WO2002047328A2 - System and method for processing wireless packet data - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (100, 300) for processing wireless packet data is provided. The system (100, 300) includes a gateway radio packet interface receiving radio packet data from a gateway radio packet node (110, 302). A content switch system (108, 304) coupled to the gateway radio packet interface receives the radio packet data, extracts one or more predetermined data fields from the radio packet data, and performs one or more predetermined actions based on the extracted data fields. A serving radio packet interface coupled to the content switch system (108, 304) transmits the radio packet data to a serving radio packet node (106).

Description

SPECIFICATION

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS PACKET DATA CONTENT SWITCH

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/251 ,929, filed December 7, 2000 which is commonly owned and assigned with the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of data transmission over limited bandwidth shared medium networks like wireless networks. More specifically, the

invention relates to a system and method for a wireless packet data content switch that

allows content servers to provide data to wireless devices without requiring special

adaptation of new and existing content servers, networks, public Internet protocols

specifically for different wireless network protocols for reliable delivery of information from

content server to the mobile user, definition, decision, and enforcement of wireless carriers

and content providers, including businesses, to implement their corporate policies in a

consistent fashion, group communications, flexible and adaptive quality of service to create

the best possible user experience while optimizing the usage of critical resources in the

network, and end-to-end transaction security to an acceptable level. BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] The transmission of wireless voice and data (hereinafter referred to

as "data") is known in the art. Many processes for transmitting wireless data have been

proposed and implemented. For example, wireless data can be transmitted in a wireless data channel, such as by the use of code division multiple access, time division multiple access, frequency division multiple access, or other procedures or combinations of

procedures whereby a code group, time slot or other similar structures can be used to

create a radio channel for transmitting data, one drawback associated with such radio data

channels is that if no data is being transmitted, or any other data besides the user's data, then the overall use of the radio bandwidth efficiency decreases, because it is not possible

to cover and re-deploy that bandwidth for other data transmission functions.

[0003] Circuit switched and packet switched data transmission has also been

used to transmit data over the radio (or "air") interface. The packet switched data is also

known as packet data. The general packet radio service (GPRS) standard is a public

standard that is being delivered to facilitate the provision of packet-switched services to

a mobile user. The GPRS system utilizes a structure wherein a gateway GPRS support

node is coupled to the Internet. The gateway GPRS support node receives packet data

from the Internet, such as in the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Internet protocol (IP)

or X.25 data formats, and then processes the data to determine the address to which the

packet data should be sent and the format of the transport that it should be sent in, such

as the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP). The gateway GPRS support node then transmits the data, such as an HTTP packet, to a serving GPRS support node that is associated with the address, The serving GPRS support node then coordinates with a base station system

to transmit the HTTP packet to the mobile station. A generic mobile network model can be

derived based on the Open System Interconnect (OSI) for the invention discussed here. The network model defines logical structure and the physical realization may be implemented as a combination of different functionalities on different physical platforms

similar to the concepts of OSI. All public and private network standards, such as GPRS,

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA2000, Ricochet, and others

comply with the model at the logical level.

[0004] While these standards define data delivery functionality, mere delivery

of raw bandwidth over wireless media without an acceptable service experience will result

in limited market acceptance of wireless data in the business and consumer environments.

In data networking, quality implies the process of delivering data in a reliable and timely

manner with consistent precision, where the definition of reliable, timely, and precision

depends on the type of traffic. A user browsing the web, but not using FTP for file

downloads or not streaming multimedia information, may have a different "perception of

service" than a business user of large corporate databases of financial information,

multimedia conferencing, or voice. Service quality is a continuum, defined by the network

performance characteristics that are most important to a user of the service. Service

quality requirements further vary by application and service subscription that is determined by the Service Level Agreements. The goal of a wireless service provider is to maximize

the end user satisfaction while optimizing use of critical wireless bandwidth. The barrier to service deployment of mobile wireless data has been the absence of acceptable mechanisms to deliver sufficient

bandwidth for an acceptable end user experience. The Quality of Service defined in the

GPRS, UMTS, and other networks are necessary and sufficient for providing acceptable

service quality over wireless networks, but fail to address the problems created by network

and service deployment and optimization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for a

wireless content switch are provided that overcome known shortcomings with providing

wireless data access.

