System and method for routing data on a packet network

• US 7,843,831 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K., Morrill, Robert J., Wiley, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuen; Kan
• Application Number:
  US11/809,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-235, 370/252, 370/253, 370/352, 370/353, 370/395.2
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities

Abstract

A system and method for routing non-real-time content over a packet network. A call request to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network may be received. A determination of at least one network node over which a call path for a call to be established for the call request is to be routed may be made. Network performance information associated with communications over the network node(s) may be established. A determination as to whether the network node(s) are impaired or congested may be made and, if the network node(s) are determined to be impaired or congested, communications of the data packets including non-real-time content over the network node(s) may be altered. Otherwise, if the network node(s) are not determined to be impaired or congested, the call may be established on the network node(s). In one embodiment, a call control manager may manage the call.

Claims

1. A method for routing non-real-time content over a packet network, said method comprising:

receiving a call request at a call control manager to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network;

determining at least one network node over which a call path for a call to be established for the call request is to be routed, the network performance information including real-time bandwidth usage and non real-time bandwidth usage;

accessing network performance information associated with communications over the at least one network node;

automatically determining whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested;

if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested, determining the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage from the network performance information; and

if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested then the at least one network node alters communications of the data packets including the non-real-time content and modifies the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information, service level agreements, and quality of service guarantees with each of a plurality of customers;

otherwise, establishing the call on the at least one network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein altering communications includes waiting to communicate the data packets including the non-real-time content.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein altering communications further includes slowing down communications of other data packets including the non-real-time content.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining priority of the call request; and

if the call request has a priority above a threshold value, establishing the call over the at least one network node.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC;

implementing the call utilizing the lower bandwidth CODEC in response to determining the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a class of service contracted by a user associated with the call request; and

if the class of service contracted by the user guarantees for calls to be established, establishing the call over the at least one network node.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining if another call being communicated over the at least one network node has a lower class of service contracted by a user associated with that call; and

alter the other call to enable the call associated with the higher class of service to be completed at a bandwidth guaranteed as contracted by the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising continuing to communicate data packets including real-time content irrespective of communications of data packets including the non-real-time content.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving, determining, accessing, determining, altering, and establishing are performed by a call control manager.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a threshold associated with the network performance information; and

performing a diagnostic for the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real bandwidth usage for each of the plurality of customers based on the respective service level agreement and quality of service guarantee to minimize service level credits contractually granted to each of the plurality of customers.

12. A system for routing non-real-time content over a packet network, said system comprising:

an input/output (I/O) unit in communication with a packet network and configured to receive a call request to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network;

a processing unit in communication with said I/O unit and configured to;

determine at least one network node over which a call path for a call to be established for the call request is to be routed;

access network performance information associated with communications over the at least one network node, the network performance information includes real-time bandwidth usage and non-real time bandwidth usage;

determine whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested;

if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested, determined the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage from the network performance information; and

if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested then the at least one network node alters communication of the data packets including the non-real-time content and modifies the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information, service level agreements, and quality of service guarantees with each of a plurality of customers;

otherwise, establish the call on the at least one network node.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit, in altering communications, causes the at least one network node to wait to communicate the data packets including the non-real-time content.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit, in altering communications, causes the at least one network node to slow down communications of other data packets including the non-real-time content.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine priority of the call request; and

if the call request has a priority above a threshold value, establish the call over the at least one network node.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system is a call control manager and the processing unit is further configured to:

adjust the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage for each of the plurality of customers based on the respective service level agreement and quality of service guarantee.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine a class of service contracted by a user associated with the call request; and

if the class of service contracted by the user guarantees for calls to be established, establish the call over the at least one network node.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine if another call being communicated over the at least one network node has a lower class of service contracted by a user associated with that call; and

alter the other call to enable the call associated with the higher class of service to be completed at a bandwidth guaranteed as contracted by the user.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to allow communications of data packets including real-time content over the at least one network node irrespective of communications of data packets including non-real-time content over the at least one network node.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine whether the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC;

implement the call utilizing the lower bandwidth CODEC in response to determining the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC.