System and method for notification of internet users about faults detected on an IP network
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a potential problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) examining an original packet sequence to be sent from said origin point, said original packet sequence comprising periods of silence between packets to be transmitted, to determine one or more extended silence periods wherein said extended silence period exceeds a predetermined time duration;
(b) introducing a keep-alive signal packet into each of said extended silence periods thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence;
(c) transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; and
,(d) detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval,wherein said original packet sequence comprises RTP packets and said keep-alive signal comprises RTCP packets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for rapid network failure detection, identification and notification to internet users. It is particular applicable to VoIP applications where such real-time problem identification is particular valuable. It reduces failure detection time by coordinating the sending frequency of RTP and RTCP packets. These incoming packets are monitored and the failure to receive a predetermined number in a specified time window indicates that a network problem has occurred. This problem is then promptly communicated to users of the system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a potential problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) examining an original packet sequence to be sent from said origin point, said original packet sequence comprising periods of silence between packets to be transmitted, to determine one or more extended silence periods wherein said extended silence period exceeds a predetermined time duration; (b) introducing a keep-alive signal packet into each of said extended silence periods thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence; (c) transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; and
,(d) detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval, wherein said original packet sequence comprises RTP packets and said keep-alive signal comprises RTCP packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for detecting a potential problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said method comprising the steps of:
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(g) introducing, at a fixed period, a keep-alive signal packet into an original packet sequence, thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence; (h) transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; and
,(i) detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination-point during a specified time interval, wherein said keep-alive signal comprises RTCP packets.
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10. A method for notifying users of an IP network of a problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets on said IP network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a keep-alive signal packet into silence periods of an original packet sequence, thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence, wherein said keep-alive signal packet consists of a source description (SDES) RTCP packet with a source count (SC) of 0; transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; (j) detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval; and
,(k) notifying the users of said problem.
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11. A system for detecting a potential problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said system comprising:
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(I) means for examining an original packet sequence to be sent from said origin point, said original packet sequence comprising periods of silence between packets to be transmitted, to determine one or more extended silence periods wherein said extended silence period exceeds a predetermined time duration;
(m) means for introducing a keep-alive signal packet into each of said extended silence periods thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence;
(n) means for transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; and
, (o) means for detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval,wherein said original packet sequence comprises RTP packets and said keep-alive signal comprises RTCP packets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for detecting a potential problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said transmission occurrinq from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said system comprising:
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(r) means for introducing, at a fixed period, a keep-alive signal packet into an original packet sequence, thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence; (s) means for transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; and
,(t) means for detecting whenever at least one packet of said modified packet sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval, wherein said keep-alive signal comprises RTCP packets.
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20. A system for notifying users of an IP network of a problem in the transmission of a sequence of packets on said IP network, said transmission occurring from a signal origin point to a signal destination point, said system comprising:
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means for introducing a keep-alive signal packet into silence periods of an original packet sequence, thereby converting said original packet sequence into a modified packet sequence, wherein said keep-alive signal packet consists of a source description (SDES) RTCP packet with a source count (SC) of 0; means for transmitting said modified packet sequence over the IP network; means for detecting whenever at least one packet of said sequence has not been received at the signal destination point during a specified time interval; and
,means for notifying the users of said problem.
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Specification