Traffic Availability in a Cellular Communication Network

Abstract

According to a first aspect, it is provided a method performed in a network node of a cellular communication network. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining an indicator to secure a traffic availability for a connection, wherein the traffic availability is related to how likely the connection will remain operable; determining whether the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability; allocating resources for the connection when resources can support the traffic availability; and transmitting a positive response when the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability. Corresponding network nodes, wireless nodes, computer programs and computer program products are also provided.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method performed in a network node of a cellular communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an indicator to secure a traffic availability for a connection, wherein the traffic availability is related to how likely the connection will remain operable;   determining whether the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability;   allocating resources for the connection when resources can support the traffic availability; and   transmitting a positive response when the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of obtaining an indicator comprises receiving a request comprising the indicator. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of obtaining an indicator comprises determining the indicator based on a wireless device of one end of the connection. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of obtaining an indicator comprises determining the indicator based on a network slice associated with the connection. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of obtaining an indicator comprises determining the indicator based on a user service identifier for the wireless device. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 39 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a lower traffic availability that can be secured, when the network node is unable to secure resources to support the traffic availability, the lower traffic availability being lower than the traffic availability of the indicator; and   transmitting a negative response when the network node is unable to secure resources to support the traffic availability, the negative response comprising the lower traffic availability,   wherein the method is repeated for any new request comprising an indicator to secure the lower traffic availability.   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of determining whether the network node can secure resources comprises:
 determining whether the network node can secure internal resources to support the traffic availability; and   determining external capability by determining whether a link connected to the network node or another network node can secure external resources to support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the step of determining external capability comprises:
 transmitting a request to an external resource to secure the traffic availability for the connection; and   receiving a response from the external resource indicating whether the external resource can support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the traffic availability comprises a plurality of availability parameters. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the traffic availability comprises an availability parameter indicating a number of redundant communication paths. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the availability parameter indicating a number of redundant communication paths is greater than one, and wherein the traffic availability comprises an indicator of maximum acceptable number of common nodes, being common between at least two of the redundant communication paths. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the traffic availability comprises any one or more of: a parameter indicating maximum relative processor load of traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating maximum relative link load of traversed links, a parameter indicating operable power backup of traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating a rate of packets which are passed through traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating a rate of packets which are passed through traversed links, a parameter indicating a proportion of time that traversed network nodes are operable, a parameter indicating a proportion of time that traversed links are operable, number of network node breaks per time unit, and number of node breaks per time unit. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 39 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a warning signal when the network node detects an event which negatively affects traffic availability of the connection.   
     
     
         52 . A network node comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:   obtain an indicator to secure a traffic availability for a connection, wherein the traffic availability is related to how likely the connection will remain operable;   determine whether the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability;   allocate resources for the connection when resources can support the traffic availability; and   transmit a positive response when the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         53 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to obtain an indicator comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to receive a request comprising the indicator. 
     
     
         54 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to obtain an indicator comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to determine the indicator based on a wireless device of one end of the connection. 
     
     
         55 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to obtain an indicator comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to determine the indicator based on a network slice associated with the connection. 
     
     
         56 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to obtain an indicator comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to determine the indicator based on a user service identifier for the wireless device. 
     
     
         57 . The network node according to  claim 52 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:
 determine a lower traffic availability that can be secured, when the network node is unable to secure resources to support the traffic availability, the lower traffic availability being lower than the traffic availability of the indicator; and   transmit a negative response when the network node is unable to secure resources to support the traffic availability, the negative response comprising the lower traffic availability;   wherein mentioned instructions area repeated for any new request comprising an indicator to secure the lower traffic availability.   
     
     
         58 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the instructions to determine whether the network node can secure resources comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:
 determine whether the network node can secure internal resources to support the traffic availability; and   determine external capability by determining whether a link connected to the network node or another network node can secure external resources to support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         59 . The network node according to  claim 58 , wherein the instructions to determine external capability comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:
 transmit a request to an external resource to secure the traffic availability for the connection; and   receive a response from the external resource indicating whether the external resource can support the traffic availability.   
     
     
         60 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the traffic availability comprises a plurality of availability parameters. 
     
     
         61 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the traffic availability comprises an availability parameter indicating a number of redundant communication paths. 
     
     
         62 . The network node according to  claim 61 , wherein the availability parameter indicating a number of redundant communication paths is greater than one, and wherein the traffic availability comprises an indicator of maximum acceptable number of common nodes, being common between at least two of the redundant communication paths. 
     
     
         63 . The network node according to  claim 52 , wherein the traffic availability comprises any one or more of: a parameter indicating maximum relative processor load of traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating maximum relative link load of traversed links, a parameter indicating operable power backup of traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating a rate of packets which are passed through traversed network nodes, a parameter indicating a rate of packets which are passed through traversed links, a parameter indicating a proportion of time that traversed network nodes are operable, a parameter indicating a proportion of time that traversed links are operable, number of network node breaks per time unit, and number of node breaks per time unit. 
     
     
         64 . The network node according to  claim 52 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:
 transmit a warning signal when the network node detects an event which negatively affects traffic availability of the connection.   
     
     
         65 . A method performed in a wireless device of a cellular communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
 transmitting a request to a network node, the request comprising an indicator to secure a traffic availability for a connection, wherein the traffic availability is related to how likely the connection will remain operable;   receiving a positive response when the network node can support the traffic availability; and   receiving a warning signal when the network node detects an event which negatively affects traffic availability of the connection.   
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 65 , further comprising the step of:
 presenting a user warning indicating reduced traffic availability on a user output device of the wireless device.   
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 65 , further comprising the step of:
 renegotiating a new traffic availability with the network node.