Method and System for Timely Delivery of Multimedia Content via a Femtocell

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for timely delivery of multimedia content via a femtocell are provided. In this regard, a femtocell may receive data via an upstream path and transmit data via a downstream path. One of the upstream path and downstream path may comprise a cellular path and the other may comprise a non-cellular path. One or both of the upstream path and the downstream path may be audio video bridging (AVB) paths. Data may be stored in the femtocell based on timing characteristics of one or both of the upstream path and the downstream path. Data may be delivered to the femtocell utilizing best effort delivery and the data may be forwarded by the femtocell with guaranteed quality of service. Resources in the femtocell may be reserved and/or synchronized, utilizing AVB protocols, for communication of one or more data streams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communications, the method comprising:
 receiving data in a femtocell via an upstream path;   transmitting data by said femtocell via a downstream path; and   adjusting characteristics of one or more buffers in said femtocell, wherein:
 one of said upstream path and said downstream path comprises a cellular path to a cellular enabled communication device; 
 one of said upstream path and said downstream path comprises a noncellular path to a non-cellular device; and 
   one or both of said upstream path and said downstream paths are audio video bridging (AVB) paths established utilizing one or both of IEEE 802.1 AVB protocols and extensions to said IEEE 802.1 AVB protocols.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising adjusting said characteristics of said one or more buffers in said femtocell based on timing characteristics of one or both of said upstream path and said downstream path. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said characteristics of said one or more buffers comprise one or both of: a capacity of said one or more buffers in said femtocell; and one or more thresholds of said one or more buffers in said femtocell. 
     
     
         4 . A system for communications, the method comprising:
 one or more circuits for use in a femtocell, said one or more circuits being operable to:   receive data via an upstream path;   transmit data via a downstream path; and   adjust characteristics of one or more buffers in said femtocell, wherein:
 one of said upstream path and said downstream path comprises a cellular path to a cellular enabled communication device; 
 one of said upstream path and said downstream path comprises a non-cellular path to a non-cellular device; and 
 one or both of said upstream path and said downstream paths are audio video bridging (AVB) paths established utilizing one or both of IEEE 802.1 AVB protocols and extensions to said IEEE 802.1 AVB protocols. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to adjust said characteristics of said one or more buffers in said femtocell based on timing characteristics of one or both of said upstream path and said downstream path. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said characteristics of said one or more buffers comprise one or both of: a capacity of said one or more buffers in said femtocell; and one or more thresholds of said one or more buffers in said femtocell.