Optimal use of multiple concurrent internet protocol (IP) data streams for voice communications

• US 9,420,510 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Relay Inc. (Publicis Groupe SA)
• Original Assignee: Bandwidth Inc.
• Inventors: Surmay, Stan, Surface, Charlie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US15/147,932
• Time in Patent Office: 102 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/252, 370/329, 370/401, 370/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• 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 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/066 where the auxiliary connection is via an Internet Protocol network interworking of signalling system number 7 (SS7) with Internet Protocol-based session control protocols H04M7/1265, H04M7/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Examples are disclosed for mediating a voice communication session in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between a hybrid mobile device and a second endpoint. The hybrid mobile device sends, over an upstream link, and receives, over a downstream link, an Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link to and from the communications server. The hybrid mobile device is also capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a second IP packet data media stream representing the same voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server. The hybrid mobile device monitors the quality of service (QoS) of the IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection. When the communication link parameters dip below a specified QoS, the hybrid mobile device interleaves a help packet into the upstream IP packet data media stream instructing the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the cellular IP data communication link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream being sent over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.

Claims

1. A method of mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the method comprising:

in the hybrid mobile device;

monitoring the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and

when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleaving a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, the cellular IP data communication link utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

3. The method of claim 1, the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising:

detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.

4. The method of claim 1, the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interleaving a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.

6. The method of claim 1, the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

7. The method of claim 6, the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

8. A communications server for mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the communications server comprising:

a memory unit for storing code;

at least one processor for executing the stored code to;

monitor the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and

when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.

9. The communications server of claim 8, the cellular IP data communication link utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

10. The communications server of claim 8, the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising:

detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.

11. The communications server of claim 8, the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.

12. The communications server of claim 8, the at least one processor for executing the stored code to:

interleave a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.

13. The communications server of claim 8, the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

14. The communications server of claim 13, the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

15. At least one machine-readable non-transitory medium for mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium comprising a set of instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:

monitor the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and

when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.

16. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15, the cellular IP data communication link utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

17. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15, the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising:

detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.

18. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15, the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.

19. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15, further comprising a set of instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:

interleave a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.

20. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15, the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

21. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20, the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.