Network Assisted Bonding

Abstract

A device is provided for facilitating a media transmission over a wireless network. The device may control and manage a plurality of first wireless modems on a first end node side. The plurality of first wireless modems may be configured to transmit/receive a plurality of data streams over a plurality of wireless data channels to/from at least one second wireless modem on a second end node side. The device may receive network-related information from a network component associated with the wireless network. The network-related information may be used to adjust the distribution or receipt of the plurality of data streams between the plurality of first wireless modems, thereby enabling reconstitution of the media transmission from the plurality of data streams. In addition, the device may be configured to send performance-related information to the network component, thereby enabling a determination to be made about managing network resources of the wireless network.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A communications device configured to facilitate a data transmission over at least one wireless communications network, the communications device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:   control a plurality of wireless modems associated with a first end node side of the at least one wireless communications network to communicate via a plurality of wireless data channels with a second end node side, wherein the plurality of wireless modems include at least a first wireless modem communicating over a first data channel associated with a first Quality of service (QoS) level and a second wireless modem communicating over a second data channel associated with a second QoS level;   manage at least one of distribution and receipt of a plurality of data streams over the plurality of wireless data channels, wherein a communication between the first end node and the second end node comprises an aggregate of the plurality of data streams;   cause performance-related information to be sent to a network component, wherein the performance-related information is indicative of performance of at least one of the first wireless and the second wireless modem over at least one of the first QoS level and the second QoS level; and   enable a determination to be made about managing network resources of the at least one wireless communications network, wherein the determination is based on the performance-related information.   
     
     
         35 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem are configured to communicate with the second end node over a first wireless communications network, and the plurality of wireless modems further include a third wireless modem configured to communicate with the second end node over a second wireless communications network and be configured to at least one of distribution and receipt of a plurality of data streams. 
     
     
         36 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the first wireless modem is configured to communicate with the second end node over a first wireless communications network and the second wireless modem is configured to communicate with the second end node over a second wireless communications network. 
     
     
         37 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the first wireless communications network is a cellular network and the second wireless communications network is a wireless local area network (WLAN). 
     
     
         38 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the first wireless communications network is a first cellular network and the second wireless communications network a second cellular network. 
     
     
         39 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the determination includes causing the first wireless modem to roam to the second wireless communications network when the performance-related information indicates that the second wireless communications network has better performance than the first wireless communications network. 
     
     
         40 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the determination includes offloading at least some of the plurality of data streams from the first wireless communications network to the second wireless communications network according to predetermined policies. 
     
     
         41 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the determination includes avoiding use of the first data channel when a handover is expected to be performed in the first wireless communications network. 
     
     
         42 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the determination includes changing a QoS service level associated with at least one the first data channel and the second data channel. 
     
     
         43 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the determination includes directing at least some of the plurality of wireless modems into a cell served by a specific base station. 
     
     
         44 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the determination includes redistribution of the plurality of data streams for lowering communication cost associated with the data transmission. 
     
     
         45 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes an indicator of bandwidth available used by at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem. 
     
     
         46 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes an indicator of transmission power of used by at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem. 
     
     
         47 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes an indicator of a reception of neighboring base stations by at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem. 
     
     
         48 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information is reflective of network conditions that influence a capacity of at least one of the plurality of data channels. 
     
     
         49 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes substantially real-time information that reflects a current state of at least one data channel from the plurality of data channels. 
     
     
         50 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes application-performance measurements. 
     
     
         51 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the performance-related information includes congestion-related information that assists the at least one wireless communications network to manage a state of congestion. 
     
     
         52 . The communication device of  claim 51 , wherein the congestion-related information includes at least one of the following: measured uplink data bandwidth, measured uplink data latency, measured downlink data bandwidth, measured downlink data latency, measured uplink round trip time, measured downlink round trip time, PDCP SDU Congestion Experienced (CE) Codepoint or Codepoint set, and ECN-Capable Transport (ECT) codepoint or codepoint set. 
     
     
         53 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the performance-related information to the network component substantially simultaneously to the transmission of the plurality of data streams over the plurality of wireless data channels. 
     
     
         54 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive network-related information from a network component associated with the at least one wireless communications network; and   use the received network-related information to adjust the distribution of the plurality of data streams between the plurality of wireless modems, thereby enabling transmission of a live media stream from the plurality of data streams.   
     
     
         55 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive network-related information from a network component associated with the at least one wireless communications network; and   use the received network-related information to adjust the distribution and receipt of the plurality of data streams between the plurality of wireless modems, thereby enabling reconstitution of a live media stream from the plurality of data streams.   
     