[0006] In particular, a system and method for a wireless content switch are

provided that allow data to be provided to wireless devices over various networks in a manner that supports additional processing of the data, that further enables different types

of devices to simultaneously receive the data. The present invention provides a

network-centric approach for different wireless networks through an underlying

infrastructure, with no requirements for mobile capability, so as to consistently address

service quality issues. [0007] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

a system for processing wireless packet data is provided. The system includes a gateway

interface receiving data from and sending data to a gateway node. A content switch system coupled to the gateway interface receives the data, extracts one or more predetermined

data fields from the data, and performs one or more predetermined actions based on the

extracted data fields. A serving interface coupled to the content switch system transmits

the data to a serving node.

[0008] The present invention provides many importanttechnical advantages.

One important technical advantage of the present invention is a system and method for

wireless content switching that allows data in a wireless network to be switched based

upon the content of the packet data. The present invention thus allows quality of service

management, group communication management, and management of other services to

be performed that would not be possible to provide from a remote server.

[0009] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the advantages and

superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof on reading

the detailed description that follows in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a system for providing wireless content processing

capability in a wireless network in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the

present invention; [0011] FIGURE 2 is a diagram of a system for providing wireless content

switching functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present

invention;

[0012] FIGURE 3 is a diagram of a system for providing wireless data

services in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIGURE 4 is a diagram of a system for providing wireless content

switch functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIGURE 5 is a diagram of an exemplary data frame for transmitting

data in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIGURE 6 is a flow chart of a method for processing radio packet data

in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIGURE 7 is a flow chart of a method for providing quality of service

functionality in a wireless content switch in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of

the present invention; and

[0017] FIGURE 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing multicast

functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the

specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing

figures might not be to scale, and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and

conciseness.

[0019] FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a system 100 for providing wireless content

processing capability in a wireless packet network in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes mobile station 102, base

station system 104, serving node 106, wireless content switch 108, and gateway node 110,

which is coupled to communications medium 112. Communications medium 112 can be

the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a fiber optic network, the public

switched telephone network, other suitable media, or a suitable combination of such

media. Mobile station 102, base station system 104, serving node 106, and gateway node

110 form a standard logical radio packet data transmission network. Wireless content

switch 108 is coupled between gateway node 110 and serving GRPS support node 106,

and processes gateway GPRS tunneling protocol radio packet data in order to provide

additional content switching functionality.

[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, wireless content switch 108 can

receive GPRS tunneling protocol format packet data from gateway node 110, and can

determine additional processing that may be required based upon the mobile station 102,

the type of content in the packet, priority data, quality of service data, multicasting

functionality, or other suitable functions,

[0021] Likewise, wireless content switch 108 can receive GPRS tunneling

protocol packet data from serving node 106, and can process the GPRS tunneling protocol packet data to perform additional functionality prior to transmitting the packet data to gateway node 110. Wireless content switch 108 thus interfaces seamlessly into the GPRS

standard network to provide additional wireless data processing functionality that cannot presently be provided from the server or mobile station 102. For example, if server 114 is

a wireless application server that is performing quality of service management over

communications medium 112, it would not be able to readily determine the status of

gateway node 110 and serving node 106, such as the total bandwidth being used, the

bandwidth being used in a virtual private network, operable mobile stations, or other

suitable status data. Likewise, deploying wireless content switch 108 at server 114 limits

the functionality that can be provided by wireless content switch 108 to packet data being

provided through server 114 to mobile station 102. By deploying wireless content switch

108 between gateway node 110 and serving node 106, it is possible to provide wireless

content switching functionality on radio packet data regardless of whether it comes from

server 114 or from any other server accessible over communications medium 112.

