Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses an adaptive bitrate streaming support capability configured to support adaptive bitrate streaming of content. The adaptive bitrate streaming support capability is configured to support adaptive bitrate streaming of content via a wireless access network including an application scheduler and a wireless access device. The application scheduler receives an adaptive bitrate streaming flow and sends the adaptive bitrate streaming flow toward the wireless access device based on scheduling of the adaptive bitrate streaming flow at the application scheduler. The wireless access device determines feedback information associated with the adaptive bitrate streaming flow and provides the feedback information associated with the adaptive bitrate streaming flow to the application scheduler.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses an adaptive bitrate streaming support capability configured to support adaptive bitrate streaming of content. The adaptive bitrate streaming support capability is configured to support adaptive bitrate streaming of content via a wireless access network including an application scheduler and a wireless access device. The application scheduler receives an adaptive bitrate streaming flow and sends the adaptive bitrate streaming flow toward the wireless access device based on scheduling of the adaptive bitrate streaming flow at the application scheduler. The wireless access device determines feedback information associated with the adaptive bitrate streaming flow and provides the feedback information associated with the adaptive bitrate streaming flow to the application scheduler.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (20) includes backhaul congestion control. Whenever congestion is detected on the backhaul, a flow control message sets a window size to a reduced window size to reduce or eliminate packet drops and to facilitate alleviating the congestion condition. A disclosed example includes detecting backhaul congestion and responsively reducing an available backhaul receiver buffer space factor used for setting the window size for a subsequent backhaul transmission. In a disclosed example, the buffer space factor is gradually increased back toward an actual available buffer space as the congestion status improves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of queues are established corresponding to each of a plurality mobiles, respectively. Data packets associated with the plurality of mobiles are received at a network element. Each received data packet is assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of queues. A determination operation is performed on a selected one of the plurality of queues to determine whether or not to send one or more packets of each queue from the network gateway element. The determination operation is performed based on a comparison between a packet size of a head packet and an adaptive transmission threshold value associated with the selected queue. The adaptive transmission threshold value is a value that is changed based on an amount data sent from the selected queue. The head data packet being an earliest received data packet in the selected queue.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus adapted for controlling congestion in a Radio Access Network (RAN). In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring packets received at a first network element of the RAN for an indication of congestion, where the packets are associated with a quality-of-service class, and, in response to detecting an indication of congestion in at least one of the received packets, signaling congestion status information from the first network element of the RAN toward a second network element of the RAN that is adapted for applying congestion control for the quality-of-service class. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first network element of the RAN, from a second network element of the RAN, congestion status signaling indicative of a congestion condition associated with a quality-of-service class, and applying congestion control for the quality-of-service class in response to receiving the congestion status signaling indicative of the congestion condition.

Abstract: A video analysis technique includes correlating frames from a processed video with frames from a pre-processed, original video. A linear approximation of a relationship between the correlated frames is determined. A disclosed example includes determining a linear approximation that maximizes the number of processed video frames that fit into the linear approximation. The linear approximation and whether any frames do not fit within the linear approximation is then used to provide quality information for analyzing a quality of the processed video.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of queues are established corresponding to each of a plurality mobiles, respectively. Data packets associated with the plurality of mobiles are received at a network element. Each received data packet is assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of queues. A determination operation is performed on a selected one of the plurality of queues to determine whether or not to send one or more packets of each queue from the network gateway element. The determination operation is performed based on a comparison between a packet size of a head packet and an adaptive transmission threshold value associated with the selected queue. The adaptive transmission threshold value is a value that is changed based on an amount data sent from the selected queue. The head data packet being an earliest received data packet in the selected queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in suppressing acoustic echo in a target speech signal being transmitted through a packet-based communications network uses frame energy estimation applied to the target speech signal and to a reference speech signal. The method or apparatus estimates one or more reference speech energy levels in one or more reference packets based on one or more of the speech parameters generated by the speech encoding of the reference signal; estimates a target speech energy level in a target packet based on one or more of the speech parameters generated by the speech encoding of the target signal; compares the target speech energy level to one or more reference speech energy levels; and detects an echo in the target speech signal based on the comparison of the target speech energy level to the one or more reference speech energy levels.

Abstract: A communications terminal device and a method performed by a communications terminal device wherein packet data received from a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) headset (such as, for example, a Bluetooth headset), which comprises an encoded audio signal, is directly convened by the terminal device to Internet Protocol (IP) packets which are transmitted across a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications network, wherein speech encoding is not performed by the terminal device. Similarly, a communications terminal device and a method performed by a communications terminal device wherein IP packet data comprising an encoded audio signal is received from a VoIP communications network by the terminal device, and is directly converted by the terminal device to WPAN packets (such as, for example, Bluetooth protocol packets) which are transmitted to a WPAN headset (such as, for example, a Bluetooth headset), wherein speech decoding is not performed by the terminal device.