     
         56 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause performance-related information to be sent to a network component, wherein the network component has a physical location distinguishably separated from the first end node and the second end node and is at least one of the following: an element in a network router, an element in gateway, an element in base station, an element in an RNC and an element in access point. 
     
     
         57 . The communication device of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first end node and the second end node is a mobile device. 
     
     
         58 . A method for facilitating a data transmission over at least one wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 controlling a plurality of wireless modems associated with a first end node side of the at least one wireless communications network to communicate via a plurality of wireless data channels with a second end node side, wherein the plurality of wireless modems include at least a first wireless modem communicating over a first data channel associated with a first Quality of service (QoS) level and a second wireless modem communicating over a second data channel associated with a second QoS level;   managing at least one of distribution and receipt of a plurality of data streams over the plurality of wireless data channels, wherein a communication between the first end node and the second end node comprises an aggregate of the plurality of data streams;   causing performance-related information to be sent to a network component, wherein the performance-related information is indicative of performance of at least one of the first wireless and the second wireless modem over at least one of the first QoS level and the second QoS level; and   enabling a determination to be made about managing network resources of the at least one wireless communications network, wherein the determination is based on the performance-related information and includes changing a QoS service level associated with at least one the first data channel and the second data channel.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising using the first wireless modem to communicate with the second end node over a first wireless communications network, and using the second wireless modem to communicate with the second end node over a second wireless communications network. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the first wireless communications network is a cellular network and the second wireless communications network is a satellite network. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the first wireless communications network is a first cellular network and the second wireless communications network a second cellular network. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the determination includes causing the first wireless modem to roam to the second cellular network when the performance-related information indicates that the second cellular network currently has better performance than the first cellular network. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the determination includes offloading at least some of the plurality of data streams from the first cellular network to the second cellular network when the performance-related information indicates that the second cellular network currently has better performance than the first cellular network. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the determination includes the determination includes avoiding use the first data channel when a handover is expected to be performed in the first cellular network. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the performance-related information includes at least one of: an indicator of bandwidth available to each of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem, an indicator of transmission power of each of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem, and an indicator of a reception of neighboring base stations for each of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the performance-related information is reflective of network conditions that influence a capacity of at least one of the plurality of data channels. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the performance-related information includes substantially real-time information that reflects a current state of at least one data channel from the plurality of data channels. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the performance-related information includes congestion-related information that assists the at least one wireless communications network to manage a state of congestion. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising transmitting the performance-related information to the network component substantially simultaneously to the transmission of the plurality of data streams over the plurality of wireless data channels. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 receiving network-related information from a network component associated with the at least one wireless communications network, wherein the network component is located intermediate the first end node and the second end node, and has a physical location distinguishably separated from the first end node and the second end node; and   using the received network-related information to adjust the distribution of the plurality of data streams between the plurality of wireless modems, thereby enabling transmission of a live media stream from the plurality of data streams.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 receiving network-related information from a network component associated with the at least one wireless communications network, wherein the network component is located intermediate the first end node and the second end node, and has a physical location distinguishably separated from the first end node and the second end node; and   using the received network-related information to adjust the distribution and receipt of the plurality of data streams between the plurality of wireless modems, thereby enabling reconstitution of a live media stream from the plurality of data streams.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the network component is at least one of the following: an element in a network router, an element in gateway, an element in base station, an element in an RNC and an element in access point. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein at least one of the first end node and the second end node is a smartphone. 
     
     
         74 . A software product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising data and computer implementable instructions for carrying out a method for facilitating a data transmission over at least one wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 controlling a plurality of wireless modems associated with a first end node side of the at least one wireless communications network to communicate via a plurality of wireless data channels with a second end node side, wherein the plurality of wireless modems include at least a first wireless modem communicating over a first data channel associated with a first Quality of service (QoS) level and a second wireless modem communicating over a second data channel associated with a second QoS level;   managing at least one of distribution and receipt of a plurality of data streams over the plurality of wireless data channels, wherein a communication between the first end node and the second end node comprises an aggregate of the plurality of data streams;   causing performance-related information to be sent to a network component, wherein the performance-related information is indicative of performance of at least one of the first wireless and the second wireless modem over at least one of the first QoS level and the second QoS level; and   enabling a determination to be made about managing network resources of the at least one wireless communications network, wherein the determination is based on the performance-related information.