Method, system and apparatus for the transmission and adaption of data

• US 10,250,660 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Totzke, Jurgen, Klug, Karl, Mueller, Paul, Fleuren, Tino, Goetze, Joachim, Steinmetz, Ralf, Papageorgiou, Apostolos, Lampe, Ulrich, Tran-Gia, Phuoc, Zitterbart, Martina, Rathgeb, Erwin, Wolisz, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Randy A
• Application Number:
  US15/696,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 709219, 709223, 709224, 709226, 709227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for the transmission and adaption of data can include the steps of generating generic requirement documents, identifying a plurality of suitable communication patterns on the basis of the generic requirement documents, determining currently available transport options and their service quality across at least one communication network, and selecting a communication pattern from a plurality of suitable communication patterns based on the network transmission qualities of the at least one communication network. The method can utilize a first functional layer and a second functional layer that are integrated between a software application layer and a network access layer that each receive input documents that are independent of each other. The input documents of the second functional layer can contain transport-related information while the input documents of the first functional layer can contain application-related information. Systems and devices can be configured to facilitate use of embodiments of the method.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a server computer device having non-transitory memory connected to at least one processor, the server computer device being connectable to at least one terminal device;

the server computer device being configured to distribute data from the server computer device to the terminal device via a content aware layer and transport aware layer of a network transport layer,

the transport aware layer being configured to obtain information regarding network connectivity between the terminal device and the server computer device;

the content aware layer being configured to determine requirements of the terminal device requesting the data from the server computer device;

wherein the transport layer is configured to provide network description information to a decision manager of the server computer device for networks about which at least one communication link to the terminal device is formable to transport the data from the server computer device to the terminal device;

wherein the content aware layer is configured to determine requirements for the data of an application running on the terminal device requesting the data;

the decision manager being configured to match requirements of the application with network connectivity information of the network description information to select at least one first network about which to transmit the data to the terminal device;

wherein the transport aware layer is configured to select at least one access point of the at least one first network selected by the decision manager for the transport of the data from the server computer device to the terminal device about at least one first communication link to be established between the server computer device and the terminal device via the selected at least one first network;

wherein the transport aware layer is configured to detect a failure in the selected at least one first network about which the data is being transported from the server computer device to the terminal device;

the decision manager is configured to select at least one second network about which the data is to be transported from the server computer device to the terminal device in response to the detected failure of the selected at least one first network; and

the transport aware layer is configured to select at least one access point of the selected at least one second network for establishment of at least one second communication link about which the data is to be transmitted from the server computer device to the terminal device in response to the selection of the at least one second network by the decision manager.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the data is encoded for transport in a first quality level for transport via the at least one first network and is encoded for transport in a second quality level for transport via the at least one second network, the second quality level being lower than the first quality level, the at least one second network comprising multiple networks.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the decision manager is configured to match requirements of the application with network connectivity information of the network description information to select the at least one second network about which to transmit the data to the terminal device in response to the failure of the selected at least one first network.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the transport aware layer is configured to detect a resolution of the failure by the at least one first network;

the decision manager is configured to revoke selection of the at least one second network and select the at least one first network in response to resolution of the failure of the at least one first network; and

the transport aware layer is configured to select at least one access point of the at least one first network for transport of the data from the server computer device to the terminal device via the at least one first network.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the decision manager is configured to match requirements of the application with network connectivity information of the network description information to select the at least one first network about which to transmit the data to the terminal device in response to the resolution of the failure of the at least one first network.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transport aware layer is configured to detect a resolution of the failure by the at least one first network;

the decision manager is configured to revoke selection of the at least one second network and select the at least one first network in response to the resolution of the failure of the at least one first network; and

the transport aware layer is configured to select at least one access point of the at least one first network for transport of the data from the server computer device to the terminal device via the at least one first network.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the data is comprised of at least one of audio data and video data.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the data is encoded for transport in a first quality level for transport via the at least one first network and is encoded for transport in a second quality level for transport via the at least one second network, the second quality level being lower than the first quality level, the at least one second network comprising multiple networks.

9. A communication apparatus comprising:

a computer device having non-transitory memory connected to at least one processor, the computer device being configured to distribute data from the computer device to a terminal device;

the computer device having;

a first functional layer of a network tolerant layer that is integrated between a software application layer and a network access layer to receive first input documents containing application-related information; and

a second functional layer of the network tolerant layer to receive second input documents containing transport-related information;

the computer device configured to identify a plurality of suitable communication patterns involving multiple communication networks based on the first and second input documents, determine currently available transport options and their service quality across at least two communication networks and select a communication pattern from a plurality of suitable communication patterns based on network transmission quality of the at least two communication networks; and

the computer device configured to select at least one access point and configure the at least one access point for a first communication phase for transmission of data based on the selected communication pattern via the second functional layer.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first functional layer is configured to identify and separate different layers and descriptions by examination of an encoded data stream; and

the second functional layer is configured to dynamically adapt a number of transmitted layers based on available network access points and total available bandwidth.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the computer device is configured to;

assign a generic application program interface (API) to the first functional layer, and

transport capability options and requirements regarding transport capability via a set of adaptive binding artifacts to the first functional layer, and

assign multiple network accesses to the second functional layer; and

wherein the second functional layer is configured to communicate current transport capabilities via existing network access points of the multiple networks to which the second functional layer is assigned when a connection is established or altered.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the second functional layer is configured to generate a set of transport network capabilities documents based on available network connectivity and measured quality of service for at least one network.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer device is configured to:

split a data stream via the first and second functional layers such that the split data stream is combinable and synchronizable at the terminal device to which that split data stream is sent.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data stream is a video data stream.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer device is configured to:

detect a change in the communication pattern that exceeds a threshold;

reevaluate the selected communication pattern in response to the detected change;

receive results of the reevaluating of the selected communication pattern by the first functional layer and the second functional layer, and

wherein the second functional layer is configured to select at least one access point and configure the selected at least one access point based on the results of the reevaluation for a second communication phase for transmission of data.

16. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer device is configured to:

confirm selection of the at least one access point based on the results of the reevaluation; and

transmit usage information for distribution to the at least one access point the second functional layer selected based on the results of the reevaluation.

17. A communication system comprising:

a server computer device having non-transitory memory connected to at least one processor, the server computer device being connectable to at least one terminal device;

the server computer device being configured to distribute data from the server computer device to the terminal device via a content aware layer and transport aware layer of a network transport layer,

the transport aware layer being configured to obtain information regarding network connectivity between the terminal device and the server computer device;

the content aware layer being configured to determine requirements of the terminal device requesting the data from the server computer device; and

wherein;

the content aware layer is configured to facilitate generation of at least one first input document containing application-related information; and

the transport aware layer is configured to facilitate generation of at least one second input document containing transport-related information; and

the server computer device is configured to identify a plurality of suitable communication patterns involving multiple communication networks based on the first and second input documents, determine currently available transport options and their service quality across at least two communication networks and select a communication pattern from a plurality of suitable communication patterns based on network transmission quality of the at least two communication networks; and

the server computer device is configured to select at least one access point and configure the at least one access point for a first communication phase for transmission of data based on the selected communication pattern via the transport aware layer.

18. The communication system of claim 17, comprising the at least one terminal device and the at least one access point, the server computer device being communicatively connected to the at least one terminal device and the at least one access point.

19. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the server computer device is configured to:

detect a change in the communication pattern that exceeds a threshold;

reevaluate the selected communication pattern in response to the detected change; and

select at least one access point and configure the selected at least one access point based on the results of the reevaluation for a second communication phase for transmission of data.