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

• US 9,549,355 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• 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): Nooristany, Sulaiman
• Application Number:
  US15/147,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• 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 65/764 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 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• 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 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 communications server sends, over a downstream link, and receives, over an upstream 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 hybrid mobile device. The communications server is also capable of sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream 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 hybrid mobile device. The communications server 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 communications server interleaves a help packet into the downstream IP packet data media stream instructing 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 in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream being sent over the upstream 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 communications server is currently sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream 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 hybrid mobile device and the communications server is capable of sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the hybrid mobile device, the method comprising:

in the communications server;

monitoring the quality of service (QoS) of the upstream 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 upstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleaving a help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream 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 communications server is currently sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream 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 hybrid mobile device and the communications server is capable of sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the hybrid mobile device, 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 upstream 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 upstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream 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 communications server is currently sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream 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 hybrid mobile device and the communications server is capable of sending, over a downstream link, and receiving, over an upstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the hybrid mobile device, 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 upstream 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 upstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream 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.