Method and System for Optimizing a Jitter Buffer

• US 20080084900A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Kristin A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/516
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0632 Synchronisation of packets and cells, e.g. transmission of voice via a packet network, circuit emulation service [CES] queuing arrangements in packet switching elements H04L49/90; synchronising systems for the synchronous transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1877 Measures taken prior to transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/087 Jitter
• 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 47/283 in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/722 at the destination endpoint, e.g. reservation of terminal resources or buffer space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup

Abstract

A method for optimizing a jitter buffer includes receiving a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint. The method also includes sending a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location. The method further includes receiving from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location. Additionally, the method includes setting a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a jitter buffer, comprising:

receiving a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint;

sending a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location;

receiving from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location; and

setting a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second request for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location comprises information from the request to establish a communication session with the remote endpoint, the information from the request comprising information selected from the group consisting of a telephone number, an area code, an extension number, a remote endpoint identification name, and a remote endpoint identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on test packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location during a previous video conference communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on factors selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a day of the week, a quality of service marking and a packet communication type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location comprises an average latency for packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network location comprises a first router and the second network location comprises a second router.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint is received from a first endpoint;

the second network location is along a path between the first endpoint and the remote endpoint; and

the packet communications of the video conference communication session are communicated through the path.

9. A method for optimizing a jitter buffer, comprising:

determining latency information for packet communications sent from a network location;

receiving a request from an endpoint initiating a video conference communication session for latency information for packet communications sent from the network location; and

transmitting the latency information for packet communications sent from the network location to the endpoint to set a jitter buffer of the endpoint for the video conference communication session.

10. A method for optimizing a jitter buffer, comprising:

determining latency information for packet communications sent from a network location;

receiving a request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint; and

setting a jitter buffer based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the network location.

11. A system for optimizing a jitter buffer, comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint;

send a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location; and

receive from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to set a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second request for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location comprises information from the request to establish a communication session with the remote endpoint, the information from the request comprising information selected from the group consisting of a telephone number, an area code, an extension number, a remote endpoint identification name, and a remote endpoint identification number.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on test packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location during a previous video conference communication session.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on factors selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a day of the week, a quality of service marking and a packet communication type.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location comprises an average latency for packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first network location comprises a first router and the second network location comprises a second router.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint is received from a first endpoint;

the second network location is along a path between the first endpoint and the remote endpoint; and

the interface is further operable to communicate the packet communications of the video conference communication session through the path.

19. Logic embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

receive a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint;

send a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location;

receive from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location; and

set a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the second request for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location comprises information from the request to establish a communication session with the remote endpoint, the information from the request comprising information selected from the group consisting of a telephone number, an area code, an extension number, a remote endpoint identification name, and a remote endpoint identification number.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on test packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location during a previous video conference communication session.

23. The medium of claim 19, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location is based on factors selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a day of the week, a quality of service marking and a packet communication type.

24. The medium of claim 19, wherein the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location comprises an average latency for packet communications sent from the second network location to the first network location.

25. The medium of claim 19, wherein the first network location comprises a first router and the second network location comprises a second router.

26. The medium of claim 19, wherein:

the first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint is received from a first endpoint;

the second network location is along a path between the first endpoint and the remote endpoint; and

the code is further operable to communicate the packet communications of the video conference communication session through the path.

27. A system for optimizing a jitter buffer, comprising:

means for receiving a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint;

means for sending a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location;

means for receiving from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location; and

means for setting a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.