Dynamic codec speed selection and bandwidth preallocation in a voice packet network method and apparatus
First Claim
1. In a voice packet network, a dynamic codec speed selection method comprising:
- monitoring a call in a telephone system to determine the type of codec being used thereon and to measure the payload on the codec;
determining the capacity of the codec based upon the determined type of codec being used;
comparing the determined capacity with the measured payload; and
selectively switching the call to a higher operational speed based upon the result of said comparing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamic compressor/decompressor (codec) speed selection includes monitoring a call in a telephone system to determine the type of codec being used thereon and to measure the payload on the codec. The capacity of the codec is determined based upon the determined type of codec being used. Speed selection further includes comparing the determined capacity with the measured payload; and selectively switching the call to a higher operational speed based upon the result of the comparing. Preferably, the monitoring includes detecting a modem answer tone of the telephone call and basing the determination of the type of codec at least partly thereon. The monitoring also preferably includes detecting silence of the telephone call and basing the selective switching at least partly thereon. Echo cancellation and/or suppression is disabled upon such selective switching. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the switching includes requesting an up-speed codec. In such case, the method further includes verifying network bandwidth prior to the requesting of the up-speed codec. The network bandwidth is pre-allocated in accordance with the invention after the up-speed codec is requested and prior to the selective switching of the call to a higher operational speed. Finally, the monitoring further includes determining whether the call is silent and upon such determination automatically switching the call back to a lower operational speed.
46 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a voice packet network, a dynamic codec speed selection method comprising:
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monitoring a call in a telephone system to determine the type of codec being used thereon and to measure the payload on the codec;
determining the capacity of the codec based upon the determined type of codec being used;
comparing the determined capacity with the measured payload; and
selectively switching the call to a higher operational speed based upon the result of said comparing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for use in a dynamic codec switching system for modem signals carried via a voice over frame relay (VoFR) protocol over a voice frame network, the apparatus comprising:
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a codec mechanism coupled with one or more network nodes;
a modem answer tone detector for signaling when a modem is detected at a call-originating or call-terminating network node defining a channel therebetween; and
a switch coupled with said codec mechanism and responsive to the modem detection signaling for automatically up-speeding the codec mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer-readable medium containing a program for selecting the speed of a codec for use in a voice packet network, the program comprising:
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instructions for monitoring a call in a telephone system to determine the type of codec being used;
instructions for determining the capacity of the codec based upon the determined type of codec being used;
instructions for comparing the determined capacity with the measured payload; and
instructions for selectively switching the call to a higher operational speed based upon the result of said comparing.- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
instructions for recording the result of such monitoring.
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33. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein the program further comprises:
instructions for disabling echo cancellation upon such selective switching.
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34. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 31, wherein such switching includes requesting an up-speed codec, and wherein the program further comprises:
instructions for verifying network bandwidth prior to such requesting of the up-speed codec.
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35. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 34 wherein the program further comprises:
pre-allocating network bandwidth after such requesting of the up-speed codec and prior to such switching.
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36. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein said instructions for switching include instructions for signaling the codec in accordance with a voice over frame relay (VoFR) protocol.
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37. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein said instructions for monitoring include instructions for determining whether the call is silent and upon such determination automatically switching the call to a lower operational speed.
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38. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 37 wherein such determining is of silence of a defined duration.
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39. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 38 wherein such defined duration is programmable to support a modem pass-through mode of operation and a fax pass-through mode of operation.
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40. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 37 wherein the
instructions for re-enabling echo cancellation upon such automatic switching to a lower operational speed. -
41. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 37 wherein the program further comprises:
instructions for re-enabling echo suppression upon such automatic switching to a lower operational speed.
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42. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein the program further comprises:
instructions for signaling a destination telephone number upon such selective switching to disable echo cancellation and suppression.
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43. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 42 wherein such signaling is performed over the telephone line bearing the detected modem traffic.
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44. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 43 wherein said instructions for signaling include instructions for passing through the voice bearer channel path a prescribed end-to-end control message instructing the destination telephone number to disable echo cancellation and suppression.
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45. A computer-readable medium containing a program for selecting the speed of a codec for use in a voice packet network, the program comprising:
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codec mechanism software coupled with one or more network nodes;
modem answer tone detector software for signaling when a modem is detected at a call-originating or call-terminating network node defining a channel therebetween; and
switch software coupled with said codec mechanism software and responsive to the modem detection signaling for automatically up-speeding the codec mechanism software.
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Specification