System and method for enabling communications over a number of packet networks

• US 9,054,986 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Stephen K., Morrill, Robert J., Bugenhagen, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US14/075,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 370/485, 379/114.03, 379/114.28, 379/112.06, 455/406
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/3065 for real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a computer implemented method for routing data packets. In one embodiment, the method includes storing network usage information of a packet network managed by a communications carrier including network usage information associated with communications by subscribers of other communications carrier that communicate data packets over the packet network, the network usage information distinguishing between data packets associated with a first service and data packets associated with a second service; determining pricing information for communicating the data packets via a plurality of networks, wherein each network is associated with a different communications carrier; and selecting one of the plurality of networks for routing the data packets based on cost, wherein the cost includes a first cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service and a second cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service.

Claims

1. A system for routing data packets, the system comprising:

a data storage component configured to store network usage information of a packet network managed by a communications carrier including network usage information associated with communications by subscribers of other communications carrier that communicate data packets over the packet network, the network usage information distinguishing between data packets associated with a first service and data packets associated with a second service that are communicated over the packet network;

a processing unit configured to execute instructions to;

determine pricing information for communicating the data packets via a plurality of networks, wherein each network is associated with a different communications carrier;

select one of the plurality of networks for routing the data packets based on cost, wherein the cost includes a first cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service and a second cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service;

communicate the data packets that are associated with the first service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the first service; and

communicate the data packets that are associated with the second service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the second service.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of networks include respective session border control network communications devices in communication with one another for routing the data packets.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute instructions to cause communications associated with subscribers of the other communications carrier to be routed via a second packet network in response to a determination that a network usage differential is below a threshold.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute instructions to be routed via a third packet network in response to a determination that the network usage differential is determined to be above the threshold.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute instructions to cause communications associated with subscribers of the other communications carrier to be routed via a third packet network in response to a determination that at least one network performance information parameter of a second packet network is determined to be above a threshold.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one network performance information parameter being above the threshold is indicative of the second packet network having a quality of service indicative of an impairment in communications.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first service is associated with communications of data packets that include real-time content.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to execute instructions to determine the cost multiple times during a day.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to execute instructions to determine the cost in response to a high demand occurring within the packet network.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each communications carrier advertises the cost and other communications parameters at a network-to-network interface (NNI) node.

11. A computer implemented method for routing data packets, the method comprising:

storing network usage information of a packet network managed by a communications carrier including network usage information associated with communications by subscribers of other communications carrier that communicate data packets over the packet network, the network usage information distinguishing between data packets associated with a first service and data packets associated with a second service that are communicated over the packet network;

determining, using a processor, pricing information for communicating the data packets via a plurality of networks, wherein each network is associated with a different communications carrier;

selecting one of the plurality of networks for routing the data packets based on cost, wherein the cost includes a first cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service and a second cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service;

communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the first service; and

communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the second service.

12. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of networks includes respective session border control network communications devices in communication with one another for routing the data packets.

13. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising routing communications associated with subscribers of the other communications carrier via a second packet network in response to a determination that a network usage differential is below a threshold.

14. The computer implemented method according to claim 13, further comprising routing the communications associated with subscribers of the other communications carrier via a third packet network in response to a determination that the network usage differential is determined to be above the threshold.

15. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising routing the communications associated with subscribers of the other communications carrier via a third packet network in response to a determination that at least one network performance information parameter of a second packet network is determined to be above a threshold, wherein the at least one network performance information parameter being above the threshold is indicative of the second packet network having a quality of service indicative of an impairment in communications.

16. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the first service is associated with communications of data packets that include real-time content.

17. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising determining the cost multiple times during a day.

18. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising determining the cost in response to a high demand occurring within the packet network.

19. The computer implemented method according to claim 11, wherein each communications carrier advertises the cost and other communications parameters at a network-to-network interface (NNI) node.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for routing data packets, the computer executable instructions when executed causes one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

storing network usage information of a packet network managed by a communications carrier including network usage information associated with communications by subscribers of other communications carrier that communicate data packets over the packet network, the network usage information distinguishing between data packets associated with a first service and data packets associated with a second service that are communicated over the packet network;

determining, using a processor, pricing information for communicating the data packets via a plurality of networks, wherein each network is associated with a different communications carrier;

selecting one of the plurality of networks for routing the data packets based on cost, wherein the cost includes a first cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service and a second cost for communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service;

communicating the data packets that are associated with the first service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the first service; and

communicating the data packets that are associated with the second service over one of the plurality of networks having a lowest cost for communicating the data packets associated with the second service.