[0022] In operation, wireless content switch 108 interfaces with gateway node

110 and serving node 106 to extract data fields from GPRS tunneling protocol packet data

or other suitable packet data, to process the extracted data based upon predetermined

functionality, and to store modified data in the GPRS tunneling protocol packet data or

other suitable radio packet data, so as to provide wireless content switching functionality.

[0023] FIGURE 2 is a diagram of a system 200 for providing wireless content

switching functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a GPRS network. System 200 includes a mobile station 202, a base station

system 204, a serving GPRS support node 206, a wireless content switch 208, and a gateway GPRS support node 210, wherein each of these systems further comprises

additional systems for processing data in accordance with Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standards, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standards, or other

suitable standards.

[0024] Packet data reaches gateway GPRS support node 210 from

communications medium 112 in an Internet protocol processing layer. The Internet

protocol processing layer also extracts GPRS tunneling protocol packet data using a

GTP-U layer, user datagram protocol packets using a User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

layer, and physical layer LI and data link layer L2 data, using LI and L2 layer protocols. The extracted data is then processed in accordance with the GPRS wireless network

protocol to determine the serving GPRS support node 206 that the data should be

transferred to, in addition to base station system 204 and mobile station 202 criteria.

[0025] Wireless content switch 208 is coupled to gateway GPRS support

node 210 and performs processing using a wireless content switch application layer, a

GTP-U layer, a UDP layer, an Internet protocol layer, and an LI and L2 layer. Wireless

content switch 208 can extract radio packet data from the GTP-U processing layer, and

can perform additional processing to support quality of service functionality, multicasting

functionality, and other functionality. The wireless content switch application layer also

receives data from the UDP layer, the IP layer, and the LI and L2 layers in support of this functionality. Wireless content switch 208 then transmits data to serving GPRS support node 206 after the process data is stored back into the GTP radio packet data.

[0026] Serving GPRS support node 206 interfaces with wireless content

switch 208 at the GTP-U layer, UDP later, IP layer, L2 layer, and LI layer, and performs

additional processing to determine the location of a mobile station 202 and base station

system 204 serving the mobile station. Serving GPRS support node 206 transmits the

packet data to a base station system 204 via a relay layer, and also performs additional

subnetwork convergence protocol (SNDCP) processing, logical link control (LLC)

processing, base station subsystem GPRS protocol (BSSGP) processing, network service

processing, and Llbis processing.

[0027] Base station system 204 performs receives the various layers of data

from serving GPRS support node 206 over a relay connection or other suitable

connections and performs radio link control (RLC) processing, medium access control

(MAC) processing, GSM radio frequency (GSMRF) control, and additional processing so

as to allow the radio packet data to be transmitted to the correct mobile station that the

radio packet data is addressed to, as per the standard specification-compliant implementation.

[0028] Mobile station 202 includes RF, medium access control, radio link

control, logical layer control, SNDCP and IP processing functionality, so as to allow

mobile station 202 to function within one or more wireless networks, including a GPRS

wireless network. In addition, mobile station 202 can include one or more applications which interface with wireless content switch applications on wireless content switch 208, server applications operating on server 114, or other suitable applications. The specific

presence or implementation of an application on the mobile station is not required.

Configuration data for mobile station 202 can be stored at wireless content switch 208,

server 114, or at other suitable locations, such as in accordance with the Lightweight

Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or proprietary information exchange protocols. Likewise, wireless content switch 208 can determine the operational specifications for

mobile station 202 by analyzing data extracted from the GTP-U, UDP, IP, LI, and L2

processing layers as the data being transmitted to and from mobile station 202 is

processed by wireless content switch 208.

[0029] In operation, system 200 allows processing of radio packet data to

facilitate quality of service, multicasting, and additional functionality for transmitting and

receiving radio packet data with mobile station 202 through wireless content switch 208.

Wireless content switch 208 extracts predetermined message and data fields from

signalling or control messages, bearer or user data contained in the packet, or other

suitable data layers, and can perform additional processing of the radio packet data to

provide predetermined services to mobile station 202.

[0030] FIGURE 3 is a diagram of a system 300 for providing wireless data

services in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System

300 includes standard wireless data network system components, including gateway node

110, serving node 106, base station system 104, and mobile station 102, and further includes wireless content switch 304 disposed between gateway node 110 and

communications medium 112.

[0031] Wireless content switch 304 performs analysis and modification of

inbound radio packet data received from communications medium 112 prior to processing

by gateway node 110, and analysis and processing of outbound radio packet data after

processing is performed by gateway node 110. In this configuration, wireless content

switch 304 can be deployed without modification of existing connections between gateway GPRS support node 302 and one or more serving GPRS support nodes 106.

[0032] FIGURE 4 is a diagram of a system 400 for providing wireless content

switch functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

in the GPRS wireless data network. System 400 includes mobile station 202, base station system 204, and serving GPRS support node 206, and further includes gateway GPRS

support node 402 and wireless content switch 404.

[0033] Wireless content switch 404 receives data from communications

medium 112 through an Internet protocol layer, L2 layer, and LI layer, and performs

wireless content switch application processing of the received data. In this configuration,

wireless content switch 404 can identify the 30 radio packet data within the Internet

protocol data format, and can perform additional processing prior to the processing that

is performed by gateway GPRS support node 402 for incoming packet data. Wireless

content switch 404 is coupled to gateway GPRS support node 402 through the Internet

protocol, L2, and LI layers. Gateway GPRS support node 402 then performs processing of the data received from 5 wireless content switch 404 using the Internet protocol, GTP-U,

UDP, L2, and LI processing layers, so as to distribute the data to one or more serving

GPRS support nodes 206.

[0034] In the outbound direction, packet data is received from one or more

serving GPRS support nodes 206 at gateway GPRS support node 402, and is processed

for transmission over communications medium 112. Wireless content switch 404 receives

the processed packet data in the Internet protocol, L2, and LI processing layers, and

performs additional processing of the processed packet data as required to provide quality

of service, multicasting, or other suitable functionality for one or more wireless content switch applications.

[0035] In operation, system 400 allows wireless content switch 404 to be

deployed between gateway GPRS support node 402 and communications medium 112.

In this configuration, the wireless content switch 404 can perform processing of packet

data received from communications medium 112 prior to providing that packet data to

gateway GPRS support node 402, and can receive the processed radio packet data from

gateway GPRS support node 402 after it has been processed and prior to transmission over communications medium 112.

[0036] FIGURE 5 is a diagram of an exemplary data frame format 500 for

transmitting wireless packet data content switch control and payload data in the GPRS

tunneling protocol, data format, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the

present invention. Data frame format 500 includes additional data fields that follow the standard GPRS tunneling protocol header, where such data fields are divided to facilitate

processing between wireless content switch applications, mobile station 202 applications,

server 114 applications, and other suitable systems.

[0037] Data frame format 500 is shown in a four octet structure. Although

sizes and sequences have been provided for the data fields in data frame format 500, the

sizes and sequences can be altered or modified, and the data fields shown can be left out

or other suitable data fields can be added to support wireless content switch functionality.

The packet header can also be compressed, such as in accordance with RFC 2508,

"Compressing IP/UDP/RTP Headers for Low-Speed Serial Links," available from the Internet Engineering Task Force, or other suitable protocols.

[0038] Data frame format 500 includes an Ethernet frame segment, which is

followed by an Internet Protocol segment, a GRPS Tunneling Protocol segment, a second

Internet Protocol segment, a UDP segment and a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP)

segment. The exemplary data fields shown in data frame format 500 and their cor responding sizes and functions include:

Ethernet preamble - 8 octets

Ethernet destination address - 4 octets.

Ethernet source address - 2 octets.

Ethernet destination address - 6 octets.

• Ethernet frame type - 4 octets. Version number - half octet; in one exemplary embodiment can be used to

determine the version and map data between versions.

IHL identifier half octet. Type of service octet.

• Total packet length - two octets; in one exemplary embodiment can be used to

determine the required bandwidth for transmission of entire packet.

• Identification - two octets.

Flags - half octet (in one exemplary embodiment can be used to indicate functional

status of wireless data system components).

Fragment offset - one and one half octet.

• TTL field - one octet.

Protocol field - one octet.

Header checksum field - two octets.

GTP version, PT, SPONE, E, S, PN - two octets (includes GTP version, protocol

type, extension header, sequence number flag, and N-PDU number flag). • Source address field - four octets (in one exemplary embodiment can be used to

store the complete address of data source so as to determine priority, application

type, or changes in address).

Destination address field - four octets (in one exemplary embodiment can be used

to store the complete address of data destination so as to determine priority,

application type, or changes in address). • Source port field - two octets (port address of data source, in one exemplary embodiment can be used to determine priority and application type).

• Destination port field - two octets (port address of data destination, in one exemplary embodiment can be used to detect changes in port assignment).

• Length field - two octets.

Checksum field - two octets.

V version number of the RTP protocol.

P number of padding octets that should be ignored (if padding bit is set).

X - extension bit (indicates that fixed header is followed by one header extension).

• CC - Contributing Source (CSRC) count (number of CSRC identifiers that follow the

fixed header). M profile-based marker bit.

• PT payload type.

Sequence number field - two octets (sequence number of packet, in one exemplary

embodiment can be used to determine whether packets are missing from sequence

and need to be retransmitted).

Time stamp field - four octets.

Synchronization source identifier field - four octets.

Encoded data - variable.

[0039] In operation, data frame format 500 provides a structure for

transmitting and processing data that is needed to provide wireless content switch functionality in a wireless packet data network. The data in data fields of data frame format

500 are used to support quality of service, multicasting, and other suitable functionality that is not provided for in standardized wireless packet data network architectures.

[0040] FIGURE 6 is a flow chart of a method 600 for processing radio packet

data in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Method 600

allows radio packet data to be processed either prior to provision to a gateway node or

other suitable wireless packet data network processing point, or for processing by the

gateway node prior to processing by the serving node or other suitable wireless packet

data network processing points. Likewise, the method can be used after processing data

in the serving node, integrated with the gateway node, the radio control system node, or

in other suitable manners.

[0041 ] Method 600 begins at 602 where a wireless data session is activated .

The wireless data session can be activated when a wireless device enters the service area

of a base station, such as when the user is registered with the visitor location register

associated with the base station, or at other suitable times. The method then proceeds to 604.

[0042] At 604, a wireless data session is established. In one exemplary

embodiment, the wireless data session is established when the user enters control

commands to cause a data channel to be established. In another exemplary embodiment,

a wireless data channel can be established when the wireless device is configured by the

base station to receive packet data. The method then proceeds to 606. [0043] At 606, transport layer data is processed, such as the OSI layer 4 data

for end-to-end control of transmitted data. In one exemplary embodiment, the protocols governing message structure and network error-checking can be processed at 606. The

method then proceeds to 608.

[0044] At 608, it is determined whether control data is being transmitted. If

so, the method proceeds to 610 where session profile data is collected, after which the

method proceeds to 618. If it is determined that control data is not being transmitted at

608, the method proceeds to 612.

[0045] At 612, it is determined whether error data is being transmitted, such

as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) data. If error data is being transmitted, the method proceeds to 614 where session profile data is modified, such as to correct the

source of error, provide corrected packet data, or for other suitable purposes. The method

then proceeds to 618. Likewise, if it is determined at 612 that error data is not being

transmitted, the method proceeds to 616 where session profile and stream data is

collected. The method then proceeds to 618.

