PROVIDING DYNAMIC CHANGES TO PACKET FLOWS

• US 20080137541A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: AGARWAL, Kaitki, GHAI, Rajat
• Granted Patent: US 8,018,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/72 Routing based on the source address
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/7453 using hashing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 involving identification of individual flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/912 Applications of a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/918 Location

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing dynamic changes to a packet flow in a communication network are described. The dynamic changes can include upgrading and downgrading quality of service (QoS), adapting the stream to a receiving device, modifying the stream to counter-act changes in an air interface, and modifying the stream to accommodate an inter-technology handover. These changes can be provided by inspecting packets at a gateway and setting up a proxy for multimedia stream packet flows. The proxy can coordinate transcoding to take place to change the stream. The gateway can also monitor conditions at the mobile node using a real time control protocol or other applicable protocols.

Claims

1. A gateway in a communication network comprising:

a proxy instance residing in the gateway that inspects packets for information regarding setup of media streams;

an inline service residing in the gateway that negotiates a session with a mobile node to set media stream parameters, monitors feedback received from the mobile node, and manages transcoding; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) residing in the gateway that provides transcoding to a media stream.

2. The gateway of claim 1, wherein:

the proxy instance inspects real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) packets for the setup of a session; and

the inline service inspects real-time control protocol (RTCP) packets for feedback from the mobile node.

3. The gateway of claim 1, further comprising the proxy instance detecting a setup of a media stream, modifying message received to pass the media stream through an inline service, and setting up an inline service to manage the media stream.

4. A method comprising:

inspecting packets to detect a setup of a media stream to a mobile node;

modifying setup messages to pass the media stream through an inline service;

monitoring feedback received from the mobile node; and

analyzing feedback to determine modifications to the media stream and managing a digital signal processing (DSP) engine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) packets are inspected to detect setup of a media stream and real-time control protocol (RTCP) packets are monitored to obtain feedback from the mobile node.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the parameters of content received in a media stream; and

transcoding the media stream to provide content that is suited for the capabilities of the mobile node.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving instructions from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF); and

dynamically changing the quality of service (QoS) delivered to the mobile node.