Abstract: In a method for echo suppression or cancellation, a reference voice packet is selected from a plurality of reference voice packets based on at least one encoded voice parameter associated with each of the plurality of reference voice packets and the targeted voice packet. Echo in the targeted packet is suppressed or cancelled based on the selected reference voice packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in suppressing acoustic echo in a target speech signal being transmitted through a packet-based communications network uses frame energy estimation applied to the target speech signal and to a reference speech signal. The method or apparatus estimates one or more reference speech energy levels in one or more reference packets based on one or more of the speech parameters generated by the speech encoding of the reference signal; estimates a target speech energy level in a target packet based on one or more of the speech parameters generated by the speech encoding of the target signal; compares the target speech energy level to one or more reference speech energy levels; and detects an echo in the target speech signal based on the comparison of the target speech energy level to the one or more reference speech energy levels.

Abstract: A method of determining at least an estimate of media latency for push-to-talk communications includes determining a first time associated with transmitting a first packet from a push-to-talk transceiver device. In a disclosed example, the same device receives a second packet that corresponds to the first packet and includes an indication of the first time, a second time associated with receipt of the first packet by another device such as a push-to-talk server and a third time associated with transmission of the second packet to the push-to-talk transceiver device. That same device determines a fourth time associated with receipt of the second packet. In a disclosed example, the push-to-talk transceiver device uses a relationship between the first time, second time, third time and fourth time for determining at least an estimate of media latency associated with the push-to-talk communication corresponding to the first and second packets. A plurality of latency test procedures are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus adapted for providing quality-of-service to a packet flow within a Radio Access Network (RAN). In one embodiment, a method includes receiving packets of a packet flow at a first network element of the RAN, where the packet flow is associated with an application normally served in a best effort service class of the RAN and each packet of the packet flow comprises an indication of a quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN, and, applying the indicated quality-of-service policy to the packet flow within the RAN. The quality-of-service policy to be applied to the packet flow within the RAN is based on at least one characteristic of the packet flow, which may be determined in any manner, such as using information included in the packet headers, using deep packet inspection techniques, and the like.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus adapted for controlling congestion in a Radio Access Network (RAN). In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring packets received at a first network element of the RAN for an indication of congestion, where the packets are associated with a quality-of-service class, and, in response to detecting an indication of congestion in at least one of the received packets, signaling congestion status information from the first network element of the RAN toward a second network element of the RAN that is adapted for applying congestion control for the quality-of-service class. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first network element of the RAN, from a second network element of the RAN, congestion status signaling indicative of a congestion condition associated with a quality-of-service class, and applying congestion control for the quality-of-service class in response to receiving the congestion status signaling indicative of the congestion condition.

Abstract: A video analysis technique includes correlating frames from a processed video with frames from a pre-processed, original video. A linear approximation of a relationship between the correlated frames is determined. A disclosed example includes determining a linear approximation that maximizes the number of processed video frames that fit into the linear approximation. The linear approximation and whether any frames do not fit within the linear approximation is then used to provide quality information for analyzing a quality of the processed video.

Abstract: A method of processing a communication includes determining an estimated excitation energy component of a subframe of a coded frame. A filter energy component of the subframe is also estimated. Determining an estimated energy of the subframe is based upon the estimated excitation energy component and the estimated filter energy component. This technique allows for estimating frame energy of a communication such as a voice communication without having to fully decode the communication.

Abstract: In a method for echo suppression or cancellation, a reference voice packet is selected from a plurality of reference voice packets based on at least one encoded voice parameter associated with each of the plurality of reference voice packets and the targeted voice packet. Echo in the targeted packet is suppressed or cancelled based on the selected reference voice packet.

Abstract: A method of determining at least an estimate of media latency for push-to-talk communications includes determining a first time associated with transmitting a first packet from a push-to-talk transceiver device. In a disclosed example, the same device receives a second packet that corresponds to the first packet and includes an indication of the first time, a second time associated with receipt of the first packet by another device such as a push-to-talk server and a third time associated with transmission of the second packet to the push-to-talk transceiver device. That same device determines a fourth time associated with receipt of the second packet. In a disclosed example, the push-to-talk transceiver device uses a relationship between the first time, second time, third time and fourth time for determining at least an estimate of media latency associated with the push-to-talk communication corresponding to the first and second packets. A plurality of latency test procedures are disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (20) includes backhaul congestion control. Whenever congestion is detected on the backhaul, a flow control message sets a window size to a reduced window size to reduce or eliminate packet drops and to facilitate alleviating the congestion condition. A disclosed example includes detecting backhaul congestion and responsively reducing an available backhaul receiver buffer space factor used for setting the window size for a subsequent backhaul transmission. In a disclosed example, the buffer space factor is gradually increased back toward an actual available buffer space as the congestion status improves.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (20) allows communications between a mobile station (22) and a wireless network (24) over combined physical traffic channels (44, 46). In a disclosed example, a mobile station (22) has multiple wireless access terminals (40, 42) for transmitting different portions of a communication over multiple physical traffic channels (44, 46). In a disclosed example, each wireless access terminal (40, 42) utilizes one of the channels (44, 46). A known multilink PPP protocol facilitates splitting a communication into portions to be communicated over the combined physical traffic channels (44, 46) and then recombined at the mobile station (22) or an appropriate portion of the network (24). With a disclosed example, the achievable throughput using combined physical traffic channels (44, 46) approaches the aggregate or sum of the individual channel throughput capacities.