[0046] At 618, it is determined whether it is necessary to modify data

characteristics in response to the session profile data collected, the stream information

collected, or the session profile data that has been modified, such as quality of service

parameters, reliability parameters, or other suitable data. If modifications are not

necessary, the method proceeds to 622. Otherwise, the method proceeds to 620 where the modifications are performed, such as at a wireless content switch. The method then

proceeds to 622.

[0047] At 622, it is determined whether a session characteristic change is

required in response to the session profile data collected, the stream information collected,

or the session profile data that has been modified, such as to implement quality of service

changes, reliability changes, for monitoring, or to implement other suitable changes. In one

exemplary embodiment, session characteristic changes can be required based on who a

user is, what a user is doing, or other criteria. The session characteristic change can

include control commands generated by a content switch to a gateway node, serving

node, or other suitable systems for re-allocation of bandwidth, processing resources, or

other resources that are required to control quality of service, reliability, monitoring, or

other functionality. If it is determined that session modifications are required at 622, the method proceeds to 626. Otherwise, the method proceeds to 624 where the data is

transmitted to the source and destination. The method then proceeds to 630.

[0048] At 626, it is determined whether any changes need to be performed

at the source to implement the session modifications. For example, the data transmission

rate, data format, or other suitable parameters may need to be modified at the source in

order to implement the session characteristic changes. If it is determined that no source

changes are required, then the method proceeds to 624. Otherwise, the method proceeds

to 628 where control data or other suitable data is transmitted to the source and

destination to cause the required changes to be implemented, such as data transmission rate changes, data format changes, or other suitable changes. The method then proceeds

to 630.

[0049] At 630, it is determined whether the session is to be terminated. If the

session is to continue, the method proceeds to 632 where the next data packet is received. Otherwise, the method proceeds to 634 where the session is terminated.

[0050] In operation, method 600 provides for trigger points that will cause

wireless data to be analyzed where necessary to provide wireless content switch

functionality. Method 600 sets predetermined trigger points that will facilitate or cause a

review of data fields to determine whether modification is necessary to support wireless

content switch applications, and receives additional triggers as necessary to facilitate the

provision of wireless content switch applications.

[0051] FIGURE 7 is a flow chart of a method 700 for providing quality of

service functionality in a wireless content switch in accordance with an exemplary

embodiment of the present invention. Method 700 begins at 702 where quality of service

rating data is extracted from the data packet and session information associated with the

data packet. The quality of service rating data can include one or more of the following criteria:

Capability of the wireless device

Data errors

• Packet loss

Number of data packet retransmissions Amount of data traffic

Frequency of out-of-sequence data packet delivery

Latency

Jitter

Bit error rates

Bandwidth limitations

Number of users

Radio interference

TCP traffic rate management [0052] At 704 the quality of service rating data is compared to other user data

to determine the priority that this application and this user should be assigned. In one

exemplary embodiment, the quality of service rating data can include organizational,

functional, or other suitable distinguishing data that allows bandwidth allocation and

processing allocation to be given priority to predetermined users or applications, such as

data that has been determined by cross-referencing the data extracted at 702 to a table

of organizational, functional, or other suitable priority data. The method then proceeds to

706.

[0053] At 706 it is determined whether the radio packet data must be adjusted

in order to support the quality of service allocation performed in step 704. If it is

determined at 706 that data adjustment is not required then the method proceeds to 718

and terminates. Otherwise the method proceeds to 708 where radio packet data is adjusted and stored in accordance with the quality of service rating. The method then

proceeds to 710.

[0054] At 710 it is determined whether other data must be adjusted, such as

user data for users that are given lower priority. In one exemplary embodiment, packet

data for other users can be dropped, one or more servers can be contacted to buffer or

stop the transmission of packet data,

or other suitable adjustments can be performed. If it is determined that no other

adjustments are required the method proceeds to 718 and terminates. Otherwise the

method proceeds to 712 where a request is issued. The request can include a request to

a local station, a server, or other suitable request. The method then proceeds to 714 where

the modified quality of service rating data is adjusted and stored. The method then

proceeds to 716 where a request is transmitted to a server, such as to stop transmission, decrease bandwidth requirements, or take other suitable steps.

[0055] In operation, method 700 allows a wireless content switch to monitor

radio packet data, and to adjust the radio packet data as required to provide quality of

service functionality in a wireless network. Method 700 can provide quality of service

management without buffering data at the wireless content switch or other location where

quality of service management is being performed, so as to eliminate the processing

overhead and hardware required to support buffering.

[0056] FIGURE 8 is a flow chart of a method 800 for providing multicast

functionality in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Method 800 begins at 802 where group identification data is extracted. In one exemplary

embodiment, the group identification data can include IMSI data, NSAPI data, MSISDN data, packet data protocol type data, packet data protocol address data, dynamic address

identifier data, APN network identifier data, quality of service profile data, serving node address data, mobile station not reachable indicator data, serving node recovery identifier

data, Sequence Number Downlinkdata, Sequence Number Uplinkdata, charging identifier

data, network protocol data unit reordering identifier data, or other suitable data. The

method then proceeds to 804.

[0057] At 804 group identification data is compared to current active group

data. In one exemplary embodiment, a multicast session can be set up where the users

that are to be included in the multicast are first identified. If the users are unavailable, out of range, or otherwise not capable of participating, those users may be flagged and

periodically checked, such as to determine when the user travels back into range, turns

on a handset unit, or performs other suitable functions that make the user available for the

multicast. The method then proceeds to 806.

[0058] At 806 it is determined whether data must be processed in order to

support the multicast functionality, such as to allow the data to be received by all of the

participants, on all of the mobile platforms involved, to meet bandwidth requirements, or

otherwise. If it is determined that data is not required to be adjusted, the method proceeds

to 810 and terminates. Otherwise, the method proceeds to 808 where the multicast data is adjusted and stored in packet data in addition to any required control data that may be

necessary to allow the user to participate in the multicast.

[0059] In operation, method 800 allows a wireless content switch to access

radio packet data so as to perform processing that may be required to provide multicast functionality. Method 800 thus facilitates the reception and transmission of data from a

single source to a multicast source, from one of the multicast parties to the other multicast

parties, or from all the multicast parties back to the multicast source.

[0060] Although exemplary embodiments of a system and method for wireless

packet data content switching have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art

will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications can be made to the systems and methods without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A system for processing wireless data comprising: a gateway radio packet interface receiving radio packet data from a gateway radio

packet node; a content switch system coupled to the gateway radio packet interface, the content

switch system receiving the radio packet data, extracting one or more predetermined data

fields from the radio packet data, and performing one or more predetermined actions

based on the extracted data fields; and a serving radio packet interface coupled to the content switch system, the serving

radio packet interface transmitting the radio packet data to a serving radio packet node.

2. The system of claim 2 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a quality of service system and extracts user priority data from the radio packet data,

wherein the quality of service system allocates bandwidth based upon the user priority

data and stores bandwidth allocation data in the radio packet data.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a multicast system and extracts multicast setup data and user identification data from the

radio packet data, wherein the multicast system addresses the radio packet data based

upon the user identification data and the multicast setup data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the gateway radio packet interface comprises

a gateway tunneling protocol system extracting gateway tunneling protocol data from the radio packet data and providing the gateway tunneling protocol data to the content switch

system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a serving handoff system and the serving radio packet interface transmits the radio packet

data to at least two serving radio packet nodes, wherein the serving handoff system

extracts the data fields from the radio packet data when the radio packet data is

transferred from a first serving radio packet node to a second serving radio packet node.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a network handoff system and the serving radio packet interface transmits the radio packet

data to at least two serving radio packet nodes, wherein the network handoff system

extracts the data fields from the radio packet data when the radio packet data is

transferred from a first serving radio packet node to a second serving radio packet node.

