Method for controlling service levels over packet based networks

• US 6,944,166 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Steeves, Ronald L, Perinpanathan, Nishanthan M. T., Chen, Vincent Y
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOORE JR, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/635,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 370/463, 370/395.2, 370/401, 370/352, 709/226, 379/114.03, 379/114.04, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/114.07, 379/114.08, 379/114.09, 379/114.1
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware

Abstract

An end user/station can dynamically control the service levels to/from a second user/station (i.e., locally or remotely controlling service levels). The service levels being provided over packet based networks (which may include Internet Protocol (IP) networks). Dynamic control may be provided for either or both of the service level (e.g., priority of transmission, class or type of service, bandwidth, etc.) and allocation of the costs associated with the service levels provided to users of the embodiments. In some embodiments, users, subscribing to a level of service (e.g., a set bandwidth and/or type of service) can request and obtain a different (e.g., better or worse) level of service (e.g., higher bandwidth access, higher priority of transmissions, etc.) for each call or session between the user and a called station over the packet network. Moreover, the level of service provided for the upstream direction (i.e., transmissions from the user) can be different from the level of service provided for the downstream direction (i.e., transmissions to the user). Further, the settlement procedures for the costs of these services can be allocated to the user, to the station called by the user, or a third station.

Claims

1. A media gateway in a packet network, said media gateway providing communication between a first station and said packet network and a second media gateway providing communication between a second station and said packet network, said media gateway adapted to:

allocate resources for said first station, said resources forming a first connection providing communication from said media gateway over said packet network to said second media gateway, said first connection adapted to provide a first service level;

transmit a request for communication with said second station, said request providing network connection information about said first connection and said first service level;

receive a message providing network connection information about a second connection and a second service level, said second service level associated with said second connection, said second connection providing communication between said second media gateway and said packet network;

modify said first connection to provide said second service level;

transmit data received from said first station destined for said second station to a network address of said second media gateway using said first connection; and

transmit data received from said second station destined for said first station to a network address of said first media gateway using said second connection.

2. The media gateway of claim 1 further configured to:

prior to said allocating, receiving a service request from said first station, said service request requesting said first level of service; and

wherein said allocating is responsive to said service request received.

3. The media gateway of claim 1 wherein said service request further comprises a request for a settlement procedure for said modification of said first connection;

and further comprising transmitting a settlement message requesting that costs of associating said first connection with said second service level be allocated according to said settlement procedure.

4. The media gateway of claim 1 wherein said media gateway and said second media gateway are serviced by a single media gateway controller.

5. The media gateway of claim 1 further configured to:

receive a modification request triggered by one of said first station, said second media gateway, a media gateway controller, said second station and a third party; and

modify said first connection responsive to said modification request.

6. The media gateway of claim 1 further configured to:

receive a modification request from a media gateway controller; and

modify said first connection responsive to said modification request.

7. A media gateway controller in a data network, said media gateway controller for establishing communication between a first media gateway and a second media gateway over a packet network, said first media gateway servicing a first station and said second media gateway servicing a second station, said media gateway controller configured to:

receive a request from said first media gateway, said request requesting a level of service for a connection for communication between said first media gateway and said second media gateway, an address for a second station and a first network address associated with said connection terminating at said first media gateway, said first station subscribing to a subscription level of service different from said level of service requested;

transmit a communication request to said second media gateway, said communication request requesting said second media gateway allocate resources for communication between said second media gateway and said first media gateway over said packet network for said connection;

receive from said second media gateway a network address associated with said connection terminating at said second media gateway;

transmit to said first media gateway a response to said request, said response indicating a level of service to be provided to said first station in view of said service level requested; and

said connection comprising an upstream connection for transmissions from said first media gateway to said second media gateway and a downstream connection for transmissions from said second media gateway to said first media gateway.

8. The media gateway controller of claim 7 wherein said media gateway controller communicates with said second media gateway via a second media gateway controller.

9. The media gateway controller of claim 7 wherein said service level provided for said upstream connection is different from said service level provided for said downstream connection.

