Classification for media stream packets in a media gateway

• US 7,688,820 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Divitas Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Divitas Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Marder, Josh, Forte, Paolo, Karia, Snehal
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG HOANG JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/537,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/230, 370/235, 370/351, 709/238
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2575 using address mapping retrieval, e.g. simple traversal of user datagram protocol through session traversal utilities for NAT [STUN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2578 without involvement of the NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/02 Buffering or recovering information during reselection ; Modification of the traffic flow during hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method in Field Programmable Gate Array for processing packets received at a media gateway is provided. The method includes ascertaining whether a received packet is a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet. The method also includes comparing first portion of UDP destination port number from UDP packet header with first portion with UDP port base that has been set up in media gateway. If a match exist, employing second portion of UDP destination port number as a key to UDP port table to ascertain whether packets associated with media stream ID are to be discarded, and discarding received packet if packet associated with media stream ID is to be discarded. If not, obtaining media processing CPU ID associated with media stream ID, formulating destination MAC address, and updating packet with destination MAC address, thereby enabling packet to be switched to media processing CPU associated with media processing CPU ID.

Claims

1. A method for processing packets received at a media gateway, the method comprising:

ascertaining, using a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), whether a received packet is a media packet;

if said received packet is said media packet according to said ascertaining,

inspecting, using said FPGA, a first portion of a media destination port number from the header of said media packet, and

comparing, using said FPGA, said first portion of said media destination port number with a media port base that has already been set up in said media gateway,

if there is a match between said first portion of said media destination port number and said media port base according to the comparing,

inspecting, using said FPGA, a second portion of said media destination port number from said header of said media packet,

employing, using said FPGA, said second portion of said media destination port number as a key to a media port table of said media gateway to ascertain whether packets associated with a media stream ID are to be discarded, and

discarding, using said FPGA, said received packet if said packet associated with said media stream ID are to be discard,

else,

 

obtaining, using said FPGA, a media processing CPU ID associated with said media stream ID from said media port table,

 

formulating, using said FPGA, a destination MAC address for said received packet of at least said media processing CPU ID, and

 

updating, using said FPGA, said received packet with said destination MAC address, thereby enabling said received packet to be switched by a switch that is external to said FPGA to a media processing CPU associated with said media processing CPU ID, wherein said media packet represents at least one of a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) packet and a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet, and said media port table represents at least one of a TCP port table and a UDP port table and wherein said media gateway represents a gateway for processing at least one of text data, image data, voice call data, audio data, and video data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said media packet represents a UDP packet, and said media port table represents a UDP port table.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether said media packet requires demultiplexing.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating discard status of said received packet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said media gateway represents a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) gateway.

6. In a communication system, a media gateway comprising a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) configured to classify packets received at said media gateway based on a media port table implemented internally in said FPGA, said media port table including at least one port that represents at least one media stream that has been set up by a host CPU in said communication system, said FPGA comprising:

circuits for obtaining a media processing CPU ID from said media port table for a packet received at said media gateway and for formulating a destination MAC address for said packet, wherein the media gateway configured to process at least one of text data, image data, voice call data, audio data, and video data,

a comparator configured to compare a first portion of the header of a packet with a media port base of a valid media port range, said valid media port range representing a portion of said media port table, said media port table represents at least one of a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) port table and a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port table,

an inspection mechanism configured to inspect at least one discard bit of a packet received at said FPGA for determining whether to discard said packet, said at least one discard bit marked by said host CPU, and

wherein said at least one port includes at least one programmed field, said at least one programmed field including at least one of a MAC address for a media processing CPU, a flag indicating whether a packet should be discarded, and a field indicating discard status of said packet.

7. The media gateway of claim 6 wherein said media port table represents a UDP port table.

8. The media gateway of claim 6 wherein said FPGA is further configured to update said packet with said destination MAC address, thereby enabling said packet to be switched by a switch that is external to said FPGA to a media processing CPU associated with said media processing CPU ID.

9. The media gateway of claim 6 wherein said FPGA is further configured to discard packets that are marked to be discarded by said host CPU.

10. The media gateway of claim 6 further comprising at least one media processing CPU, said at least one media processing CPU and said FPGA being implemented in the same chassis.

11. The media gateway of claim 6 configured to process voice call data.

12. The media gateway of claim 6 further comprising a second FPGA, said second FPGA configured to classify said packets received at said media gateway based on a second media port table implemented internally in said second FPGA.

13. The media gateway or claim 6 further comprising a third FPGA, said second FPGA configured to classify said packets received at said media gateway based on a third media port table implemented internally in said third FPGA.