7. A system for processing wireless data comprising:

a content switch system coupled to a packet network, the content switch system

receiving radio packet data from the packet network, extracting one or more predetermined data fields from the radio packet data, and performing one or more

predetermined actions based on the extracted data

fields; and a gateway radio packet interface receiving the radio packet data from the content

switch system and transmitting the radio packet data to a gateway radio packet node.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the gateway radio packet interface comprises

an Internet protocol system, wherein the radio packet data is received from the packet

network contained within an Internet protocol packet, and the Internet protocol system

extracts the radio packet data from the internet protocol packet.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a serving handoff system transmitting the radio packet data to at least two serving radio

packet nodes, wherein the serving handoff system extracts the data fields from the radio

packet data when the radio packet data is transferred from a first serving radio packet

node to a second serving radio packet node.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a network handoff system transmitting the radio packet data to at least two serving radio

packet nodes, wherein the network handoff system extracts the data fields from the radio packet data when the radio packet data is transferred from a first serving radio packet node to a second serving radio packet node.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a quality of service system and extracts user priority data from the radio packet data,

wherein the quality of service system allocates bandwidth based upon the user priority

data and stores bandwidth allocation data in the radio packet data.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the content switch system further comprises

a multicast system and extracts multicast setup data and user identification data from the

radio packet data, wherein the multicast system addresses the radio packet data based

upon the user identification data and the multicast setup data.

13. A method for processing wireless data comprising:

receiving radio packet data;

determining whether a trigger event has occurred;

extracting one or more first data fields from the radio packet data if the trigger event

has occurred;

performing a predetermined function using the one or more data fields to generate

one or more second data fields; storing the second data fields in the radio packet data to

create modified radio packet data; and transmitting the modified radio packet data to a serving radio packet node.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the radio packet data comprises

receiving the radio packet data from a gateway radio packet node.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving the radio packet data comprises

receiving the radio packet data from a packet network, wherein the radio packet data is

contained within an Internet protocol packet.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein determining whether a trigger event has

occurred comprises determining whether one of the group of events comprising activation

of a packet data protocol channel, serving radio packet node handoff, mobile network

handoff, or receipt of a request for radio packet data modification has occurred.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein extracting one or more first data fields from

the radio packet data if the trigger event has occurred comprises extracting one or more

of the group of data fields comprising an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a

Network Layer Service Access Point Identifier, a Mobile Station ISDN number, a packet

data protocol type, a packet data protocol address, a dynamic address identifier, an APN

network identifier, a quality of service profile, a serving GPRS support node address, a

mobile station not reachable indicator, a serving GPRS support node recovery identifier, a Sequence Number Downlink, a Sequence Number Uplink, a charging identifier, and a

network protocol data unit reordering identifier.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein performing the predetermined function using

the one or more data fields to generate one or more second data fields comprises one or

more of the functions comprising determining transmission priority using a quality of

service profile, determining whether to transmit multicast data using an International

Mobile Subscriber Identity, determining whether a next radio packet data packet has been

received using a Sequence Number Downlink or a Sequence Number Uplink, and

determining network resource allocation using a mobile station not reachable indicator.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein storing the second data fields in the radio

packet data to create the modified radio packet data comprises storing one or more of the

group of data fields comprising a International Mobile Subscriber 5 Identity, a Network

Layer Service Access Point Identifier, a Mobile Station ISDN number, a packet data

protocol type, a packet data protocol address, a dynamic address identifier, an APN

network identifier, a quality of service profile, a serving GPRS support node address, a

mobile station not reachable indicator, a serving GPRS support node recovery identifier,

a Sequence Number Downlink, a Sequence Number Uplink, a charging identifier, and a

network protocol data unit reordering identifier.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein transmitting the modified radio packet data

to the serving radio packet node comprises transmitting the modified radio packet data inside of an Internet protocol packet to a gateway radio packet node.