Network Congestion Prevention And/Or Mitigation

Abstract

Cell site congestion may result in dropped calls, time-outs on data sessions, web access problems, or the like. A network congestion status may be used to minimize network congestion. In an example embodiment, messages which are distributed via a network may be formatted based on the network's congestions status and a device's connection mechanism. Further, a network access may be based on the network's congestion status and on a device's connection mechanism.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a message, via a network, the message comprising an access request and a connection mechanism indicator;   determining a congestion status of the network;   determining a network connection mechanism based on the connection mechanism indicator;   responding to the message based on the congestion status and the determined network connection mechanism;   determining whether the congestion status is greater than a predetermined threshold; and   if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises:
 waiting a predetermined time; and 
 granting the access request after the predetermined time elapses. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises granting a limited access to the network, wherein the limited access uses less resources of the network than the access request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the access request comprises a request to access a video, and the limited access comprises access to audio associated with the video. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises providing at least one of an error message, a busy message, or a network status message to a user, wherein the user initiated the message comprising the access request.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 if the congestion status is not greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises granting the access request.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access request originates from a mobile device via a wireless network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the network connection mechanism supports the access request; and   if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold and the network connection mechanism supports the access request, responding to the message comprises granting the access request.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the network connection mechanism comprises an indirect network connection comprising at least one of a Wi-Fi connection or a femtocell connection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the network connection mechanism supports the access request; and   if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold and the network connection mechanism does not support the access request, responding to the message with at least one of an error message or a limited access.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network connection mechanism is based on a user profile associated with a user of a device that initiated the message. 
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 a memory comprising executable instructions; and   a processor in communication with the memory, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 receiving a message, via a network, the message comprising an access request and a connection mechanism indicator; 
 determining a congestion status of the network; 
 determining a network connection mechanism based on the connection mechanism indicator; 
 responding to the message based on the congestion status and the determined network connection mechanism; 
 determining whether the congestion status is greater than a predetermined threshold; and 
 if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises:
 waiting a predetermined time; and 
 granting the access request after the predetermined time elapses. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises granting a limited access to the network, wherein the limited access uses less resources of the network than the access request.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the access request comprises a request to access a video, and the limited access comprises access to audio associated with the video. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises providing at least one of an error message, a busy message, or a network status message to a user, wherein the user initiated the message comprising the access request.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 if the congestion status is not greater than the predetermined threshold, responding to the message comprises granting the access request.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the access request originates from a mobile device via a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether the network connection mechanism supports the access request; and   if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold and the network connection mechanism supports the access request, responding to the message comprises granting the access request.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the network connection mechanism comprises an indirect network connection comprising at least one of a Wi-Fi connection or a femtocell connection. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether the network connection mechanism supports the access request; and   if the congestion status is greater than the predetermined threshold and the network connection mechanism does not support the access request, responding to the message with at least one of an error message or a limited access.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the network connection mechanism is based on a user profile associated with a user of a device that initiated the message.