Method of data rate exchange for transmissions across a packet-based network

• US 6,888,794 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Jovanovic, Slobodan, Zhou, Zongyao, Mehta, Mehul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H.
• Application Number:
  US09/709,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/410, 370/252, 370/278, 370/282, 370/285, 370/292, 370/293, 370/231, 370/299, 370/229, 370/230, 375/219, 375/220, 375/222, 379/88.13, 379/350
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for exchanging data rate information across a packet-based network, is presented herein. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a first and second communication device, configured to operate as data sources, sinks, or both, communicate with a first and second gateway mechanism, respectively. The first gateway mechanism receives data rate information from the first communication device to determine a first data signaling rate between the first communication device and the first gateway mechanism. Similarly, the second gateway mechanism receives data rate information from the second communication device to determine a second data signaling rate between the second communication device and the second gateway mechanism. The first gateway forwards data rate information containing the first data signaling rate to the second gateway mechanism and the second gateway mechanism forwards data rate information containing the second data signaling rate to the first gateway mechanism. The first communication device and the first gateway mechanism determine a maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on the first data signaling rate and the second data signaling rate received from the second gateway mechanism and the second communication device and the second gateway mechanism determine a maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on the second data signaling rate and the first data signaling rate received from the first gateway mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging source-to-sink data rate information in a packet-based network, comprising:

receiving, by a first gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a first communication device, said first communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;

determining a first data signaling rate between said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism;

receiving, by a second gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a second communication device, said second communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;

determining a second data signaling rate between said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism;

forwarding data rate information containing said first data signaling rate to said second gateway mechanism; and

forwarding data rate information containing said second data signaling rate to said first gateway mechanism,

wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said first data signaling rate and said second data signaling rate received from said second gateway mechanism, and

wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine a second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said second data signaling rate and said first data signaling rate received from said first gateway mechanism; and

wherein the first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate differ.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said second data signaling rate from said second gateway mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said first data signaling rate from said first gateway mechanism.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said first communication device, said first gateway mechanism, and said second data signaling rate and a mode of operation of said first communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said second communication device, said second gateway mechanism, and said first data signaling rate and a mode of operation of said second communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said data rate information is configured as a modulation parameter sequence in accordance with any of the V series fax/data modem protocols.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first gateway mechanism delay and said second gateway mechanism delay are implemented as a nonfunctional modulation parameter sequence.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, for half-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate during a first interval of time when said first communication device operates as said source, and

wherein said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate during a second interval of time when said second communication device operates as said source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first communication device and said second communication device are configured as facsimile machines operating in half-duplex transmission mode.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, for full-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first communication device and said second communication device are configured as modems operating in full-duplex transmission mode.

12. An apparatus for exchanging source-to-sink data rate information in a packet-based network, comprising:

a first communication device configured to communicate data across said network and to operate as at least one of a source and sink of data;

a first gateway mechanism coupled to said network, said first gateway mechanism configured to receive data rate information from said first communication device to determine a first data signaling rate between said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism;

a second communication device configured to communicate data across said network and to operate as at least one of a source and sink of data;

a second gateway mechanism coupled to said network, said second gateway mechanism configured to receive data rate information from said second communication device to determine a second data signaling rate between said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism;

wherein said first gateway forwards data rate information containing said first data signaling rate to said second gateway mechanism and said second gateway mechanism forwards data rate information containing said second data signaling rate to said first gateway mechanism, and

wherein said first communication device and said fist gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said first data signaling rate and said second data signaling rate received from said second gateway mechanism and said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine a second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said second data signaling rate and said first data signaling rate received from said first gateway mechanism, and wherein the first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate differ.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said second data signaling rate from said second gateway mechanism.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said first data signaling rate from said first gateway mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said first communication device, said first gateway mechanism, and said second data signaling rate and a mode of operation of the first communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said second communication device, said second gateway mechanism, and said first data signaling rate and a mode of operation of the second communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said data rate information is configured as a modulation parameter sequence in accordance with any of the V series fax/data modem protocols.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first gateway mechanism delay and said second gateway mechanism delay is implemented as a nonfunctional modulation parameter sequence.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, for half-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate during a first interval of time when said first communication device operates as said source, and

wherein said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said first maximum compatible sore-to-sink data rate during a second interval of time when said second communication device operates as said source.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first communication device and said second communication device are configured as facsimile machines operating in half-duplex transmission mode.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, for full-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate.

22. A machine-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instruction sequences for exchanging data rate information in a packet-based network, said instruction sequences comprising:

receiving, by a first gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a first communication device, said first communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;

determining a first data signaling rate between said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism;

receiving, by a second gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a second communication device, said second communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;

determining a second data signaling rate between said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism;

forwarding data rate information containing said first data signaling rate to said second, gateway mechanism; and

forwarding data rate information containing said second data signaling rate to said first gateway mechanism, wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said first data signaling rate and said second data signaling rate received from said second gateway mechanism, and

wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said second data signaling rate and said first data signaling rate received from said first gateway mechanism;

arm

wherein the first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate differ.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein said first gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said second data signaling rate from said second gateway mechanism.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein said second gateway mechanism implements a delay until it has received said data rate information containing said first data signaling rate from said first gateway mechanism.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said first communication device, said first gateway mechanism, and said second data signaling rate and a mode of operation of the first communication device.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate by selecting the maximum data rate supported by said second communication device, said second gateway mechanism, and said first data signaling rate and a mode of operation of the second communication device.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 26, wherein said data rate information is configured as a modulation parameter sequence in accordance with any of the V series fax/data modem protocols.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, wherein said first gateway mechanism delay and said second gateway mechanism delay are implemented as a nonfunctional modulation parameter sequence.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein, for half-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate during a first interval of time when said first communication device operates as said source, and

wherein said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate dung a second interval of time when said second communication device operates as said source.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 29, wherein said first communication device and said second communication device are configure as facsimile machines operating in half-duplex transmission mode.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein, for full-duplex transmissions, said first communication device transmits data to said second communication device at said first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second communication device transmits data to said first communication device at said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate.

32. The machine-readable medium of claim 31, wherein said first communication device and said second communication device are configured as modems operating in full-duplex transmission mode.