Method and apparatus for predicting the quality of packet data communications

• US 7,397,778 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Scholte, Alexander M., Jay, Dylan, Mason, Kim, Minhazuddin, Muneyb, Schreuder, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US10/420,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.08, 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/352, 370/389, 370/466, 370/241, 370/248, 370/395.21, 370/395.42, 370/412, 370/400, 370/356, 709/235, 379/88.17, 379/219, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention provides a prediction of an available communication channel quality. According to the present invention, in response to a request for a communication channel, network devices are queried for network parameter status information. Based on the network status parameter information returned, a prediction as to the available quality levels available for the communication is made. An indication of the predicted quality of service for one or a number of requested service levels may be provided to the requesting user, who may then choose to defer initiation of the communication, or to proceed. A user may be notified when predicted quality levels available in connection with a requested communication reach a predetermined level, at which point the user may choose to establish the requested communication channel. Information regarding a rate associated with a requested quality of service level may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method for predicting communication channel quality, comprising:

receiving a first address segment;

in response to receiving said first address segment, querying at least a first network device;

receiving a second address segment;

in response to receiving said second address segment, querying at least a second network device;

in response to said queries of said first and second network devices, receiving network parameter status;

predicting a communication channel quality using said network parameter status information;

in response to an acceptable communication quality prediction, initiating a communication over said communication channel; and

in response to an unacceptable communication quality prediction, waiting to initiate a communication over said communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a first network device comprises at least one of a router and a network switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a first network device comprises an edge router.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said network device comprises a router, and wherein each router along a communication channel is queried.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of querying a network device comprises querying a DiffServ management information base.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said network parameter status information comprises at least one of a queue status, a priority level for each call in progress, end to end delay for packets associated with a call in progress, a packet loss rate for a call in progress, observed packet jitter for a call in progress, and a number of calls in progress.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating said predicted communication channel quality to a user by at least one of a visual display and an audible output.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

second querying of a network device;

second predicting a communication channel quality; and

in response to said second predicting indicating an acceptable communication channel quality, initiating a communication to a communication device over a route in connection with which said communication channel quality was checked.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after waiting a first time period following an unacceptable communication quality prediction, further querying of the first network choice, receiving further network parameter status information, and predicting a communication channel quality using said further network parameter status information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to an acceptable communication quality prediction using said further network parameter status information, initiating a call back to a user.

11. A communication quality prediction device, comprising:

a communication network interface operable to send and receive packet data, wherein said communication quality prediction device is in communication with first and second network devices;

memory operable to store operating code;

a processor operable to run said operating code, wherein said first network device is queried for network parameter status information after a first address segment is received and prior to initiation of a communication, wherein said second network device is queried for network parameter status information after a second address segment is received and prior to initiation of the communication, and wherein a prediction regarding an expected communication quality is made; and

a communication quality indication output, wherein a user is provided with an indication of said prediction regarding an expected communication quality, wherein in response to an acceptable communication quality prediction a communication over the network is initiated, and wherein in response to an unacceptable communication quality prediction a communication over the network is deferred.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said communication quality indication output comprises at least one of a visual display and an audible output.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said communication comprises a voice over Internet protocol call.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said first network device comprises a router.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a communication over a communication channel;

querying a network device regarding at least first network parameter status information; and

in response to receiving said at least a first network parameter status information, predicting a present quality of said communication channel;

signaling said predicted present quality of said communication quality to a user making said request to initiate a communication, wherein said request to initiate a communication comprises receiving from said user at least a first address segment, and wherein said at least a first network parameter status information is related to a portion of said communication channel indicated by said at least a first address segment, and wherein at least a second address segment is required in combination with the first address segment to complete the communication.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from said user to proceed with establishing said communication.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said network device comprises a router and wherein said at least a first network status parameter comprises a queue status of said router.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said network device comprises a switch and wherein said at least a first network status parameter comprises a number of other communications being handled by said switch.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said call comprises at least one of a voice telephony communication and a video conference communication.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said computational component comprises a computer readable storage medium containing instructions for performing the method.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said computational component comprises a logic circuit.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to an unacceptable communication quality prediction for the portion of said communication channel indicated by said first address segment, deferring a communication over said communication channel, wherein said communication channel quality prediction is made for said first address segment only.

23. A system for predicting communication channel quality, comprising:

means for querying at least a first network device for network parameter status information;

means for predicting communication channel quality using said network parameter status information in response to receipt of a first address segment, and for querying at least a second network device for network parameter status information in response to receipt of a second address segment; and

means for communicating said predicted communication channel quality to a user, wherein in response to a predicted unacceptable communication channel quality, a communication using the communication channel is deferred.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said means for communicating comprises a call back function, wherein a requested communication link is established in response to a predicted communication channel quality that meets at least a threshold level.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said network parameter status information comprises at least one of a queue status, a priority level for an existing communication link, an end to end delay for an existing communication link, a packet loss rate for an existing communication link, and a number of existing communication links.