Congestion control system for VoIP network

• US 7,391,765 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sakata, Masataka, Ishikawa, Ryuji, Tezuka, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALIYUR, VENKATESH N
• Application Number:
  US10/116,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,272 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-237, 370/395.21, 370289-394, 370/401, 370/410, 370/395.2, 370/412, 370/429
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6456 Channel and bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6464 Priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2458 Modification of priorities while in transit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/266 Stopping or restarting the source, e.g. X-on or X-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1275 Methods and means to improve the telephone service quality, e.g. reservation, prioritisation or admission control

Abstract

A system according to this invention executes congestion control for monitoring a packet flow which passes through a relay router in a VoIP network and in which a packet is transferred with a predetermined priority, and for, when congestion is generated by generation of a new packet flow, maintaining a transfer state of a packet of a packet flow established before the new packet flow is generated and transferred with the predetermined priority.

Claims

1. A congestion control system for a VoIP network comprising:

first and second VoIP gateways to generate at least one packet flow on the IP network, wherein the at least one packet flow is generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway to establish a telephonic communication call between users;

a relay router including to a plurality of queues, storing packets of packet flows, each of which passes through the relay router and has a priority, in one of the plurality of queues corresponding the priority and forwarding packets stored in the plurality of queues according to the priority, when a new packet flow that passes through the relay router and has a predetermined priority is generated between the first and second VoIP gateways, the relay router judging whether the new packet flow causes congestion in the relay router, if it is judged that the new packet flow causes the congestion, the relay router transmitting a congestion notice relating to the new packet flow; and

a control device for the first and second VoIP gateways to receive the congestion notice from the relay router or the relay router via any one of the first and second VoIP gateways and to execute congestion control with respect to the new packet flow to avoid storing packets of the new packet flow in one of the plurality of queues corresponding to the predetermined priority in the relay router when a reception frequency of the congestion notice reaches a predetermined value.

3. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 1, wherein

the control device controls at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways based on the congestion notice to change the priority of the new packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority.

4. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 1, wherein

the control device controls at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways based on the congestion notice to disconnect the new packet flow.

7. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 1, wherein the relay router holds a sum total of used bands for one or more packet flows each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority, and judges that the new packet flow causes the congestion when the sum total exceeds a predetermined allowable value by adding a used band of the new packet flow.

8. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 7, wherein the relay router comprises:

a flow specifying information storage to register flow specifying information for specifying a packet flow which passes through the relay router and has the predetermined priority;

a sum total storage to store a sum total of used bands of one or more packet flows registered in the flow specifying information storage; and

an allowable value storage to store an allowable value of a band available for packet flows each having the predetermined priority in the relay router, and

wherein when the relay router receives a packet of the new packet flow, the relay router specifies a priority of the new packet flow, when the specified priority is the predetermined priority, the relay router refers to the flow specifying information storage, and when the flow specifying information of the new packet flow is not registered in the flow specifying information storage me*, the relay router calculates a used band of the new packet flow, adds the calculated band value to the sum total stored in the sum total storage, and judges whether the adding result exceeds the allowable value stored in the allowable value storage or not.

9. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 8, wherein, when the relay router judges that the addition result does not exceed the allowable value stored in the allowable value storage, the relay router registers the flow specifying information of the new packet flow in the flow specifying information storage , and stores the addition result in the sum total storage as a new sum total.

10. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 7, wherein

when the relay router receives a packet of the new packet flow, if the packet is an audio packet, the relay router calculates a used band of the new packet flow for the audio packet on the basis of an RTP payload type and an IP packet length included in the audio packet.

11. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 8, wherein when changing the priority or disconnecting is executed with regard to a packet flow registered in the flow specifying information storage, the relay router deletes the flow specifying information of the packet flow from the flow specifying information storage and subtracts the value of the used band of the packet flow from the sum total stored in the sum total storage.

12. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 8, wherein the relay router checks whether the relay router receives a packet of each of the one or more packet flows registered in the flow specifying information storage means within a predetermined period of time or not, deletes the flow specifying information of a packet flow in the one or more packet flows in which a packet is not received within the predetermined period of time from the flow specifying information storage, and subtracts the value of the used band of the packet flow from the sum total stored in the sum total storage.

13. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 1, wherein when it is judged that the new packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router, and one of the first and second VoIP gateways gives an inquiry to a user of the new packet flow and executes one of changing the priority of the new packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the new packet flow on the basis of a reply to the inquiry from the user.

14. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 13, wherein

when, as new packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority are generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway, and when the relay router judges that at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router, the first VoIP gateway gives an inquiry to a user of the first packet flow and executes one of changing the priority of the first packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the first packet flow on the basis of a reply to the inquiry from the user, and

wherein the second VoIP gateway receives control contents indicating one of the changing and the discontinuing executed by the first VoIP gateway and executes one of changing the priority of the second packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the second packet flow on the basis of the control contents.

15. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 3, wherein when, as new packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority are generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway, the relay router judges whether at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router,

and wherein the control device, when receiving congestion notices with respect to both of the first packet flow and the second packet flow bases on judging results the relay router, controls at least one of the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway to change the priority of at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority.

16. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 4, wherein when, as new packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority are generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway, the relay router judges whether at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router,

and wherein the control device, when receiving congestion notices with respect to both of the first packet flow and the second packet flow based on judging results of the relay router, controls at least one of the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway to disconnect at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow.

2. A congestion control system for an IP network comprising:

first and second VoIP gateways to generate at least one packet flow on the IP network, wherein the at least one packet flow is generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway to establish a telephonic communication call between users; and

a relay router including to a plurality of queues, storing packets of packet flows, each of which passes through the relay router and has a priority, in one of the plurality of queues corresponding the priority and forwarding packets stored in the plurality of queues according to the priority, when a new packet flow that passes through the relay router and has a predetermined priority is generated between the first and second VoIP gateways, the relay router judging whether the new packet flow will cause congestion in the relay router, if it is judged that the new packet flow will cause the congestion, the relay router transmitting a congestion notice relating to the new packet flow, at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways receiving the congestion notice from the relay router and executing congestion control with respect to the new packet flow to avoid storing packets of the new packet flow in one of the plurality of the plurality of queues corresponding to the predetermined priority in the relay router when a reception frequency of the congestion notice reaches a predetermined value.

5. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 2, wherein

at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways changes the priority of the new packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority based on the congestion notice.

6. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 2, wherein

at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways disconnects the new packet flow based on the congestion notice.

17. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 5, wherein when, as new packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority are generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway, the relay router judges whether at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router, and wherein, at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways, when receiving congestion notices with respect to both of the first packet flow and the second packet flow based on the judging results of the relay router, changes the priority of at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority.

18. The congestion control system for an IP network according to claim 6, wherein when, as new packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow each passing through the relay router and each having the predetermined priority are generated between the first VoIP gateway and the second VoIP gateway, the relay router judges whether at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router, and wherein at least one of the first and second VoIP gateways, when receiving congestion notices with respect to both of the first packet flow and the second packet flow based on judging results of the relay router, disconnects at least one of the first packet flow and the second packet flow.

19. A system for setting audio packet flows on an IP network comprising:

first and second VoIP gateways to generate a first packet flow that audio packets are transferred from the first VoIP gateway to the second VoIP gateway and the second packet flow that audio packets are transferred from the second VoIP gateway to the first VoIP gateway on the VoIP network;

a relay router through which the first and second packet flows pass, the relay router receiving and forwarding packets of the first and second packet flows,

wherein the first VoIP gateway transmits a test packet including priority information indicating a predetermined priority to the first packet flow when the first and second packet flows are generated between the first and second VoIP gateways,

wherein the relay router judges whether the first packet flow causes congestion in the relay router when receiving the test packet transferred on the first packet flow, if it is judged that the first packet flow causes the congestion, the relay router changes content of the priority information in the test packet, if it is judge that the first packet flow does not cause the congestion, the relay router does not change the content of the priority information,

wherein the second VoIP gateway receives the test packet forward by the relay router and transmits the test packet to the second packet flow,

wherein the relay router judges whether the second packet flow causes congestion in the relay router when receiving and forwarding the test packet transferred on the second packet flow, if it is judged that the second packet flow causes the congestion and the content of the priority information has not been changed, the relay router changes the content of the priority information in the test packet, if it is judged that the second packet flow does not cause the congestion, the relay router does not change the content of the priority information,

wherein the first VoIP gateway receives the test packet forwarded by the relay router, if the priority information has been changed, the first VoIP gateway executes one of changing the priority of the first packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the first packet flow,

when the second VoIP gateway changes the priority of the second packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority when the priority of the first packet flow is changed, and

wherein the second VoIP gateway disconnects the second packet flow when the first packet flow is disconnected.

20. A VoIP gateway including a computer readable recording medium having a computer program stored thereon, said computer program executing processes to control congestion on an IP network, the processes comprising:

setting a new audio packet flow that passes through a relay router and has a predetermined priority between the VoIP gateway and a second VoIP gateway to establish a telephonic communication call through a VoIP network;

inquiring of a user of the telephonic communication call about control contents of the new audio packet flow when the relay router judges that the new audio packet flow will cause congestion in the relay router; and

executing one of changing the priority of the new audio packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the new audio packet flow according to a reply from the user in order to avoid occurrence of congestion in the relay router,

wherein when, as control contents, one of the changing the priority and the disconnecting is executed, the VoIP gateway transmits information indicating the control contents to notify the second VoIP gateway of the control contents.

21. A VoIP gateway including a computer readable recording medium having a computer program stored thereon, said computer program executing processes to control congestion on a VoIP network, the processes comprising:

setting for, as new audio packet flows, a first packet flow and a second packet flow between the VoIP gateway and a second VoIP gateway via a relay router to establish a telephonic communication call through a VoIP network, wherein audio packets on the first packet flow are transmitted from the VoIP gateway to the second VoIP gateway, and audio packets on the second packet flow are transmitted from the second VoIP gateway to the VoIP gateway;

transmitting a test packet that includes a priority information indicating a predetermined priority to the first packet flow, wherein the test packet reaches the second VoIP gateway through the first packet flow, thereafter, the test packet is transmitted from the second VoIP gateway and reaches the VoIP gateway through the second packet flow, when the test packet passes through the relay router, if at least one of the first and second packet flows cause congestion in the relay router, the relay router changes content of the priority information in the test packet;

receiving the test packet from the second packet flow; and

executing one of changing the priority of the first packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the first packet flow if the content of the priority information has been changed.

22. The VoIP gateway according to the claim 21, wherein when, as control contents, one of the changing the priority of the first packet flow and the disconnecting the first packet flow is executed, the VoIP gateway transmits information indicating the control contents to notify the second VoIP gateway of the control contents, wherein the second VoIP gateway changes the priority of the second packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority when the priority of the first packet flow is changed, and wherein the second VoIP gateway disconnects the second packet flow when the first packet flow is disconnected.

23. A relay router on an IP network, storing thereon a computer program executing processes to control congestion in the IP network, the processes comprising:

monitoring packet flows each of which passes through the relay router itself and has a predetermined priority; and

judging, when a new packet flow which passes through the relay router itself and has a predetermined priority is established, whether the new packet flow will cause congestion in the relay router; and

outputting a congestion notice relating to the new packet flow to execute any one of changing the priority of the new packet flow into a priority lower than the predetermined priority and disconnecting the new packet flow when it is judged that the new packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router in order to avoid occurrence of congestion in the relay router,

wherein the relay router holds a sum total of used bands of one or more packet flows each passing through the relay router itself and having the predetermined priority, and wherein the relay router judges that the new packet flow causes the congestion in the relay router when the sum total exceeds a predetermined allowable value by adding a used band of the new packet flow.

24. The relay router according to claim 23, wherein the relay router comprises:

a flow specifying information storage to register flow specifying information for specifying a packet flow which passes through the relay router and has the predetermined priority;

a sum total storage to store a sum total of used bands of one or more packet flows registered in the flow specifying information storage; and

an allowable value storage to store an allowable value, and

wherein when the relay router receives a packet of the new packet flow, the relay router specifies a priority of the new packet flow, when the specified priority is the predetermined priority, the relay router refers to the flow specifically information storage, and when the flow specifying information of the new packet flow is not stored in the flow specifying information storage, the relay router calculates a used band of the new packet flow, adds the calculated band value to the sum total stored in the sum total storage, and judges whether the addition result exceed the allowable value stored in the allowable value storage or not.

25. The relay router according to claim 24, wherein, when the relay router judges that the addition result does not exceed the allowable value stored in the allowable value storage, the relay router registers the flow specifying information of the new packet flow in the flow specifying information storage, and stores the addition result in the sum total storage as a new sum total value.

26. The relay router according to claim 23, wherein

when the relay router receives a packet of the new audio packet flow, if the packet is an audio packet, the relay router calculates a used band of the new packet flow for the audio packet on the basis of an RTP payload type and an IP packet length included in the audio packet.

27. The relay router according to the claim 24, wherein, when one of changing the priority and disconnecting is executed with regard to a packet flow registered in the flow specifying information storage, the relay router deletes the flow specifying information of the packet flow from the flow specifying information storage and subtracts the value of the used band of the packet flow from the sum total stored in the sum total storage.

28. The relay router according to claim 24, wherein the relay router checks whether the relay router receives a packet of each of the one or more packet flows registered in the flow specifying information storage within a predetermined period of time or not, deletes flow specifying information of a packet flow in the one or more packet flows in which a packet is not received within the predetermined period of time from the flow specifying information storage, and subtracts the value of the used band of the packet flow from the sum total value stored in the sum total storage.