Method for multiple link quality of service for voice and video over internet protocol

• US 8,009,554 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspen Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aspen Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Chin, Bill, Mavunkel, Robin, Bhaskaran, Sajit
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Kevin C
• Application Number:
  US12/137,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A method for achieving multiple link quality of service for video and voice calls over Internet links, or over IP links running in private networks, is described. This method applies to both the non-mobile domain (alternate paths exist in one place at the same time) as well as the mobile domain (one path is used at any one place at a given time, but the user device roams from place to place). This method can be implemented as either computer software or other digital logic (ASIC or FPGA). Using this invention, voice and video calls can be moved at will from one path to another, as many times as required during a single conversation, without breaking the RTP voice or video payload stream. The benefit is that embodiments of this invention have a significantly higher probability that a call never breaks under various conditions of quality degrade. This includes the case of link and router failures, which are treated as a special case of quality degrade in the context of voice and video.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing the reliability of a transmission from a source to a destination in a communications network using a network protocol that operates on top of the Internet Protocol (IP), the method comprising:

transmitting data between a source and destination over a first network path made up of one or more network links where at least one of the network links is to a local area network that is remote from the transmission source; and

switching the transmission from the first network path to one of a plurality of alternative network paths;

wherein said transmission is not disrupted as a result of said switch to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths, said transmission contains audio or video data and at least one Network Address Translation (NAT) is performed on said transmission;

said transmission uses the Real Time Protocol (RTP);

said transmission uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); and

the SIP signaling sequence of the transmission is maintained after said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of a stream quality event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of stream load balancing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of an administrator move.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a SIP server associated with the one of a plurality alternative network paths may authenticate the transmission before it is switched.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the source device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein one or more of said plurality of alternative network paths become available to the mobile device during roaming.

8. A communications network comprising:

a transmitting device;

a receiving device;

a first network device;

a second network device;

the transmitting device and receiving device operable to maintain a data transmission over a first network path that is made up of one or more network links where at least one of the network links is to a local area network is remote from the transmitting device;

wherein the first network device is operable to switch the transmission from the first network path to one of a plurality of alternative network paths without disrupting the transmission;

the second network device is operable to perform a Network Address Translation (NAT) on said transmission;

said transmission contains audio or video content;

said transmission is made using the Real Time Protocol (RTP);

said transmission uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); and

said transmission'"'"'s SIP signaling sequence is maintained after said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of a stream quality event.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of stream load balancing.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of an administrator move.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the SIP server associated with the one of a plurality alternative network paths may authenticate the transmission before it is switched.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the transmitting device is a mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein one or more of said plurality of alternative network paths become available to the mobile device during roaming.

15. A method of enhancing the reliability of a transmission from a source to a destination in a communications network using a network protocol that operates on top of the Internet Protocol (IP), the method comprising:

transmitting data between a source and destination over a first network path made up of one or more network links where at least one of the network links is to a local area network that is remote from the transmission source;

switching the transmission from the first network path to one of a plurality of alternative network paths;

wherein said transmission is not disrupted as a result of said switch to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths, said transmission contains audio or video data, and at least one Port Address Translation (PAT) is performed on said transmission;

said transmission contains audio or video content;

said transmission contains data used in the control of the audio or video transmission;

said transmission uses the Real Time Protocol (RTP);

said transmission further uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); and

the SIP signaling sequence of the transmission is maintained after said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of a stream quality event.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of stream load balancing.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the switch from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of an administrator move.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein a SIP server associated with the one of a plurality alternative network paths may authenticate the transmission before it is switched.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the source device is a mobile device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein one or more of said plurality of alternative network paths become available to the mobile device during roaming.

22. A communications network comprising

a transmitting device;

a receiving device;

a first network device;

a second network device;

the transmitting device and receiving device operable to maintain a data transmission over a first network path that is made up of one or more network links where at least one of the network links is to a local area network is remote from the transmitting device;

wherein the first network device is operable to switch the transmission from the first network path to one of a plurality of alternative network paths without disrupting the transmission; and

said the second network device is operable to perform a Port Address Translation (PAT) on said transmission;

said transmission contains audio or video content

said transmission is made using the Real Time Protocol (RTP)

said transmission further uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); and

said transmission'"'"'s SIP signaling sequence is maintained after said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of a stream quality event.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of stream load balancing.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said switching from the first network path to the one of a plurality of alternative network paths occurs as a result of an administrator move.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein a SIP server associated with the one of a plurality alternative network paths may authenticate the transmission before it is switched.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the transmitting device is a mobile device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein one or more of said plurality of alternative network paths become available to the mobile device during roaming.