Clusters of devices, softwares and methods for improved handling of a gatekeeper load in VoIP communication

• US 6,868,059 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Paul E., Bhargava, Vivek
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/841,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/216, 370/328, 370/218, 370/331, 370/219, 370/389, 370/220, 370/352, 370/217, 370/353, 370/231, 370/422, 370/465, 370/466, 455/433, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• 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 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/08 Indicating faults in circuits or apparatus

Abstract

A cluster of alternate gatekeepers handles the load of a single logical zone. The alternate gatekeepers exchange signals among each other according to a special cluster protocol. Each alternate gatekeeper may be connected and exchange signals with endpoint devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first alternate gatekeeper adapted to be coupled to at least a second alternate gatekeeper in a cluster, the first alternate gatekeeper being adapted to exchange cluster signals with the second alternate gatekeeper,

wherein the first and the second alternate gatekeepers are adapted to be coupled to and exchange endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints, and

wherein the cluster signals encode one of alternate gatekeepers status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster, and endpoint status information about at least one of the, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol endpoints.

2. The cluster of claim 1, wherein

the alternate gatekeeper status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition.

3. The cluster of claim 1, wherein

the endpoint status information includes at least one of endpoint registration status and endpoint availability status.

4. The cluster of claim 1, wherein

each of the alternate gatekeepers includes a processor adapted to compute an evolving priority table based on the cluster signals, and a memory adapted to store the computed priority table.

5. A cluster comprising:

a plurality of alternate gatekeepers adapted to be coupled with each other through data transmission links, the alternate gatekeepers being adapted to be coupled to and exchange endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints,

wherein the alternate gatekeepers are adapted to exchange through the links cluster signals which encode one of alternate gatekeeper status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster, and endpoint status information about at least one of, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the endpoints.

6. The cluster of claim 5, wherein

the alternate gatekeeper status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition.

7. The cluster of claim 5, wherein

the endpoint status information includes at least one of endpoint registration status and endpoint availability status.

8. The cluster of claim 5, wherein

each of the alternate gatekeepers includes a processor adapted to compute an evolving priority table based on the cluster signals, and a memory adapted to store the computed priority table.

9. The cluster of claim 5,

wherein a priority processor is adapted to receive the cluster signals, and to compute an evolving priority table based on the received cluster signals,

and further comprising:

a memory coupled with the priority processor, and adapted to store the computed priority table.

10. The cluster of claim 9, wherein

the priority processor and the memory are components of a standalone priority computer.

11. A system comprising:

a first, a second and a third alternate gatekeepers, having first, second and third processors respectively, wherein the first, the second, and the third alternate gatekeepers have interfaces for being connected together in a cluster through data transmission links,

wherein the first processor is adapted to

encode individual status information in a cluster signal, and transmit the cluster signal to the second alternate gatekeeper, and to third alternate gatekeeper,

wherein the second processor is adapted to

decode the individual status information from the received cluster signal, and process the decoded individual status information to update a first version of a cluster status,

and wherein the third processor is adapted to

decode the individual status information from the received cluster signal, and process the decoded individual status information to update a second version of a cluster status, wherein the cluster signal is exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein

the individual status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition of the first alternate gatekeeper.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein

the cluster status includes one of

a relative priority of the first, second and third alternate gatekeepers and bandwidth utilization data of the combined first, second and third alternate gatekeepers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first processor is further adapted to receive from an endpoint device an endpoint status signal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein

the individual status information includes at least one of an endpoint registration status, an endpoint availability status, a total capacity, a current capacity and a current availability of the endpoint device.

16. A priority computer comprising:

a priority processor adapted to receive cluster signals from a cluster of alternate gatekeepers that are coupled with each other through data transmission links, the alternate gatekeepers being adapted to be coupled to and exchange endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints, the priority processor being further adapted to compute an evolving priority table of the alternate gatekeepers based on the received cluster signals; and

a memory coupled with the priority processor and adapted to store, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) the protocol computed priority table.

17. The priority computer of claim 16, wherein

the alternate gatekeepers are adapted to exchange through the links cluster signals which encode one of alternate gatekeeper status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster, and endpoint status information about at least one of the endpoints.

18. The priority computer of claim 16, wherein

the alternate gatekeeper status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition.

19. The priority computer of claim 16, wherein

the endpoint status information includes at least one of endpoint registration status and endpoint availability status.

20. A device comprising:

means for receiving cluster signals from a cluster of alternate gatekeepers that are coupled with each other through data transmission links, the alternate gatekeepers being adapted to be coupled to and exchange endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints,

means for computing an evolving priority table of the alternate gatekeepers based on the received cluster signals; and

means for storing, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the computed priority table.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein

the alternate gatekeepers are adapted to exchange through the links cluster signals which encode one of alternate gatekeeper status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster, and endpoint status information about at least one of the endpoints.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein

the alternate gatekeeper status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein

the endpoint status information includes at least one of endpoint registration status and endpoint availability status.

24. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by at least one device, result in;

accumulating a list of first registrations of first endpoints associated with a first alternate gatekeeper;

receiving from a second alternate gatekeeper a second registration of a second endpoint associated with the second alternate gatekeeper; and

incorporating the second registration in the list.

25. The article of claim 24,

wherein the list includes a third registration of a third endpoint,

and wherein the instructions further result in:

receiving an unregistration of the third registration; and

removing the third registration from the list responsive to the unregistration.

26. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by at least one device, result in;

receiving a registration from a first endpoint;

transmitting the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers;

receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint; and

transmitting the usage data to, wherein the gatekeepers communicate to each other using GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the two alternate gatekeepers.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the instructions further result in:

receiving from the first endpoint updated usage data associated with the first endpoint; and

transmitting the updated usage data to the two alternate gatekeepers.

28. The article of claim 26, wherein

the usage data includes at least one of total capacity, current capacity and current availability.

29. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by at least one device, result in;

receiving cluster signals from a plurality of alternate gatekeepers in a cluster;

decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers;

adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization;

receiving a request for a new call; and

determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.

30. The article of claim 29, wherein

determining is performed by comparing the value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization to a preset threshold value.

31. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by at least one device, result in;

determining availability functions of all the alternate gatekeepers in a cluster;

comparing the determined availability functions;

generating a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison;

transmitting the priority list to at least one endpoint device;

then receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers;

determining, based on the recent usage information, an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;

then comparing again the most recently determined availability functions;

then adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison; and

retransmitting the adjusted priority list to the endpoint device.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein

the recent usage information is that a transmission was not received by a certain alternate gatekeeper within a prescribed time, and

the corresponding updated availability function of the certain alternate gatekeeper is lowered.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein

the availability function is determined on at least one of a CPU utilization and a memory utilization.

34. A method comprising:

a first alternate gatekeeper encoding individual status information in a cluster signal;

the first alternate gatekeeper transmitting the cluster signal to a second alternate gatekeeper and a third alternate gatekeeper;

the second alternate gatekeeper decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal;

the second alternate gatekeeper processing the decoded individual status information to update a first version of a cluster status;

the third alternate gatekeeper decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal; and

the third alternate gatekeeper processing the decoded individual status information to update a second version of the cluster status, wherein the cluster signal is exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein

the individual status information includes at least one of alternate gatekeeper availability information and alternate gatekeeper load condition of the first alternate gatekeeper.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein

the cluster status includes one of

a relative priority of the first, second and third alternate gatekeepers and

bandwidth utilization data of the combined first, second and third alternate gatekeepers.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

the first gatekeeper receiving from an endpoint device an endpoint status signal.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein

the individual status information includes at least one of an endpoint registration status, an endpoint availability status, a total capacity, a current capacity and a current availability of the endpoint device.

39. A method comprising:

accumulating a list of first registrations of first endpoints associated with a first alternate gatekeeper;

receiving from a second alternate gatekeeper a second registration of a second endpoint associated with the second alternate gatekeeper; and

incorporating the second registration in, wherein the gatekeepers communicate to each other using GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the list.

40. The method of claim 39,

wherein the list includes a third registration of a third endpoint,

and further comprising:

receiving an unregistration of the third registration; and

removing the third registration from the list responsive to the unregistration.

41. A method comprising:

receiving a registration from a first endpoint;

transmitting the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers;

receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint; and

transmitting the usage data to, wherein the gatekeepers communicate to each other using GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the two alternate gatekeepers.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving from the first endpoint updated usage data associated with the first endpoint; and

transmitting the updated usage data to the two alternate gatekeepers.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein

the usage data includes at least one of total capacity, current capacity and current availability.

44. A method comprising:

receiving cluster signals from a plurality of alternate gatekeepers in a cluster;

decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers;

adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization;

receiving a request for a new call; and

determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of, wherein the cluster signals are exchanged according to a GUP (Gatekeeper Update Protocol) protocol the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein

determining is performed by comparing the value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization to a preset threshold value.

46. A method comprising:

determining availability functions of all the alternate gatekeepers in a cluster;

comparing the determined availability functions;

generating a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison;

transmitting the priority list to at least one endpoint device;

then receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers;

determining, based on the recent usage information, an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;

then comparing again the most recently determined availability functions;

then adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison; and

retransmitting the adjusted priority list to the endpoint device.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein

the recent usage information is that a transmission was not received by a certain alternate gatekeeper within a prescribed time, and

the corresponding updated availability function of the certain alternate gatekeeper is lowered.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein

the availability function is determined on at least one of a CPU utilization and a memory utilization.