Initiation of network treatment for data packet associated with real-time application different from network treatment applicable to data packet non-associated with the real-time application

• US 20040196786A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Walsh, Patrick Jay, Stamatopoulos, Jerry, Welch, David Arthur, Laha, Subhasis
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A packet control component of an apparatus in one example monitors a data stream that comprises a plurality of data packets. The plurality of data packets comprise one or more first data packets associated with a real-time application and one or more second data packets non-associated with the real-time application. Upon a detection in the data stream of a data packet of the one or more first data packets, the packet control component initiates a network treatment for the data packet that is different from one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a packet control component that monitors a data stream that comprises a plurality of data packets, wherein the plurality of data packets comprise one or more first data packets associated with a real-time application and one or more second data packets non-associated with the real-time application;

wherein upon a detection in the data stream of a data packet of the one or more first data packets, the packet control component initiates a network treatment for the data packet to that is different from one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet control component performs the detection in the data stream of the data packet, wherein the packet control component determines that the data packet is associated with the real-time application by detection of a real-time service option indicator of the data packet;

wherein a presence of the real-time service option indicator within the data packet indicates to the packet control component to initiate the network treatment for the data packet that is different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data packet comprises a first data packet of the one or more first data packets, wherein the real-time service option indicator of the first data packet comprises a first service option indicator;

wherein the packet control component detects in the data stream a second data packet of the one or more first data packets, wherein the second data packet comprises the first service option indicator, wherein the packet control component determines that the second data packet is associated with the real-time application by detection of the first service option indicator;

wherein the packet control component detects in the data stream a data packet of the one or more second data packets, wherein the data packet of the one or more second data packets comprises a second service option indicator different from the first service option indicator, wherein the packet control component determines that the data packet of the one or more second data packets is non-associated with the real-time application by detection of the second service option indicator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet control component monitors the data stream for a presence of a signaling protocol message that is associated with the data packet;

wherein the packet control component determines that the data packet is associated with the real-time application by detection of the signaling protocol message, wherein the presence of the signaling protocol message indicates to the packet control component to initiate the network treatment for the data packet that is different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the signaling protocol message comprises a session initiation protocol message, wherein the presence of the session initiation protocol message indicates to the packet control component that the data packet is associated with the real-time application;

wherein the packet control component initiates a configuration of a radio network that carries the data packet for the real-time application based on the occurrence of the session initiation protocol message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network treatment for the data packet comprises one or more differences from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets;

wherein the packet control component initiates a deactivation of a retransmission system upon initiation of the network treatment for the data packet, wherein if the data packet fails to reach a termination point, then the data packet is not resent to the termination point.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein to deactivate the retransmission system for the data packet the packet control component notifies one or more participants of the real-time application to disable a radio link protocol retransmission of the data packet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first fundamental channel carries the one or more second data packets through a radio network;

wherein the packet control component initiates an employment of a second fundamental channel, wherein the second fundamental channel carries the data packet through the radio network;

wherein the second fundamental channel comprises a greater data capacity than the first fundamental channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network treatment for the data packet comprises one or more differences from the one or more network treatments for the one or more second data packets;

wherein the packet control component initiates a prevention of a delivery of a data packet of the one or more second data packets to a participant of the real-time application upon initiation of the network treatment for the data packet.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon a detection of a completion of the real-time application, the packet control component initiates a network treatment of the one or more network treatments for the one or more second data packets.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time application comprises one or more of a voice over internet protocol communication, a push-to-talk communication, and a video teleconference between a radio network and a mobile station;

wherein the packet control component initiates the network treatment for the data packet to promote an increase in a quality of service for the one or more of the voice over internet protocol communication, the push-to-talk communication, and the video teleconference.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet control component collects one or more packet portions from the data stream to generate the data packet;

wherein the packet control component analyzes a content portion of the data packet to determine whether the data packet is associated with the real-time application.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet control component comprises a compression algorithm;

wherein the packet control component builds up state information for the compression algorithm;

wherein the packet control component decompress the data packet to make a determination that the data packet is associated with the real-time application.

14. A method, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a data stream that comprises a plurality of data packets, wherein the plurality of data packets comprise one or more first data packets that comprise an association with a real-time application and one or more second data packets non-associated with the real-time application; and

initiating a network treatment for a data packet of the one or more first data packets different from one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more first data packets employ a first service option indicator as a signal of association with the real-time application, wherein the one or more second data packets employ one or more second service option indicators as a signal of non-association with the real-time application, wherein the step of monitoring the data stream that comprises the plurality of data packets comprises the steps of:

determining that the data packet employs the first service option indicator; and

determining based on the presence of the first service option indicator that the data packet is associated with the real-time application.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of monitoring the data stream that comprises the plurality of data packets comprises the steps of:

monitoring the data stream for a presence of a signaling protocol message that comprises an association with the data packet; and

determining based on the presence of the signaling protocol message in the data stream, the data packet comprises an association with the real-time application.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of initiating the network treatment for the data packet of the one or more first data packets different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application comprises the step of:

initiating a deactivation of a retransmission system upon initiation of the network treatment for the data packet, wherein if the data packet fails to reach a termination point, then the data packet is not resent to the termination point.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a first fundamental channel carries the one or more second data packets through a radio network, wherein the step of initiating the network treatment for the data packet of the one or more first data packets different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application comprises the step of:

initiating an employment of a second fundamental channel to carry the data packet through the radio network, wherein the second fundamental channel comprises a greater data capacity than the first fundamental channel.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of initiating the network treatment for the data packet of the one or more first data packets different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application comprises the step of:

initiating a prevention of a delivery of a data packet of the one or more second data packets to a participant of the real-time application during active operation of the network treatment for the data packet.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the real-time application comprises one or more of a voice over internet protocol communication, a push-to-talk communication, and a video teleconference, wherein the step of initiating the network treatment for the data packet of the one or more first data packets different from the one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application the step of:

initiating an increase in a quality of service for the one or more of the voice over internet protocol communication, the push-to-talk communication, and the video teleconference.

21. An article, comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media;

means in the one or more media for monitoring a data stream that comprises a plurality of data packets, wherein the plurality of data packets comprise one or more first data packets that comprise an association with a real-time application and one or more second data packets non-associated with the real-time application; and

means in the one or more media for initiating a network treatment for a data packet of the one or more first data packets different from one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets based on the association of the data packet with the real-time application.