NETWORK MANAGEMENT SERVER FOR MANAGING MULTIPLE OPERATING MODES OF A CONFERENCING NETWORK WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF POLICIES

• US 20090251529A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FREEPORT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
• Original Assignee: FREEPORT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
• Inventors: EBBEN, Timothy J., TUCKER, Richard W., SORENSON, Joseph A., MCGREEVY, Gregory J., MCGREEVY, John E., TIMMER, Jan M., JOB, Kevin A., DELHOYO, Sergio Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,149,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed to manage multiple operating modes in a video conferencing network under which different sets of policies can operate. The system is a network management server, designated herein as the Elastic Gatekeeper, that includes a Conference Management System, which selectively implements one or more different sets of operating policies. The Conference Management System is integrated and linked with a gatekeeper, which is responsible for setting up calls that are using end point alias addresses. The gatekeeper works with the Conference Management System to control access to network resources. Upon receiving a request to access a call, the gatekeeper passes the request to the Conference Management System for its approval. The Conference Management System has access to a robust set of policies, a detailed description of the network resources, and an awareness of the current System Operational Mode upon which to base a decision about the conditions and resources that can be granted to the requested call.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a conference management system configured to provide situational bandwidth allocation capability by selectively implementing a selected one of a plurality of different operating policies establishing a corresponding one of a plurality of operational modes to shift allocation of the network'"'"'s bandwidth from a normal bandwidth allocation under normal conditions to an allocation of bandwidth to assigned endpoints of the network under conditions of emergency, stress, or disaster; and

a gatekeeper coupled to the conference management system, configured to set up calls in said network, the gatekeeper upon receiving a call requesting access to a conference in the network, configured to pass the request to the conference management system for its approval before completing setting up the call;

said plurality of operating policies including a normal mode policy establishing a corresponding normal operational mode having a normal bandwidth allocation in the network and an alert mode policy establishing a corresponding alert operational mode having an allocation of bandwidth to assigned endpoints of the network under conditions of emergency, stress, or disaster;

said conference management system configured to select the normal mode policy establishing the corresponding normal operational mode for the network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

said conference management system configured to select the alert mode policy establishing the corresponding alert operational mode for the network, wherein a reduced priority is given to scheduled conferences and network resources are allocated based on priorities of network end points assigned by the alert mode policy;

said conference management system configured to execute said selected one of said plurality of operating policies, to process a description of network resources and current operational mode and to decide what resources can be granted to said request.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said conference being a video, audio, or collaboration conference.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said normal mode policy being associated with normal day-to-day operations where scheduled conferences will have priority over ad hoc conferences.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy being associated with conditions of emergency, stress, or disaster where network traffic is expected to be high, but the importance of ad hoc conferences is also increased.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said plurality of operating policies further including an other mode policy establishing a corresponding other operational mode;

said other mode policy being associated with conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of network resources, but without preempting urgent, ad hoc conferences dealing with emergency, stress, or disaster.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said conference management system operating on in-process conferences to either reduce their usage of network resources or to terminate the conference in order to make room for higher priority conferences.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said conference management system operating under an alert mode policy establishing a corresponding alert operational mode, providing preferential allocation of network resources for requesting ad hoc videoconferencing sessions under conditions of emergency, stress, or disaster.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said conference management system operating under an other mode policy establishing a corresponding other operational mode, providing, on a temporary basis, network resources for a high priority project, but without preempting urgent, ad hoc conferences.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having overall network control and selectively able to delegate control in a specified network sector to a second end point in the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having on demand reserved bandwidth and able to select levels of bandwidth necessary to communicate with a second end point in the network.

9. A method, comprising:

selecting a normal mode policy in a network management server, establishing a corresponding normal operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said normal mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences;

selecting an alert mode policy in the network management server, establishing a corresponding alert operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein a reduced priority is given to scheduled conferences and network resources are allocated based on assigned priorities of end points; and

processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said alert mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences.

10. The method of claim 9, which further comprises:

prioritizing in the network management server, end-points and/or users in the network to ensure that system resources are allocated to most important usages when network resources are limited.

11. The method of claim 9, which further comprises:

operating in the network management server, on in-process conferences to either reduce their usage of network resources or to terminate the in-process conference in order to make room for higher priority conferences.

17. The method of claim 9, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having overall network control and selectively able to delegate control in a specified network sector to a second end point in the network.

18. The method of claim 9, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having on demand reserved bandwidth and able to select levels of bandwidth necessary to communicate with a second end point in the network.

12. A computer readable medium storing computer executable program code, comprising:

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting a normal mode policy in a network management server, establishing a corresponding normal operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

computer executable program code in said medium for processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said normal mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences;

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting an alert mode policy in the network management server, establishing a corresponding alert operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein a reduced priority is given to scheduled conferences and network resources are allocated based on assigned priorities of end points; and

computer executable program code in said medium for processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said alert mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having overall network control and selectively able to delegate control in a specified network sector to a second end point in the network.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 12, which further comprises:

said alert mode policy specifying a first end point in the network having on demand reserved bandwidth and able to select levels of bandwidth necessary to communicate with a second end point in the network.

13. A method for flexibly allocating network bandwidth for scheduled and ad hoc conferences, comprising:

loading parameters in a network management server, for each end point in a network, designating its priority, bandwidth, available services and allowable operating modes;

loading parameters in the network management server, for network devices designating ports available and allowed bandwidth to each network segment;

loading a description in the network management server, of the network and the bandwidth in each network segment that is allocated to services of interest;

loading a plurality of policies in the network management server, to be followed in allocating bandwidth to conferences, to support a plurality of modes of operation, including a normal mode policy establishing a normal mode operated under normal operating conditions and an alert mode policy establishing an alert mode operated under conditions of emergency, stress or disaster;

selecting in the network management server, the normal mode policy for the normal mode of operation or the alert mode policy for the alert mode of operation;

scheduling in the network management server, conferences in the normal mode of operation in response to the normal mode policy; and

requesting in the network management server, immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences in the alert mode of operation in response to the alert mode policy.

14. A computer readable medium storing computer executable program code for flexibly allocating network bandwidth for scheduled and ad hoc conferences, comprising:

computer executable program code in said medium for loading parameters in a network management server, for each end point in a network, designating its priority, bandwidth, available services and allowable operating modes;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading parameters in the network management server, for network devices designating ports available and allowed bandwidth to each network segment;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading a description in the network management server, of the network and the bandwidth in each network segment that is allocated to services of interest;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading a plurality of policies in the network management server, to be followed in allocating bandwidth to conferences, to support a plurality of modes of operation, including a normal mode policy establishing a normal mode operated under normal operating conditions and an alert mode policy establishing an alert mode operated under conditions of emergency, stress or disaster;

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting in the network management server, the normal mode policy for the normal mode of operation or the alert mode policy for the alert mode of operation;

computer executable program code in said medium for scheduling in the network management server, conferences in the normal mode of operation in response to the normal mode policy; and

computer executable program code in said medium for requesting in the network management server, immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences in the alert mode of operation in response to the alert mode policy.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a conference management system configured to provide situational bandwidth allocation capability by selectively implementing a selected one of a plurality of different operating policies establishing a corresponding one of a plurality of operational modes to shift allocation of the network'"'"'s bandwidth from a normal bandwidth allocation under normal conditions to a preferential allocation of network resources to assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of network resources; and

a gatekeeper coupled to the conference management system, configured to set up calls in said network, the gatekeeper upon receiving a call requesting access to a conference in the network, configured to pass the request to the conference management system for its approval before completing setting up the call;

said plurality of operating policies including a normal mode policy establishing a corresponding normal operational mode having a normal bandwidth allocation in the network and an other mode policy establishing a corresponding other operational mode having a preferential allocation of network resources;

said conference management system configured to select the normal mode policy establishing the corresponding normal operational mode for the network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

said conference management system configured to select the other mode policy establishing the corresponding other operational mode for the network, wherein a preferential allocation of network resources enables an immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences for assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of the network resources;

said conference management system configured to execute said selected one of said plurality of operating policies, to process a description of network resources and current operational mode and to decide what resources can be granted to said request.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, which further comprises:

said conference being a video, audio, or collaboration conference.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, which further comprises:

said normal mode policy being associated with normal day-to-day operations where scheduled conferences will have priority over ad hoc conferences.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, which further comprises:

said other mode policy being associated with conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of network resources, but without preempting urgent, ad hoc conferences dealing with emergency, stress, or disaster.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, which further comprises:

said conference management system operating on in-process conferences to either reduce their usage of network resources or to terminate the conference in order to make room for higher priority conferences.

