Video traffic management using quality of service and subscriber plan information

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system directs video flows to a plurality of user devices located at network cells, and determines a first or second data usage priority for each user device. The system detects congestion at a cell of the network and/or in the video flows. The system also performs a first congestion-aware shaping procedure for video flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of a second priority located at the congested cell, and subsequently performs a second congestion-aware shaping procedure for video flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the first priority located at the congested cell. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring, by a processing system including a processor of a network, traffic comprising a plurality of flows directed to a plurality of user devices located at one or more cells of the network;   determining, by the processing system, a data usage priority for each of the plurality of user devices, the data usage priority comprising one of a first priority or a second priority lower than the first priority,   detecting, by the processing system, congestion at a cell of the one or more cells of the network to detect a congested cell, congestion in one or more flows of the plurality of flows to detect one or more congested flows, or a combination thereof;   performing, by the processing system in accordance with the detecting, a first shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the second priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the second priority, or a combination thereof; and   subsequently performing, by the processing system in accordance with the detecting, a second shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the first priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the first priority, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring traffic flows from a media service provider, and further comprising detecting, by the processing system, a plurality of video flows in the traffic flows. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data usage priority for a user device of the plurality of user devices is determined in accordance with a data usage plan associated with that user device, a quality of service class identifier (QCI) for that device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second shaping procedure is discontinued on determining, by the processing system, that the congestion has been resolved. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein for the one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the first priority, the second shaping procedure is performed subsequent to the first shaping procedure on expiration of a time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the processing system, a congestion signal identifying the congested cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the processing system, that a round trip time (RTT) of a packet in the one or more congested flows exceeds a congestion threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing the first shaping procedure and the performing the second shaping procedure comprise respectively adjusting, by the processing system, a throughput of the plurality of flows resulting in a first adjusted throughput and a second adjusted throughput. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first shaping procedure is performed for all flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the second priority located at the congested cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a throughput rate of the flows in the congested cell is reduced by a first amount in the first shaping procedure and by a different second amount in the second shaping procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor of a network; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   monitoring traffic comprising a plurality of flows directed to a plurality of user devices located at one or more cells of the network;   determining a data usage priority for each of the plurality of user devices, the data usage priority comprising one of a first priority or a second priority lower than the first priority,   detecting congestion at a cell of the one or more cells of the network to detect a congested cell, congestion in one or more flows of the plurality of flows to detect one or more congested flows, or a combination thereof;   performing, in accordance with the detecting, a first shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the second priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the second priority, or a combination thereof; and   subsequently performing, in accordance with the detecting, a second shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the first priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the first priority, or a combination thereof, wherein the second shaping procedure is discontinued on determining that the congestion has been resolved.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring traffic flows from a media service provider, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting a plurality of video flows in the traffic flows. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the data usage priority for a user device of the plurality of user devices is determined in accordance with a data usage plan associated with that user device, a quality of service class identifier (QCI) for that device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the performing the first shaping procedure and the performing the second shaping procedure comprise respectively adjusting a throughput of the plurality of flows resulting in a first adjusted throughput and a second adjusted throughput. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a throughput rate of the flows in the congested cell is reduced by a first amount in the first shaping procedure and by a different second amount in the second shaping procedure. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor of a network, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 monitoring traffic comprising a plurality of flows directed to a plurality of user devices located at one or more cells of the network;   determining a data usage priority for each of the plurality of user devices, the data usage priority comprising one of a first priority or a second priority lower than the first priority,   detecting congestion at a cell of the one or more cells of the network to detect a congested cell, congestion in one or more flows of the plurality of flows to detect one or more congested flows, or a combination thereof;   receiving a congestion signal identifying the congested cell;   performing, in accordance with the detecting, a first shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the second priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the second priority, or a combination thereof; and   subsequently performing, in accordance with the detecting, a second shaping procedure for flows in the congested cell directed to user devices of the first priority located at the congested cell, for one or more of the congested flows associated with user devices of the first priority, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring traffic flows from a media service provider, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting a plurality of video flows in the traffic flows. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the data usage priority for a user device of the plurality of user devices is determined in accordance with a data usage plan associated with that user device, a quality of service class identifier (QCI) for that device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the performing the first shaping procedure and the performing the second shaping procedure comprise respectively adjusting a throughput of the plurality of flows resulting in a first adjusted throughput and a second adjusted throughput.