Method for allocating network resources

• US 6,748,070 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mishra, Partho Pratim, Kalmanek, Charles Robert Jr., Marshall, William Todd, Nortz, Douglas M, Ramakrishnan, Kadangode K
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US10/179,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 279/219, 279/220.01, 279/240, 279/269, 279/278, 279/333, 279/337, 279/112.08, 279/241, 279/242, 279/272, 279/273, 279/274, 279/275, 279/276
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/803 Application aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2517 using port numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2539 Hiding addresses; Keeping addresses anonymous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 : adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 : intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1275 : Methods and means to improve the telephone service quality, e.g. reservation, prioritisation or admission control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 : CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13145 : Rerouting upon failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 : Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 : Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Claims

1. A method for allocating network resources of at least one packet network for a call between a calling party and a called party, comprising:

responsive to receipt of addressing information identifying the called party, reserving a plurality of packet network resources for the call, the plurality of network resources being reserved before any one network resource from the plurality of reserved network resources is committed; and

committing the reserved plurality of network resources for the call when the called party indicates acceptance for the call.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said committing comprises configuring the reserved plurality of network resources so as to cause them to transport voice information for the call.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said reserving comprises identifying network resources required for the call.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said voice information for the call comprises packetized voice signals.

5. The invention of claim 3 further comprising initiating the alerting of a communication device associated with the called party subsequent to receipt of the addressing information but prior to the reserved plurality of network resources being committed for the call.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the alerting of the communication device associated with the called party comprises generating an audible signal.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein acceptance for the call comprises the communication device being taken off-hook.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the communication device is a telephone.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the addressing information comprises a telephone number.

10. The invention of claim 5 wherein the communication device is a computer and wherein acceptance for the call comprises the computer being put in a computer-equivalent off-hook condition.

11. The invention of claim 5 wherein the communication device is a computer and wherein acceptance for the call comprises engaging in handshake signaling.

12. The invention of claim 5 wherein the communication device is a computer and wherein the addressing information comprises a communication network address.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said packet network resources is an amount of packet bandwidth for the call.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said reserving includes reserving a specified amount of packet bandwidth in response to a request for a reservation of said specified amount of packet bandwidth for the call.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said request is received from at least one of the calling party and the called party.

16. The invention of claim 1 wherein said reserving is carried out in response to a request received from at least one of the calling party and the called party.

30. The invention of claim 13 wherein at least one of said packet network resources is an amount of packet bandwidth for the call.

31. The invention of claim 13 wherein said reserving includes reserving a specified amount of packet bandwidth in response to a request for a reservation of said specified amount of packet bandwidth for the call.

32. The invention of claim 31 wherein said request is received from at least one of the calling communication device and the called communication device.

33. The invention of claim 13 wherein said reserving is carried out in response to a request received from at least one of the calling communication device and the called communication device.

17. A method for allocating resources of a packet-network for a call between a calling communication device and a called communication device, comprising:

receiving from the calling communication device addressing information associated with the called communication device,

subsequent to receipt of said addressing information, reserving a plurality of packet network resources for the call, the plurality of network resources being reserved before any one network resource from the plurality of reserved network resources is committed,

subsequent to said receipt of said addressing information, causing an alerting to occur at the called communication device; and

committing the reserved plurality of network resources for the call only after the called communication device goes off-hook.

26. The invention of claim 17 wherein the plurality of network resources for the call are reserved based on a quality of service authorized by a service provider.

27. The invention of claim 17 further comprising recording initial usage for the call once the reserved plurality of network resources is committed.

28. The invention of claim 17 further comprising recording usage end for the call upon a terminating condition.

29. The invention of claim 17 wherein at least one from the group of the calling party-communication device and the called party communication device is untrusted.

18. The invention of 17 wherein said reserving comprises identifying network resources required for the call.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said committing comprises configuring the reserved plurality of network resources so as to cause them to transport voice information for the call.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein said voice information for the call comprises packetized voice signals.

24. The invention of claim 20 wherein the communication device is a computer that goes off-hook by engaging in handshake signaling.

25. The invention of claim 20 wherein the called communication device is a computer and wherein the addressing information comprises a communication network address.

21. The invention of claim wherein said alerting comprises generating an audible signal.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein the called communication device is a telephone.

23. The invention of claim 22 wherein the addressing information comprises a telephone number.

34. A method for allocating network resources of at least one packet network for a call between a calling party and a called party, comprising:

responsive to receipt of addressing information identifying the called party, reserving at least one packet network resource for the call, all of the network resources reserved for the call being reserved before any one network resource reserved for the call is committed; and

committing the reserved at least one network resource for the call when the called party indicates acceptance for the call.

35. The invention of claim 34 wherein said committing comprises configuring the network resources reserved for the call so as to cause them to transport voice information for the call.

36. The invention of claim 35 wherein said reserving comprises identifying network resources required for the call.

37. The invention of claim 36 further comprising initiating the alerting of a communication device associated with the called party subsequent to receipt of the addressing information but prior to the network resources reserved for the call being committed for the call.

38. A method for allocating resources of a packet network for a call between a calling communication device and a called communication device, comprising:

receiving from the calling communication device addressing information associated with the called communication device,

subsequent to receipt of said addressing information, reserving at least one packet network resource for the call, all of the network resources reserved for the call being reserved before any one network resource reserved for the call is committed;

subsequent to said receipt of said addressing information, causing an alerting to occur at the called communication device; and

committing the reserved at least one network resource for the call only after the called communication device goes off-hook.

39. The invention of claim 38 wherein said committing comprises configuring the at least one network resource reserved for the call so as to cause it to transport voice information for the call.

40. The invention of claim 39 wherein the network resources reserved for the call are reserved based on a quality of service authorized by a service provider.