Capacity limiting platform system and method

• US 20050271051A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mspip LLC
• Original Assignee: Holloway J. Michael, Samuel R. Shiffman
• Inventors: Shiffman, Samuel R., Holloway, J. Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• 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 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods limit capacity available for VoIP or other packetized data communications over a communications network. An initiator of the call is communicatively connected to the network, for example, by a gateway switch. The call has a particular destination communicatively connected to the network, such as a market gateway. An identifier of the destination is communicated over the network to a database. The database, via a load distribution proxy and capacity limiting proxies, controls whether or not the call is ultimately communicated to the destination, based on capacity loading then occurring at the destination.

Claims

1. A platform for distributing packetized data communications over a network, comprising:

an initiator of communications communicatively connected to the network;

a destination of communications communicatively connected to the network;

an identifier of the destination, communicated over the network; and

a database for controlling communications by the initiator to the destination.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the database can limit communications by the initiator received by the destination.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein the database detects a call by the initiator and determines whether to restrict the call to the destination.

4. The platform of claim 1, wherein the database comprises:

a load distribution proxy;

a capacity limiting proxy;

a database component; and

a switch.

5. The platform of claim 4, wherein the initiator comprises a gateway switch and the destination comprises a market gateway.

6. The platform of claim 5, wherein the initiator, via the gateway switch, communicates over the network to the load distribution proxy at call initiation;

and the load distribution proxy responds to the gateway switch if the capacity limiting proxy is not available.

7. The platform of claim 5, wherein the initiator, via the gateway switch, communicates over the network to the load distribution proxy at call initiation;

the database component determines availability of capacity of the network sufficient to accommodate communications of the call at the market gateway;

the load distribution proxy signals the capacity limiting proxy for the market gateway; and

the capacity limiting proxy routes the call over the network to the market gateway.

8. The platform of claim 5, further comprising a response communicated to the gateway switch over the network;

wherein the initiator, via the gateway switch, communicates over the network to the load distribution proxy at call initiation; and

the database component determines unavailability of capacity of the network sufficient to accommodate communications of the call at the market gateway.

9. A system for making a VoIP call over a packetized data network, the call being made to a call destination communicatively connected to the network, comprising:

a capacity limiter communicatively connected to the network, for limiting the call if excessive bandwidth of the network is required for the call to the call destination.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of signals communicated concurrently, together with the call, over the network;

wherein the capacity limited counts the call to determine to limit the call.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a gateway switch communicatively connected to the network for originating the call over the network;

a market gateway communicatively connected to the network for receiving the call if, and to the extent, not limited by the capacity limiter.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the capacity limiter comprises:

a load distribution proxy communicatively connected to the network;

a capacity limiting proxy communicatively connected to the network and associated with the market gateway; and

a database application communicatively connected to the load distribution proxy and the capacity limiting proxy;

wherein the database application increments and decrements to assess the communications, together with the call, then occurring over the network to the market gateway.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the database application comprises a determiner of whether capacity to accommodate the call is then available at the market gateway.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a response communicated from the load distribution proxy, over the network, to the gateway switch if the capacity limiting proxy is unavailable.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a response communicated from the capacity limiting proxy, over the network, to the gateway switch if the database application determines that capacity to accommodate the call is not then available at the market gateway.

16. A method of calling over a network, via a packetized data communication on the network, comprises the steps of:

initiating the a call via a first gateway; and

limiting a capacity of a second gateway to receive the call.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

receiving the call at the second gateway;

wherein the step of limiting does not occur if the second gateway can accommodate the call.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

determining whether to perform the step of limiting, based on the then capacity of the second gateway to receive the call.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

counting the call, together with other communications on the network, to determine whether to perform the step of limiting.

20. A system for making a packetized data call over a network, comprising:

a limiter for determining a capacity of the system for receiving the call; and

a communicator for the call if the limiter determines that the capacity can accommodate the call.