Dynamically adapting the transmission rate of packets in real-time VoIP communications to the available bandwidth
First Claim
1. A method for adapting the transmission rate of media packets between endpoints in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication comprising:
- determining a starting bandwidth measure at a starting endpoint;
selecting a starting CODEC at the starting endpoint based on the starting bandwidth measure, wherein the starting CODEC is associated with a starting CODEC nominal data rate;
determining an ending bandwidth measure at the ending endpoint;
selecting an ending CODEC at the ending endpoint based on the ending bandwidth measure, wherein the ending CODEC is associated with an ending CODEC nominal data rate;
informing the ending endpoint of the starting CODEC nominal data rate;
informing the starting endpoint of the ending CODEC nominal data rate;
selecting a current CODEC comprising a data rate equal to the lower of the starting CODEC nominal data rate and the ending CODEC nominal data rate; and
using the current CODEC at the starting and ending end points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for dynamically adapting the transmission rate of packets in real-time voice over IP communications to the available bandwidth. A real-time bandwidth monitor (RTBM) for VoIP applications senses the call path bandwidth between two endpoints of a VoIP communication and adapts in real-time the packet transmission rate to utilize that bandwidth. If sufficient bandwidth is available, the RTBM selects a low compression, low latency CODEC to offer best possible voice quality to the user. If the bandwidth is constrained, the RTBM degrades gracefully by switching to a high compression CODEC. On further bandwidth reduction, the RTBM increases the media frames per packet. Because the bandwidth reduction may be transitory, the RTBM constantly monitors the end-to-end available bandwidth so as to invoke the CODEC/frame per packet combination that provides the best quality of service (QoS) achievable over the current end-to-end available bandwidth.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for adapting the transmission rate of media packets between endpoints in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication comprising:
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determining a starting bandwidth measure at a starting endpoint;
selecting a starting CODEC at the starting endpoint based on the starting bandwidth measure, wherein the starting CODEC is associated with a starting CODEC nominal data rate;
determining an ending bandwidth measure at the ending endpoint;
selecting an ending CODEC at the ending endpoint based on the ending bandwidth measure, wherein the ending CODEC is associated with an ending CODEC nominal data rate;
informing the ending endpoint of the starting CODEC nominal data rate;
informing the starting endpoint of the ending CODEC nominal data rate;
selecting a current CODEC comprising a data rate equal to the lower of the starting CODEC nominal data rate and the ending CODEC nominal data rate; and
using the current CODEC at the starting and ending end points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification