System, method and computer program product for monitoring voice application calls over a network

• US 6,970,823 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Networks Associates Technology, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Yago, Paul C., Sangisetti, Ravi, Zhang, Kaiwang
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US10/017,264
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 704/500, 379/88.01, 379/88.14, 379/88.19, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/55 Testing of service level quality, e.g. simulating service usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for monitoring voice application calls over a network. Initially, a first leg of a voice application call is identified. Next, a unique key is created based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object. Further, a second leg of the voice application call is identified. Another unique key is created based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object. In use, both the first and second session objects are associated with a single application object.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

(a) identifying a first leg of a voice application call;

(b) creating a unique key based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object;

(c) identifying a second leg of the voice application call;

(d) creating another unique key based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object; and

(e) associating both the first and second session objects with a single application object;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each leg of the voice application call takes place between an end point and a call manager.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein each unique key associated with the session objects is created utilizing port numbers associated with the end point and the call manager.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein each leg of the voice application calls is identified upon receipt of a message.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the message includes a station call information message.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the message includes a plurality of fields.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, and further comprising creating another unique key associated with the application object.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the unique key associated with the application object is created based on the fields.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the message includes a calling party name field, a calling party port number field, a called party name field, and a called party port number field.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising identifying the completion of the voice application call.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the completion of the voice application call is identified upon receipt of a completion message.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the completion message is selected from the group consisting of a station on hook message and a station stop media transmission message.

13. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

(a) computer code for identifying a first leg of a voice application call;

(b) computer code for creating a unique key based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object;

(c) computer code for identifying a second leg of the voice application call;

(d) computer code for creating another unique key based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object; and

(e) computer code for associating both the first and second session objects with a single application object;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein each leg of the voice application call takes place between an end point and a call manager.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein each unique key associated with the session objects is created utilizing port numbers.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein each unique key associated with the session objects is created utilizing port numbers associated with the end point and the call manager.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein each leg of the voice application calls is identified upon receipt of a message.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the message includes a station call information message.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the message includes a plurality of fields.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, and further comprising computer code for creating another unique key associated with the application object.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the unique key associated with the application object is created based on the fields.

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the message includes a calling party name field, a calling party port number field, a called party name field, and a called party port number field.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, and further comprising computer code for identifying the completion of the voice application call.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the completion of the voice application call is identified upon receipt of a completion message.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the completion message is selected from the group consisting of a station on hook message and a station stop media transmission message.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, and further comprising computer code for incrementing an index variable upon the receipt of the completion message.

27. A system for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

a processor including;

(a) logic for identifying a first leg of a voice application call;

(b) logic for creating a unique key based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object;

(c) logic for identifying a second leg of the voice application call;

(d) logic for creating another unique key based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object; and

(e) logic for associating both the first and second session objects with a single application object;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

28. A system for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

a network analyzer including;

(a) means for identifying a first leg of a voice application call;

(b) means for creating a unique key based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object;

(c) means for identifying a second leg of the voice application call;

(d) means for creating another unique key based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object; and

(e) means for associating both the first and second session objects with a single application object;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

29. A method for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of legs of a voice application call each with a session object associated therewith;

(b) creating a single application object; and

(c) handling the session objects associated with the legs of the voice application call with the single application object;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

30. A data structure embodied on a computer readable medium for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising an application object adapted for handling two legs of a voice application call;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.

31. A method for monitoring voice application calls over a network, comprising:

(a) receiving a first message including a plurality of fields;

(b) identifying a first leg of a voice application call between a first end point and a call manager involving a first Internet Protocol (IP) telephone utilizing a skinny client control protocol (SCCP), in response to the first message;

(c) creating a unique key based on the first leg of the voice application call utilizing a first session object, wherein the unique key is created based on port numbers of the first end point and the call manager;

(d) receiving a second message including a plurality of fields;

(e) identifying a second leg of the voice application call between a second end point and the call manager involving a second Internet Protocol (IP) telephone utilizing SCCP, in response to the second message;

(f) creating another unique key based on the second leg of the voice application call utilizing a second session object, wherein the another unique key is created based on port numbers of the second end point and the call manager;

(g) associating both the first and second session objects with a single application object;

(h) creating another unique key based on the fields of the first message and the fields of the second message for identifying the single application object;

(i) identifying the completion of the voice application call upon the receipt of a completion message; and

(j) incrementing an index variable upon the receipt of the completion message;

wherein the voice application calls are more easily monitored utilizing a graphical user interface by reducing a number of the application objects displayed on the graphical user interface, thereby displaying a compacted organizational structure including the single application object for being more easily monitored visually by a user.