Conferencing network resource optimization for multi-point conferences

• US 20020064136A1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oʼneil, Timothy M.
• Original Assignee: Oʼneil, Timothy M.
• Inventors: OʼNeil, Timothy M.
• Application Number:
  US10/053,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/267
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/748 Negotiation of resources, e.g. modification of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/783 Distributed allocation of resources, e.g. bandwidth brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/785 among multiple network domains, e.g. multilateral agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 : Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically cascading MCUs according to gatekeeper and network resource utilization policies. The system comprises local area networks that couple multiple endpoints and multiple MCUs to a resource scheduler, a gatekeeper, and a network resource manager. The network manager determines whether network resources are optimized by cascading MCUs. The gatekeeper includes a cascade optimization module for determining an optimum configuration for cascading two or more MCUs together. The cascade configuration is determined according to the connectivity policies maintained by the gatekeeper.

Claims

1. A system for optimizing network resources for conference calls, comprising:

endpoints that request the conference calls;

multi-point control units for supporting conference calls between three or more endpoints;

a resource scheduler for receiving the conference call requests; and

a gatekeeper communicatively coupled to the resource scheduler for managing the network resources;

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gatekeeper includes a connectivity policy module for maintaining network policies.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network policies include network bandwidth management policies.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the gatekeeper manages the network resources based on the conference call requests and the network policies.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the gatekeeper includes a bandwidth module communicatively coupled to the connectivity policy module for determining network bandwidth availability for the conference call requests.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a network management system communicatively coupled to the gatekeeper to determine if dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units is required for resource optimization.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the gatekeeper further includes a cascade optimization module for determining an optimum cascade configuration for the multi-point control units.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein if the network management system determines that dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units is required for resource optimization, then the gatekeeper determines the optimum cascade configuration for the multi-point control units.

9. A method for optimizing network resources for a conference call requested by endpoints, comprising the steps of:

receiving the conference call request by a resource scheduler;

accessing a connectivity policy module;

determining if sufficient network resources are available to connect the conference call; and

supporting the conference call between three or more endpoints with multi-point control units;

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the connectivity policy module maintains network policies.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the connectivity policy module accesses a bandwidth module for determining available network resources.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein if sufficient network resources are available to connect the conference call, the resource scheduler schedules the conference call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a determination is made whether network resources are optimized by a dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units is required for resource optimization, then an optimum cascade configuration for the multi-point control units is determined.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is a videoconference-enabled device.

15. A system for optimization of network resources for a conference call, comprising:

means for requesting the conference call;

means for receiving the conference call request;

means for accessing a connectivity policy module, the connectivity policy module having connectivity policies;

means for determining available network resources;

means for determining if sufficient network resources are available to connect the conference call based on connectivity policies, the conference call request, and the available network resources;

means for determining whether network resources are optimized by a dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units; and

means for determining an optimum cascade configuration of the multi-point control units.

16. A system for optimizing network resources for conference calls, comprising:

a plurality of local area networks;

a plurality of endpoints coupled to the local area networks for requesting conference calls;

a plurality of multi-point control units coupled to the local area networks for supporting conference calls between three or more endpoints;

a resource scheduler coupled to the local area networks for scheduling the conference calls;

a gatekeeper coupled to the resource scheduler for determining an optimum cascade configuration for the multi-point control units; and

a network management system coupled to the gatekeeper for determining whether dynamic cascading of the multi-point control units is required for resource optimization.