Method and system for providing cross-layer quality-of-service functionality in a wireless network

Abstract

A method for providing cross-layer quality-of-service (QoS) functionality in a wireless network is provided. The method includes obtaining QoS data from each layer of an application stack for a particular application. A QoS matrix is generated based on the obtained QoS data. Packet distribution for the particular application may then be prioritized based on the QoS matrix.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . For use in a wireless network capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the wireless network, a base station comprising:
 a base station controller; and   a quality-of-service (QoS) scheduler coupled to the base station controller, the QoS scheduler configured to store a QoS matrix, the QoS matrix based on QoS data from each layer of an application stack for a particular application, and wherein the QoS scheduler is configured to implement policies within the QoS matrix for data streams received at the base station.   
   
   
       22 . The base station of  claim 21 , wherein the QoS scheduler further is configured to implement policies within the QoS matrix by prioritizing packets distributed by the base station based on the QoS matrix when a policy within the QoS matrix is associated with the packets. 
   
   
       23 . The base station of  claim 21 , wherein the QoS scheduler further is configured to utilize any QoS characteristic visible to the base station when no policy exists within the QoS matrix for a respective packet. 
   
   
       24 . The base station of  claim 21 , wherein the QoS scheduler further is configured to send a QoS matrix request to a wireless quality provider to prompt the wireless quality provider to provide the QoS matrix to the base station. 
   
   
       25 . The base station of  claim 21 , wherein the QoS scheduler further is configured to generate the QoS matrix from a plurality of matrices received from a plurality of wireless quality providers. 
   
   
       26 . The base station of  claim 21 , wherein the QoS matrix is received from a wireless quality provider. 
   
   
       27 . The base station of  claim 26 , wherein the QoS matrix is received in response to an application change. 
   
   
       28 . A system for use in a wireless network capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the wireless network, the system comprising:
 a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with the plurality of mobile stations; and   a plurality of wireless quality providers configured to provide cross-layer quality-of-service (QoS) functionality in the wireless network, wherein each of the wireless quality providers is configured to obtain QoS data from each layer of an application stack for a particular application and generate a QoS matrix based on the obtained QoS data, packet distribution for the particular application operable to be prioritized based on the QoS matrix.   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of wireless quality providers comprises at least one secondary wireless quality providers, the at least one secondary wireless provider configured to generate an additional-QoS matrix and provide the additional-QoS matrix to a primary wireless quality providers. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the primary wireless quality provider is configured to generate a final QoS matrix based at least in part on the additional-QoS matrix. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the primary wireless quality provider is configured to provide the final QoS matrix to a base station associated with a particular application for use in prioritizing prioritizing packets distributed by the base station. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein each of the plurality of wireless quality query each layer of the application stack in response to one of:
 a QoS matrix request; and   an application change.   
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein each of the wireless quality providers is configured to provide a QoS matrix to a base station associated with a particular application for use in generating a final QoS matrix to be used for prioritizing prioritizing packets distributed by the base station. 
   
   
       34 . For use in a wireless network capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the wireless network, a method of providing cross-layer quality-of-service (QoS) functionality in the wireless network, the method comprising:
 obtaining a QoS matrix generated from QoS data obtained from each layer of an application stack for a particular application and packet distribution for the particular application operable to be prioritized based on the QoS matrix; and   implementing policies within the QoS matrix for data streams received at a base station.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein implementing policies within the QoS matrix further comprises prioritizing packets distributed by the base station based on the QoS matrix when a policy within the QoS matrix is associated with the packets. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising utilizing any QoS characteristic visible to the base station when no policy exists within the QoS matrix for a respective packet. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising sending a QoS matrix request to a wireless quality provider to prompt the wireless quality provider to provide the QoS matrix to the base station. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein obtaining the QoS matrix further comprising generating the QoS matrix from a plurality of matrices received from a plurality of wireless quality providers. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein obtaining the QoS matrix further comprising receiving the QoS matrix from a primary wireless quality provider. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein obtaining the QoS matrix further comprising receiving the QoS matrix in response to an application change.