Establishing traffic priorities in a voice over IP network
First Claim
1. A method of establishing traffic priorities for multiple communication sources sending transmissions through a network access link to an IP network, comprising:
- storing voice packets received from a first communication source in a first input queue to a network node;
storing data packets received from a second communication source in a second input queue to the network node; and
limiting a data packet transmission rate from said second input queue through the network access link in order to give priority to any of said voice packets already received and awaiting transmission from said first input queue.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for establishing traffic priorities in an IP network connected with multiple communication sources is disclosed. Different types of packets such as voice packets and data packets are received for transmission over a single network access link. In order to assure quality voice transmissions, voice packets are given priority over data packets by limiting a transmission rate from a data input queue whenever voice packets are detected in a voice input queue. Different combinations of interleaved voice and data packets help to alleviate packet congestion while maintaining priority for voice packets. In one aspect of the invention, priority for voice packets is further accomplished by limiting the size of data packet frames. In some instances when no voice packets are awaiting transmission, data packets are transmitted at a maximum rate in order to make full use of the network access link bandwidth. The invention is particularly beneficial when implemented over cable and DSL network access links with slow upstream feed rates.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of establishing traffic priorities for multiple communication sources sending transmissions through a network access link to an IP network, comprising:
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storing voice packets received from a first communication source in a first input queue to a network node;
storing data packets received from a second communication source in a second input queue to the network node; and
limiting a data packet transmission rate from said second input queue through the network access link in order to give priority to any of said voice packets already received and awaiting transmission from said first input queue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of establishing priority for voice packets transmitted over an IP network, comprising:
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receiving voice packets and/or data packets from multiple communication sources for transmission over a single network access node;
processing said data packets in a non-shared operational state at one transmission rate through said single network access node in the absence of receiving any voice packets; and
processing said data packets in a shared operational state at a reduced transmission rate through said single network access node when also receiving said voice packets in order to give priority to said voice packets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for establishing traffic priorities for multiple communication sources sending transmissions through a network access link to an IP network, comprising:
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monitoring means in communication with a first input queue to detect any voice packets received from a first communication source;
channel means for routing data packets into a second input queue from a second communication source; and
server means for selectively controlling transfer of said voice packets and said data packets into a network access link in order to give priority to said voice packets by limiting a data packet transmission rate from said second input queue to the network access link. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification