Method and apparatus for suppression of packets during silence periods in a packet telephony system

• US 6,735,193 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Bauer, Eric Jonathan, Lam, Yuk-Ming Peter, Huan, Fang-Fe S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US09/429,389
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/72, 379/76, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/265, 370/352, 370/410, 370/522, 370/428, 370/236
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for notifying a far-end calling party when a near-end calling party utilizes a hold or mute feature. The present invention reduces bandwidth utilization by suppressing the transmission of packets during periods of extended silence. Each packet telephony device includes a packet suppression system that monitors local terminal activity and notifies the far-end party that the near-end device is discarding the “listen” stream. In addition, the disclosed packet suppression system monitors the incoming packets and processes such notifications from the far-end party that the far-end device is discarding the “listen” stream. In response, the packet suppression system can suppress the transmission of further packets and optionally activate a music-on-hold feature for the held party.

Claims

1. A method for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring said near-end device to detect if said near-end device is discarding at least one communication stream between said near-end device and said far-end device; and

notifying said far-end device that said near-end device is discarding at least one communication stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said far-end device suppresses transmission of information until notified by the near-end device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said far-end device discards said communication stream when said near-end device puts a call on hold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said near-end device is an automated interactive voice response unit that responds to dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said near-end device is a voice mail system and said at least one communication stream is discarded during playback of the outgoing voice message before recording commences.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said notification is a remote mute command.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying said far-end device that said near-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

8. A system for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising:

a memory for storing computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

monitor said near-end device to detect if said near-end device is discarding at least one communication stream between said near-end device and said far-end device; and

notify said far-end device that said near-end device is discarding at least one communication stream.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said far-end device suppresses transmission of information until notified by the near-end device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said far-end device discards said communication stream when said near-end device puts a call on hold.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said near-end device is an automated interactive voice response unit that responds to dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said near-end device is a voice mail system and said at least one communication stream is discarded during playback of the outgoing voice message before recording commences.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said notification is a remote mute command.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising the step of notifying said far-end device that said near-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

15. A method for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream; and

suppressing the transmission of further packets on said communication stream.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of activating a music-on-hold feature for said near-end device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for each user class.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain time interval.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain type of call.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of monitoring incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of reactivating said communication stream following a notification that said far-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said near-end device discards said communication stream when said far-end device puts a call on hold.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said far-end device is an automated interactive voice response unit that responds to dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein said far-end device is a voice mail system and said at least one communication stream is discarded during playback of the outgoing voice message before recording commences.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein said notification is a remote mute command.

26. A method for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream; and

activating a music-on-hold feature for said near-end device in response to said notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a local music source.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for each user class.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain time interval.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain type of call.

31. A system for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising:

a memory for storing computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

monitor incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream; and

suppress the transmission of further packets on said communication stream.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising the step of monitoring incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising the step of reactivating said communication stream following a notification that said far-end device is again utilizing said communication stream.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said near-end device discards said communication stream when said far-end device puts a call on hold.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said far-end device is an automated interactive voice response unit that responds to dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein said far-end device is a voice mail system and said at least one communication stream is discarded during playback of the outgoing voice message before recording commences.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein said notification is a remote mute command.

38. A system for reducing resource utilization between a near-end device and a far-end device in a packet telephony system, comprising:

a memory for storing computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

monitor incoming packets for a notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream; and

activate a music-on-hold feature for said near-end device in response to said notification that said far-end device is discarding at least one communication stream.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a local music source.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for each user class.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain time interval.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein said music-on-hold feature utilizes a predefined music source for a certain type of call.