Method and apparatus for predicting the quality of packet data communications

• US 20040208133A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Scholte, Alexander M., Minhazuddin, Muneyb, Schreuder, James D., Jay, Dylan, Mason, Kim
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention provides a prediction of an available communication channel quality. According to the present invention, in response to a request for a communication channel, network devices are queried for network parameter status information. Based on the network status parameter information returned, a prediction as to the available quality levels available for the communication is made. An indication of the predicted quality of service for one or a number of requested service levels may be provided to the requesting user, who may then choose to defer initiation of the communication, or to proceed. A user may be notified when predicted quality levels available in connection with a requested communication reach a predetermined level, at which point the user may choose to establish the requested communication channel. Information regarding a rate associated with a requested quality of service level may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method for predicting communication channel quality, comprising:

querying at least a first network device;

in response to said query, receiving network parameter status information;

predicting a communication channel quality using said network parameter status information;

in response to an acceptable communication quality prediction, initiating a communication over said communication channel; and

in response to an unacceptable communication quality prediction, waiting to initiate a communication over said communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a first network device comprises at least one of a router and a network switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a first network device comprises an edge router.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying at least a second network device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said network device comprises a router, and wherein each router along a communication channel is queried.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of querying a network device comprises querying a DiffServ management information base.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said network parameter status information comprises at least one of a queue status, a priority level for each call in progress, end to end delay for packets associated with a call in progress, a packet loss rate for a call in progress, observed packet jitter for a call in progress, and a number of calls in progress.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating said predicted communication channel quality to a user by at least one of a visual display and an audible output.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

second querying of a network device;

second predicting a communication channel quality; and

in response to said second predicting indicating an acceptable communication channel quality, initiating a communication to a communication device over a route in connection with which said communication channel quality was checked.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of querying at least a first network device is performed in response to receipt of a first address segment, said method further comprising:

querying at least a second network device; and

predicting a communication channel quality, wherein said step of querying at least a second network device is performed in response to the receipt of a second address segment.

11. A communication quality prediction device, comprising:

a communication network interface operable to send and receive packet data, wherein said communication quality prediction device is in communication with a network device;

memory operable to store operating code;

a processor operable to run said operating code, wherein said network device is queried regarding a network parameter status prior to initiation of a communication and a prediction regarding an expected communication quality is made; and

a communication quality indication output, wherein a user is provided with an indication of said prediction regarding an expected communication quality.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said communication quality indication output comprises at least one of a visual display and an audible output.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said communication comprises a voice over Internet protocol call.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said network device comprises a router.

15. A computational component for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a communication over a communication channel;

querying a network device regarding at least first network parameter status information; and

in response to receiving said at least a first network parameter status information, predicting a present quality of said communication channel.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

signaling said predicted present quality of said communication quality to a user making said request to initiate a communication.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from said user to proceed with establishing said communication.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said request to initiate a communication comprises receiving from said user at least a first address segment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least a first network parameter status information is related to a portion of said communication channel indicated by said at least a first address segment.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said network device comprises a router and wherein said at least a first network status parameter comprises a queue status of said router.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said network device comprises a switch and wherein said at least a first network status parameter comprises a number of other communications being handled by said switch.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said call comprises at least one of a voice telephony communication and a video conference communication.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said computational component comprises a computer readable storage medium containing instructions for performing the method.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein said computational component comprises a logic circuit.

25. A system for predicting communication channel quality, comprising:

means for querying at least a first network device for network parameter status information;

means for predicting communication channel quality using said network parameter status information; and

means for communicating said predicted communication channel quality to a user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for communicating comprises a call back function, wherein a requested communication link is established in response to a predicted communication channel quality that meets at least a threshold level.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said network parameter status information comprises at least one of a queue status, a priority level for an existing communication link, an end to end delay for an existing communication link, a packet loss note for an existing communication link, and a number of existing communication links.