Methods and apparatus for providing improved quality of packet transmission in applications such as internet telephony
First Claim
1. A method for providing a voice connection utilizing digital data transmission in a packet-switched digital network, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a data link between a server and a client;
establishing an Internet telephony connection utilizing said data link between said server and said client,transmitting from said client to said server digital transmission control protocol (TCP) packets addressed to an addressee, said TCP packets being comprised of digitized Internet telephony voice data;
converting each TCP packet received from said client to user datagram protocol (UDP) format; and
routing each UDP-converted packet to the addressee.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital data packet transmission process and system provides more efficient and higher quality of service in applications such as Internet telephony. In one aspect of this approach, transmission control protocol ("TCP") is used to send data from a first user or client over standard telephone lines to a local Internet service provider ("ISP"). At the ISP, the data packets are converted from TCP to user datagram protocol ("UDP"). The UDP packets are then transmitted, typically over a higher bandwidth link to another local ISP serving the recipient. The UDP packets are translated back to TCP packets and routed to the receiver. Because many existing systems currently employ UDP packets, the present approach is largely backwards compatible should a recipient be hooked up to an ISP that does not employ a TCP/UDP converter. A bidirectional TCP/UDP converter is preferable for two way communication such as Internet telephony.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing a voice connection utilizing digital data transmission in a packet-switched digital network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data link between a server and a client; establishing an Internet telephony connection utilizing said data link between said server and said client, transmitting from said client to said server digital transmission control protocol (TCP) packets addressed to an addressee, said TCP packets being comprised of digitized Internet telephony voice data; converting each TCP packet received from said client to user datagram protocol (UDP) format; and routing each UDP-converted packet to the addressee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A packet converter for use in a packet-switched communication system, comprising:
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a server for communicating with a plurality of clients and receiving transmission control protocol (TCP) packets from said clients; a converter for converting said plurality of packets to user datagram protocol (UDP) packets; a database for holding a lookup table associating the plurality of clients with addresses for the plurality of clients; and a router for routing each of said packets to its addressee. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A packet-switched communication system comprising:
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a first local server for communicating with a plurality of clients and receiving transmission control protocol (TCP) packets from said clients on an input; a first converter for converting said TCP packets to user datagram protocol (UDP) packets; a router to direct the converted UDP packets to a second local server for communicating with an addressee; and a second converter for reconverting the converted UDP packets received by the second local server back to TCP packets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing an Internet telephony connection utilizing a packet-switched digital network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a first data link between a first personal computer and a first ISP, said first data link comprising a dial-up modem connection between the first personal computer and the first ISP; establishing a second data link between a second personal computer and a second ISP, said second data link comprising a dial-up modem connection between the second personal computer and the second ISP; transmitting TCP packets of digitized voice data between the first personal computer and the first ISP; converting said TCP packets to UDP packets at said first ISP; looking up addressee routing information in a first calling destination database; routing said UDP packets to a second ISP as specified in said first calling destination database; converting said UDP packets to reconverted TCP packets at said second ISP; and transmitting said reconverted TCP packets of digitized voice data between the second ISP and the second personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A two-way packet protocol converter for use in a packet switched communication system, comprising:
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a first incoming network manager for communicating with a plurality of clients utilizing TCP packets; a TCP to UDP packet converter; a first outgoing network manager for communicating with a plurality of servers, said first outgoing network manager further comprising a calling destination database; a second incoming network manager for communicating with a plurality of servers utilizing UDP packets; a UDP to TCP packet converter; and a second outgoing network manager for communicating with a plurality of clients, said second outgoing network manager further comprising a calling destination database. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification