Methods and apparatus for wireless device attachment in a managed network architecture

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enhancing connectivity for a device backhauled by a wireline communication network. In one embodiment, the device comprises a small-cell or other wireless base station that is backhauled by a DOCSIS system within a managed HFC network, and the method and apparatus enable enhanced connection of user devices serviced by the base station (such as 3GPP UE or CBRS FWA) to a core entity for e.g., authentication and packet session establishment. In one implementation, enhanced Cable Termination System (CMTS) and cable modem (CM) devices coordinate to allocate prioritized service flows to traffic sourced from the base station. These service flows can selectively bypass extant DOCSIS protocols which might otherwise increase connection latency (including connection failure) such as AQM (active queue management) and packet dropping algorithms. In some variants, upstream service flow data rates can also be enhanced through temporary utilization of higher-order modulation and/or coding schemes.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . Computerized modem apparatus for use in a data network, comprising:
 a radio frequency (RF) interface;   at least one packet data interface;   processor apparatus in data communication with the at least one packet data interface and the RF interface; and   storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized modem apparatus to:
 receive first data packets via the at least one packet data interface; 
 determine that at least a portion of the first data packets are sourced from a wireless access node; and 
 based at least on the determination, forward the at least portion of the first data packets that are sourced from the wireless access node to a packet receiver apparatus in data communication with the computerized modem apparatus via at least the RF interface. 
   
     
     
         21 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the computerized modem apparatus is further configured to establish one or more prioritized service flows between the computerized modem apparatus and the packet receiver apparatus responsive to the forwarding of the at least portion of the first data packets that are sourced from the wireless access node to a packet receiver apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the packet receiver apparatus comprises a DOCSIS cable modem termination system (CMTS), and the computerized modem apparatus comprises a DOCSIS cable modem (CM). 
     
     
         23 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the determination that the at least portion of the first data packets are sourced from the wireless access node comprises one of (i) inspection of one or more data fields of a header of one or more of the first data packets, or (ii) receipt of the at least portion of the first data packets at a prescribed data packet port or socket of the computerized modem apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized modem apparatus to queue the at least portion of the first data packets in a prescribed buffer associated with a service flow created to route the at least portion of the first data packets to the packet receiver apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized modem apparatus to:
 monitor at least one aspect of the prescribed buffer; and   based at least on the monitoring, cause a change to at least one transmission parameter associated with transmission of the at least portion of the first data packets.   
     
     
         26 . The computerized modem apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the at least one aspect of the prescribed buffer comprises at least one of buffer depth or fill rate; and   the causation of the change to the at least one transmission parameter associated with the transmission of the at least portion of the first data packets comprises negotiation of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) higher in order than one in use prior to the change.   
     
     
         27 . Computerized network apparatus for use in a packet data network, comprising:
 at least one first packet data interface for interface with a radio frequency modulation/demodulation apparatus;   at least one second packet data interface for interface with a backhaul network;   processor apparatus in data communication with the at least one first packet data interface and the at least one second packet data interface; and   storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized network apparatus to:
 receive first data packets via the at least one first packet data interface; 
 determine that at least a portion of the first data packets are sourced from a wireless access node in data communication with a modem apparatus, the modem apparatus in data communication with the computerized network apparatus via at least the at least one first packet data interface; and 
 cause establishment of one or more prioritized upstream service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus. 
   
     
     
         28 . The computerized network apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more prioritized upstream service flows configured to enable a reduction in both transmission latency and packet loss for at least some subsequent ones of packets sourced from the wireless access node. 
     
     
         29 . The computerized network apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more prioritized upstream service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus comprise at least one data flow dedicated to attachment of a wireless client device wirelessly connected to the wireless access node to a core network, the core network in data communication with the computerized network apparatus via the at least one second packet data interface. 
     
     
         30 . The computerized network apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the computerized network apparatus comprises a cable modem termination system (CMTS) within a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network;   the wireless access node comprises a 3GPP-compliant CBSD (Citizens Broadband Service Device) operative within a frequency band of 3.550 to 3.700 GHz;   the core network comprises at least one of a 3GPP EPC (evolved packet core) or 3GPP 5GC (5G Core); and   the attachment of the wireless client device comprises attachment of a 3GPP UE (user equipment) to the core network via 3GPP attach and session establishment protocols.   
     
     
         31 . The computerized network apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the computerized network apparatus is further configured to selectively cause the establishment of the one or more prioritized upstream service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus based at least on a detected level of upstream packet data congestion associated with the computerized network apparatus. 
     
     
         32 . The computerized network apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more prioritized upstream service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus comprise establishment of at least (i) a service flow dedicated to wireless device attachment, and (ii) a user-plane (UP) data supporting service flow. 
     
     
         33 . A method for operating a network, the method comprising:
 receiving first data packets;   determining that at least a portion of the first data packets are sourced from a base station in data communication with a modem apparatus, the modem apparatus in communication with a computerized network apparatus; and   based on the determining, causing establishment of one or more prioritized service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the determining that the at least portion of the first data packets are sourced from the base station comprises determining that the at least portion of the first data packets are sourced from the base station based on one or more packet headers of the at least portion of the received first data packets having been marked with a prescribed designation by the base station. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the prescribed designation indicate at least one of (i) a particular base station identity, or (ii) that the at least portion of the first data packets originate from the base station generically. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the receiving, the determining, and causing of the establishment of the one or more prioritized service flows are performed by a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) compliant cable modem termination system (CMTS) capable of data communication with a plurality of cable modems (CMs) within one or more DOCSIS frequency bands, the DOCSIS complaint CMTS comprising a service flow agent for allocating one or more prioritized service flows to specific ones of the plurality of CMs supporting respective wireless base stations, the allocating selectively based on upstream congestion experienced by the DOCSIS compliant CMTS. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the base station comprises a CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service)-compliant CBSD. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the network comprises a hybrid coaxial fiber network with DOCSIS capability; and   the causing of the establishment of the one or more prioritized service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus comprises prioritizing UE core network attachment procedures or packets within at least the hybrid coaxial fiber network to increase “first try” connections and attachments to a core portion of the hybrid coaxial fiber network.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the causing of the establishment of the one or more prioritized service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus comprises implementing QoE or QoS for one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data sessions, the implementing comprising:
 establishing one or more prioritized DOCSIS service flows for various phases of the IP data sessions; and   selectively utilize the one or more prioritized DOCSIS service flows according to QoS parameters associated with the one or more prioritized DOCSIS service flows to maintain the QoS or QoE.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the causing of the establishment of the one or more prioritized service flows between the modem apparatus and the computerized network apparatus comprises prioritizing one or more IoT device attachments to at least conserve battery resources of one or more respective IoT devices. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving data representative of a request for a resource grant request;   based on the request, cause registration of the base station within the network; and   wherein the causing of the establishment of the one or more prioritized service flows comprises using the one or more prioritized service flows to prioritize the request based on the determining that the at least portion of the first data packets are sourced from the base station.