Method and apparatus for analyzing a media path in a packet switched network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for analyzing a media path in a packet switched network, comprising:
- conducting an initial media call signaling session with logic circuitry for establishing a media call and setting up the media path over the packet switched network, the media path established by successful completion of the initial media call signaling setup session and used for receiving or transmitting media packets containing media payloads;
sending and/or receiving one or more no-op media payload packets over the media path with the logic circuitry during and within the initial media call signaling session prior to establishing the media call and setting up the media path, the no-op media payload packets formatted as though the media packets contain media payloads but the no-op media payload packets formatted without media payloads and not containing media payloads;
requesting or receiving media path quality information with the logic circuitry associated with the no-op media payload packets during the initial media call signaling session prior to establishment of the media call being established by the initial media call signaling session;
selectively completing or terminating the initial media call signaling session with the logic circuitry according to the information obtained from the transmission of the no-op media payload packet during the initial media call signaling session, successful completion of the initial media call signaling session enabling subsequent transmission or playing out of media packets containing media payloads over the media path; and
inserting a time stamp into the transmitted no-op media payload packets with the logic circuitry that identifies a non-zero amount of simulated media time for media content in the no-op media payload packets that is not actually encoded into the no-op media payload packets.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
No-op media payload packets are used to analyze a media path in a packet switched network. In one embodiment, the no-op packets are Real Time Protocol (RTP) payload packets that contain no media content. A Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) report is generated for the received RTP no-op packets. A marker bit is set in one of the no-op packets that triggers the no-op packet receiver to send back the RTCP report. The media steam is transmitted when the statistics in the RTCP report indicate a viable media path.
156 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for analyzing a media path in a packet switched network, comprising:
-
conducting an initial media call signaling session with logic circuitry for establishing a media call and setting up the media path over the packet switched network, the media path established by successful completion of the initial media call signaling setup session and used for receiving or transmitting media packets containing media payloads; sending and/or receiving one or more no-op media payload packets over the media path with the logic circuitry during and within the initial media call signaling session prior to establishing the media call and setting up the media path, the no-op media payload packets formatted as though the media packets contain media payloads but the no-op media payload packets formatted without media payloads and not containing media payloads; requesting or receiving media path quality information with the logic circuitry associated with the no-op media payload packets during the initial media call signaling session prior to establishment of the media call being established by the initial media call signaling session; selectively completing or terminating the initial media call signaling session with the logic circuitry according to the information obtained from the transmission of the no-op media payload packet during the initial media call signaling session, successful completion of the initial media call signaling session enabling subsequent transmission or playing out of media packets containing media payloads over the media path; and inserting a time stamp into the transmitted no-op media payload packets with the logic circuitry that identifies a non-zero amount of simulated media time for media content in the no-op media payload packets that is not actually encoded into the no-op media payload packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A network processing device, comprising:
-
a processor configured to; conduct an initial media call signaling session for establishing a media call and setting up a media path over a packet switched network; send and/or receive one or more no-op media payload packets over the media path during the initial media call signaling session, the no-op media payload packets formatted as though the media packets contain media payloads but the no-op media payload packets formatted without media payloads; selectively complete or terminate the initial media call signaling session according to information obtained from transmission of the no-op media payload packet during the initial media call signaling session, wherein successful completion of the initial media call signaling session enables subsequent transmission or playing out of media packets containing media payloads over the media path; and insert a time stamp into the no-op media payload packets that identifies a non-zero amount of simulated media time for media content in the media payload that is not actually encoded into the media payload of the packets. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for analyzing a media path in a packet switched network, comprising:
-
initiating a Real Time Protocol (RTP) signaling session with a network processing device for establishing a media path for transporting RTP payload packets that contain media payloads; sending multiple RTP payload packets with the network processing device during and within the RTP signaling session that are formatted as if the RTP payload packets contain a media payload but the RTP payload packets are formatted without media payloads and do not contain any media payload; selectively completing or terminating the RTP signaling session with the network processing device according to information obtained by sending the RTP payload packets during the RTP signaling session, wherein successful completion of the RTP signaling session enables subsequent transmission or playing out of RTP packets containing media payloads over the media path; and inserting a time stamp into the transmitted RTP payload packets with the network processing device that identifies a non-zero amount of simulated media time for media content in the RTP payload packets that is not actually encoded into the RTP payload packets. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification