BEST EFFORT SEAMLESS NETWORK SWITCH IN A MEDIA STREAMING SESSION

• US 20070291786A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/02 Buffering or recovering information during reselection ; Modification of the traffic flow during hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for switching a media streaming session between a plurality of networks. In one embodiment, a method of switching networks in a media streaming session can comprise detecting a plurality of networks available for communication of streaming data. The plurality of networks can include a first network providing a first streaming session and a second network. A determination can be made as to whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network. Determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network can be based on detecting a loss of the first network, detecting a lower cost alternative to the first network, etc. In response to determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network, the first streaming session can be switched from the first network to the second network.

Claims

1. A method of switching networks in a media streaming session, the method comprising:

detecting a plurality of networks available for communication of streaming data, wherein the plurality of networks includes at least a first network providing a first streaming session and a second network;

determining whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network; and

in response to determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network, switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network comprises initiating a second session on the second network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network further comprises copying a data stream from the first session to the second session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein initiating the session on the second network and copying a data stream from the first session to the second session are performed prior to termination of the first session.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network further comprises:

determining whether the second session is established; and

in response to determining the second session is established, terminating the first session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network further comprises buffering an outgoing data stream of the first session.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein buffering is performed by a client device participating in the first session.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the client device informs a user of the client device of possible delays in the media streaming session.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein buffering is performed by a server participating in the first session.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the server buffers the outgoing data stream of the first session in response to losing an incoming data stream of the first session.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network further comprises:

terminating the first session;

initiating a second session on the second network; and

streaming outgoing data on the second session.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein initiating a second session on the second network is based on a presence of a recipient client device on the second network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein streaming outgoing data on the second session comprises beginning the second session with buffered outgoing data of the first session.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network is performed by a client device participating in the first session.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network is based on detecting a loss of the first network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network is based on a user input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user input is received via a client click-to-dial application.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein an indication of determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network is transmitted from the client device to a server supporting the first streaming session via an out-of-band communication channel.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the second network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein initiating a session on the second network comprises sending a SIP INVITE message via the second network to another party to the first streaming session.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein sending the SIP INVITE message is performed by a client participating in the first session.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein sending the SIP INVITE message is performed by a third party to the first session.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first streaming session comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) session.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network and switching the first streaming session from the first network to the second network are performed by a server supporting the first session.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network is based on applying one or more policies.

26. A system for providing a media streaming session, the system comprising:

a first network;

a second network;

a server communicatively coupled with the first network and the second network and adapted to participate in a first streaming session via the first network; and

a client communicatively coupled with the first network and the second network and adapted to participate in the first streaming session with the server via the first network, detect the second network, determine whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network, and in response to determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network, initiate a session on the second network.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the client is further adapted to copy a data stream from the first session to the second session.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the client is further adapted to determine whether the second session is established and, in response to determining the second session is established, terminate the first session.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the client is further adapted to buffer an outgoing data stream of the first session.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the client is further adapted to inform a user possible delays in the media streaming session.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the server is further adapted to buffer an outgoing data stream of the first session in response to losing an incoming data stream of the first session.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the client is further adapted to terminate the first session and stream outgoing data on the second session.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the client and the server are adapted to stream outgoing data on the second session beginning with buffered outgoing data of the first session.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the client determines to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network based on detecting a loss of the first network.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the client determines to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network based on relative costs of the first network and the second network.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the second network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein initiating a session on the second network comprises sending a SIP INVITE message via the second network to another party to the first streaming session.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the first streaming session comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) session.

39. A system comprising:

a first network;

a first client communicatively coupled with the first network and adapted to participate in a first streaming session on the first network; and

a second client communicatively coupled with the first network;

a third client communicatively coupled with the first network and adapted to participate in the first streaming session with the first client via the first network, detect the second client, determine whether to switch the first streaming session from the first client, and in response to determining to switch the first streaming session from the first client, switch the first streaming session from the first client to the second client.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a server communicatively coupled with the first network and adapted to receive a request to establish the first media session from one of the first client or the third client and, in response to the request, establish the first streaming session.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the server comprises a third-party call controller.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the third client is adapted to switch the first streaming session from the first client to the second client by initiating a second session.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the server, in response to detecting the third client initiating a second session, is further adapted to maintain the first session and establish the second session.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the server is further adapted to inform users of the first client and third client of possible delays in the first session.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein the third client determines to switch the first streaming session based on detecting a loss of the first network.

46. The system of claim 39, wherein the third client determines to switch the first streaming session based on a user input to the third client.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the first network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the third client initiates the second session by sending a SIP INVITE message via the first network to the server, the SIP INVITE message identifying the second client.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the third client sends the SIP INVITE message based on presence information for the second client.

50. The system of claim 41, further comprising a second network, wherein the first client and third client are communicatively coupled with the second network and wherein the third-party call controller is adapted to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network by initiating a second session on the second network.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the third-party call controller, in response to detecting the third client initiating a second session, is further adapted to maintain the first session and establish the second session on the second network.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the third client determines to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network based on detecting a loss of the first network.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the second network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the third client initiates the second session on the second network by sending a SIP INVITE message via the second network to the server, the SIP INVITE message identifying the first client.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the third client, prior to initiating the second session on the second network, determines an address for the first client.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the third client determines the address for the SIP INVITE based on presence information for the first client.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein the first streaming session comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) session.

58. A system comprising:

a communication network;

a first client device communicatively coupled with the communication network;

a second client device communicatively coupled with the communication network and adapted to send a request to communicate with the first client device via the communication network; and

a server communicatively coupled with the communication network and adapted to receive the request to communicate with the first client device from the second client device and establish a communication session between the first client device and the second client device.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the server establish a communication session between the first client device and the second client device via third-party call control.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the server establish a communication session between the first client device and the second client device via multi-party call control.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the communication network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the second client sends a request to communicate with the first client device by sending a SIP INVITE message via the communication network to the server, the SIP INVITE message identifying the first client.

63. The system of claim 58, wherein the second client sends a request to communicate with the first client device by sending a Parlay call control message via the communication network to the server, the Parlay call control message identifying the first client.

64. The system of claim 58, wherein the second client device sends the request to communicate with the first client device in response to a user input to an application on the second client device.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the application comprises a browser.

66. The system of claim 58, wherein the system further comprises a third client device and the second client device sends the request to communicate with the first client device in response to a user input to an application on the third client device.

67. The system of claim 58, wherein the server comprises a media server.

68. A system comprising:

a first communication network;

a second communication network;

a first client device communicatively coupled with the first communication network;

a second client device communicatively coupled with the first communication network and adapted to send a request to communicate with the first client device via the first communication network; and

a server communicatively coupled with the first communication network and the second communication network and wherein the server is adapted to receive the request to communicate with the first client device from the second client device, establish a communication session between the first client device and the second client device via the first communication network, receive a request from the second client device to switch networks, and switch the communication session from the first communication network to the second communication network.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the server comprises a third-party call controller.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the server comprises a multi-party call controller.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein the communication network comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the second client sends a request to communicate with the first client device by sending a SIP INVITE message via the communication network to the server, the SIP INVITE message identifying the first client.

73. The system of claim 68, wherein the second client sends a request to communicate with the first client device by sending a Parlay call control message via the communication network to the server, the Parlay call control message identifying the first client.

74. The system of claim 68, wherein the second client device sends a request to switch networks in response to a user input to an application on the second client device.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the application comprises a browser.

76. The system of claim 68, wherein the system further comprises a third client device and the second client device sends the request to switch networks in response to a user input to an application on the third client device.

77. The system of claim 68, wherein the server comprises a media server.