10. The media gateway controller of claim 7 further configured to:

receive a request to modify said connection, said request indicating modification of at least one of;

said level of service of said upstream connection;

said level of service of said downstream connection; and

allocation of costs of said connection.

11. The media gateway controller of claim 7 wherein said first media gateway and said second media gateway are serviced by said media gateway controller.

12. The media gateway controller of claim 7 wherein said level of service to be provided is different from:

said requested level of service; and

said subscription level of service.

13. The media gateway controller of claim 7 further configured to:

transmit to said first media gateway a message requesting modification of said level of service of said connection to be provided to said first station, said modification modifying said level of service to be provided to said requested level of service.

14. A computer readable media containing software for a media gateway in a packet network, said media gateway communicating with a first station and said packet network and a second media gateway communicating with a second station and said packet network, said computer readable media configuring said media gateway to:

allocate resources to said first station, said resources forming a first communication connection providing communication between said media gateway and said packet network, said first communication connection configured to provide a fist service level;

transmit a request for communication with said second station, said request providing network connection information about said first communication connection and said fist service level;

receive a message providing network connection information about a second communication connection and a second service level, said second service level associated with said second communication connection, said second communication connection providing communication between said second media gateway and said packet network;

receive confirmation of modification of said first connection, said modification adapting said first connection to provide said second service level;

transmit data received from said first station and destined for said second station using said first communication connection; and

transmit data received from said second station and destined for said first station using said second communication connection.

15. A method for providing communications over a packet network between a first station and a second station, said method comprising, at a first media gateway in said packet network:

allocating resources for said first station, said resources forming a first connection providing communication from said first media gateway over said packet network to a second media gateway in said packet network, said first connection adapted to provide a first service level;

transmitting a request for communication with said second station, said request providing network connection information about said first connection and said first service level;

receiving a message providing network connection information about a second connection and a second service level, said second service level associated with said second connection, said second connection providing communication between said second media gateway and said packet network;

modifying said first connection to provide said second service level;

transmitting data received from said first station destined for said second station to a network address of said second media gateway using said first connection; and

transmitting data received from said second station destined for said first station to a network address of said first media gateway using said second connection.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

prior to said allocating, receiving a service request from said first station, said service request requesting said first level of service; and

wherein said allocating is responsive to said service request received.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said service request further comprises a request for a settlement procedure for said modification of said first connection;

and further comprising transmitting a settlement message requesting that costs of associating said first connection with said second service level be allocated according to said settlement procedure.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving a modification request triggered by one of said first station, said second media gateway, a media gateway controller, said second station and a third party; and

modifying said first connection responsive to said modification request.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving a modification request from a media gateway controller; and

modifying said first connection responsive to said modification request.

20. A method for providing communications between a first station and a second station, said method comprising, at a media gateway controller:

receiving a request from a first media gateway servicing said first station, said request requesting a level of service for a connection for communication between said first media gateway and a second media gateway servicing said second station, an address for a second station and a first network address associated with said connection terminating at said first media gateway, said first station subscribing to a subscription level of service different from said level of service requested;

transmitting a communication request to said second media gateway, said communication request requesting said second media gateway allocate resources for communication between said second media gateway and said first media gateway over said packet network for said connection;

receiving from said second media gateway a network address associated with said connection terminating at said second media gateway;

transmitting to said first media gateway a response to said request, said response indicating a level of service to be provided to said first station in view of said service level requested; and

said connection comprising an upstream connection for transmissions from said first media gateway to said second media gateway and a downstream connection for transmissions from said second media gateway to said first media gateway.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said transmitting a communication request to said second media gateway is performed via a second media gateway controller.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said service level provided for said upstream connection is different from said service level provided for said downstream connection.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving a request to modify said connection, said request indicating modification of at least one of;

said level of service of said upstream connection;

said level of service of said downstream connection; and

allocation of costs of said connection.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said first media gateway and said second media gateway are serviced by said media gateway controller.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said level of service to be provided is different from:

said requested level of service; and

said subscription level of service.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

transmitting to said first media gateway a message requesting modification of said level of service of said connection to be provided to said first station, said modification modifying said level of service to be provided to said requested level of service.