. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 9,
characterized in that it comprises a step of referencing
a mapping table establishing a relation between at least
one type of service and a quality of service class,
11. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 10,
characterized in that it comprises a step of forwarding
a request for change of quality of service class to a
bearer service managing unit when the determined quality
of service class differs from quality of service class
selected on the bearer level.
12. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 11,
characterized in that it comprises a step of keeping
track of a quality of service class requested according
to type of service.
13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in
that it comprises a step of forwarding the request for
change of quality of service class to at least one
bearer service switching unit (SSGN) operated for bearer
service delivery.
14. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it
comprises; a step of receiving notification on rejection
of the request for change of quality of service class
when the requested quality of service class change is
not allowable,
15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it
comprises a step of keeping track of a notified
rejection of the request for change of quality of
36

service class for the time of establishment of the
bearer service.
16. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 11,
characterised in that it comprises the step of
forwarding the request for change of quality of service
class to an end terminal (MT) using the bearer service
and running an application for which the request for
change of quality of service class is initiated,
17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it
comprises a step of comparing the request for change of
quality of service class forwarded from the quality of
service class management unit, with a quality of service
charge setting range pre-stored at the end terminal for
approval of the request for change of quality of service
class,
18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that it
comprises a step of approving the request for change of
quality of service class at the end-terminal by
prompting an end terminal user accordingly.
19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that
it comprises a step of receiving notification on
rejection of the request for change of quality of
service class when the requested quality of service
class change is not approved by the end terminal user,
37

20. Networking node adapted to bearer service analysis in
support of automatic quality of service class
managememt, comprising :
a bearer service analysis unit adapted to analyse a
bearer service carrying packet switched service
traffic in support of an application session for
identification of at least one type of service used
by the application session; and
an interface unit adapted to forward a result of
bearer service analysis to a networking unit
adapted to automatic quality of service class
management according to the identified at least one
type of service; wherein
the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to
filter characteristics of protocols used for
exchange of packet switched service traffic and to
reuse information determined for flexible bearer
charging.
21. Networking node according to claim 20, characterized in
that the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to
filter characteristics of protocols as addresses of data
packets, port number of data packets, and/or protocol
types.
22. Networking node according to claim 20 or 21,
characterized in that the bearer service analysis unit
is adapted to identify characteristics of the packet
switched service traffic.
38

23, Networking node according to claim 22, characterized in
that the bearer service analysis unit is adapted to
identify an average length of a service message and/or a
time elapsing between two service messages.
24. Networking node adapted to automatic quality of service
class management in support of an application session
running on top of a bearer service carrying packet
switched traffic, comprising:
an interface unit adapted to receive an indication
of at least one type of service used by the
application session;
a quality of service class evaluation unit adapted
to evaluate whether a requested quality of service
class change is allowable in view o£ the pre-
determined quality of service class setting range.
a quality of service class assignment unit adapted
to assign a quality of service class according to
at least one type of service used by the
application session; and
a Quality of service class controlling unit adapted
to request a quality of service class according to
the determined quality of service class; wherein
the quality of service class controlling unit is
adapted to request change of the quality of service
39

class when the requested quality of service class
change is allowable; and
the interface unit is adapted to notify change of
quality of service class to a flexible charging
unit adapted to charge for bearer service delivery.
25. Networking node according to claim 24, characterized in
that the quality of service class assignment unit is
adapted to request a highest quality of service class at
the beginning of service delivery.
26. Networking node according bo claim 24 or 25,
characterized in that it comprises
the quality of service class comparison unit
adapted to compare the determined quality of
service class with a quality of service class
selected on a bearer level; wherein
the quality of service class controlling unit
adapted to request a quality of service class
change for the bearer service when the determined
quality of service class differs from the quality
of service class selected on the bearer level.
21, Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 26,
characterized in that the quality of service class
assignment unit is adapted to reference a mapping table
establishing a relation between at least a type of
service and a quality of service.
40

28. Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 27,
characterized in that the interface unit is adapted to
forward a request for change of quality of service class
to a bearer service managing unit when, the determined
quality of service class differs from the quality of
service class selected on the bearer level.
29. networking node according to claim 24, characterised in
that it comprises a memory unit adapted to keep track of
a requested quality of service class.
30. Networking node according to claim 24, characterized in
that the interface unit is adapted, to forward the
request for change of quality of service class to at
least one bearer service switching unit (SSGn) operated
for bearer service delivery.
31. Networking node according to one of the claims 24 to 30,
characterized in that the quality of service class
controlling unit is adapted to interrogate a database
(HLR) for comparison of the requested quality of service
class with a pre-determined quality of service class
setting range.
32. Networking node according to claim 31, characterized in
that the quality of service class controlling unit is
adapted to maintain the quality of service class
selected on the bearer service level when the requested
quality of service class is not allowable.
33. Networking node according to claim 32, characterized in
that it comprises a memory unit adapted to keep track of
rejection of a request for change of quality of service
41

class for the time of establishment of the bearer
service.
34. Networking code according to claim 24, characterized in
that the interface unit adapted to forward the request
for change of quality of service class to an end
terminal (MT) using the bearer service and running an
application for which to the request for change of
quality of service class is initiated.
35, Networking node according to claim 34, characterized in
that the interface unit is adapted to receive
notification of a rejection of the request for change of.
quality of service class when the requested quality of
service class change is not approved at the end
terminal.
36, Computer program product directly loadable into the
internal memory of an networking node adapted to bearer
service analysis in support of automatic quality of
service class management comprising software code
portions for performing the steps of the claims 1 to 5
when the product is run. on a processor of the networking
node adapted to bearer service analysis.
37. Computer program product directly loadable into the
internal memory of an networking node adapted to
automatic quality of service class management in support
of an application session running on top of a bearer
service carrying packet switched traffic comprising
42

software code portions for performing the steps of the
claims 6 to 19 when the product is run on a processor of
the networking node adapted to automatic quality of
service class management.

Dated this 28th day of August 2007

43

To enhance quality of service management in support of
application sessions running on top of bearer services,
according to the present invention it is suggested to,
firstly, execute a bearer service analysis in support of
automatic quality of service class management. Heretofore, a
bearer service carrying packet switched service traffic in
support of an application session is analysed for
identification of different types of services by the
application session. Related analysis information derived at
an analysis unit 10 is then forwarded to a quality of service
management unit 16, which is adapted to automatic quality of
service class management. In particular, the quality of
service management unit 16 determines and manages a quality
of service class according to the identified quality of
service class as forwarded by the bearer service analysis
unit 10.

Documents:

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Patent Number

270242

Indian Patent Application Number

3154/KOLNP/2007

PG Journal Number

49/2015

Publication Date

04-Dec-2015

Grant Date

04-Dec-2015

Date of Filing

28-Aug-2007

Name of Patentee

TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

Applicant Address

SE-164 83 STOCKHOLM

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	EWERT, JOERG, CHRISTIAN	KARL-PLATZ-STRASSE 22 D, 41812 ERKELENZ
2	STÜMPERT, MARTIN	HUNDSBRUNNERTALSTRASSE 22, 67691 HOCHSPEYER

PCT International Classification Number

H04L 12/56

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2005/001106

PCT International Filing date

2005-02-01

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA