Methods, Systems & Products for Providing Communications Services

• US 20090100191A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Donna K., Tischer, Steven N., Kreiner, Barrett Morris
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a first data stream at a computer, with the first data stream comprising packets of data packetized according to a packet protocol. The first data stream is recursively segmented into segments, and at least one of the segments is dispersed via a network for a subsequent processing service. A result of the processing service is received, and the result is aggregated into a second data stream. The second data stream is then communicated via the network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first data stream at a processor;

segmenting the first data stream into segments;

subcontracting a segment to receive a subcontracted processing service;

receiving a result of the subcontracted processing service by the processor; and

aggregating the result of the subcontracted processing service into a second data stream.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the subcontracted processing service is required from the different service provider.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising grouping together individual segments that require the subcontracted processing service.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising grouping together individual packets of data within the first data stream that require the subcontracted processing service.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the result of the subcontracted processing service to a destination.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the second data stream to a destination.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein segmenting the first data stream into segments comprises recursively segmenting the first data stream into the segments, such that a characteristic of a preceding segment determines how a current segment is segmented.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein recursively segmenting the first data stream comprises observing a sequence of data packets having a similar structure to a previous sequence of data packets and segmenting the first data stream to have similar content to the previous sequence of packets.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein recursively segmenting the first data stream comprises using a chronological characteristic of the preceding segment to describe the current segment.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recognizing a repetitive segment and inserting a data compression result of a preceding segment to reduce processing of redundant segments.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising retrieving the data compression result of the preceding segment.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dispersing a different segment for a different processing service.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving a different result of the different processing service.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising aggregating the result of the subcontracted processing service and the different result of the different processing service into the second data stream.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising replacing a complex segment with a common descriptor to produce an abbreviated annotation.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accruing routing information that describes a routing of the segment and the subcontracted processing service; and

assembling the second data stream using the routing information.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory, the code causing the processor to;

receive a first data stream;

segment the first data stream into segments;

subcontract a segment to receive a subcontracted processing service;

receive a result of the subcontracted processing service; and

aggregate the result of the subcontracted processing service into a second data stream.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the code further causes the processor to:

determine the subcontracted processing service is required from the different service provider; and

group together individual segments that require the subcontracted processing service.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing a method of managing communications of a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first data stream;

segmenting the first data stream into segments;

subcontracting a segment to a different service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service;

receiving a result of the subcontracted processing service by the processor; and

aggregating the result of the subcontracted processing service into a second data stream.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for:

determining the subcontracted processing service is required from the different service provider; and

grouping together individual segments that require the subcontracted processing service.