26. A method, comprising:

selecting a normal mode policy in a network management server, establishing a corresponding normal operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said normal mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences;

selecting an other mode policy in the network management server, establishing a corresponding other operational mode for the conferencing network, wherein a preferential allocation of network resources enables an immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences for assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of the network resources; and

processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said other mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences.

27. The method of claim 26, which further comprises:

prioritizing in the network management server, end-points and/or users in the network to ensure that system resources are allocated to most important usages when network resources are limited.

28. The method of claim 26, which further comprises:

operating in the network management server, on in-process conferences to either reduce their usage of network resources or to terminate the in-process conference in order to make room for higher priority conferences.

29. A computer readable medium storing computer executable program code, comprising:

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting a normal mode policy in a network management server, establishing a corresponding normal operational mode for a conferencing network, wherein scheduled conferences have priority over ad hoc conferences;

computer executable program code in said medium for processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said normal mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences;

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting an other mode policy in the network management server, establishing a corresponding other operational mode for the conferencing network, wherein a preferential allocation of network resources enables an immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences for assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of the network resources; and

computer executable program code in said medium for processing network descriptions in the network management server, based on said other mode policy to determine allowed responses to requests to establish scheduled conferences and ad hoc conferences.

30. A method for flexibly allocating network bandwidth for scheduled and ad hoc conferences, comprising:

loading parameters in a network management server, for each end point in a network, designating its priority, bandwidth, available services and allowable operating modes;

loading parameters in the network management server, for network devices designating ports available and allowed bandwidth to each network segment;

loading a description in the network management server, of the network and the bandwidth in each network segment that is allocated to services of interest;

loading a plurality of policies in the network management server, to be followed in allocating bandwidth to conferences, to support a plurality of modes of operation, including a normal mode policy establishing a normal mode operated under normal operating conditions and an other mode policy establishing a corresponding other operational mode for the conferencing network, wherein a preferential allocation of network resources enables an immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences for assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of the network resources;

selecting in the network management server, the normal mode policy for the normal mode of operation or the other mode policy for the other mode of operation;

scheduling in the network management server, conferences in the normal mode of operation in response to the normal mode policy; and

requesting in the network management server, immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences in the other mode of operation in response to the other mode policy.

31. A computer readable medium storing computer executable program code for flexibly allocating network bandwidth for scheduled and ad hoc conferences, comprising:

computer executable program code in said medium for loading parameters in a network management server, for each end point in a network, designating its priority, bandwidth, available services and allowable operating modes;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading parameters in the network management server, for network devices designating ports available and allowed bandwidth to each network segment;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading a description in the network management server, of the network and the bandwidth in each network segment that is allocated to services of interest;

computer executable program code in said medium for loading a plurality of policies in the network management server, to be followed in allocating bandwidth to conferences, to support a plurality of modes of operation, including a normal mode policy establishing a normal mode operated under normal operating conditions and an other mode policy establishing a corresponding other operational mode for the conferencing network, wherein a preferential allocation of network resources enables an immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences for assigned endpoints of the network under conditions where there is a temporary, but high priority project that requires preferential allocation of the network resources;

computer executable program code in said medium for selecting in the network management server, the normal mode policy for the normal mode of operation or the other mode policy for the other mode of operation;

computer executable program code in said medium for scheduling in the network management server, conferences in the normal mode of operation in response to the normal mode policy; and

computer executable program code in said medium for requesting in the network management server, immediate establishment of ad hoc conferences in the other mode of operation in response to the other mode policy.