Reliability of a connection during a communication session on a network device

• US 9,578,112 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOTO Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jive Communications Incorporated (LogMeIn, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zourzouvillys, Theo Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Warner
• Application Number:
  US14/335,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 370228-229, 370217-220, 709/238, 709/239
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• 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 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• 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: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0081 Network operation, administration, maintenance, or provisioning

Abstract

The present application details methods and systems for improving the reliability of a connection during a communication session on a network device. In one or more embodiments, the network device maps to and connects with multiple datacenters. For example, the network device connects with a primary datacenter and participates in a communication session via a primary media bridge connection while jointly being connected with a secondary datacenter. In addition, the network device can switch from the primary media bridge connection to a secondary media bridge connection if a fault is detected on the primary media bridge connection.

Claims

1. A method for communication, comprising:

mapping a network device to a primary datacenter;

receiving a primary address associated with the primary datacenter;

storing the primary address;

mapping the network device to a secondary datacenter while maintaining the mapping to the primary datacenter;

receiving a secondary address associated with the secondary datacenter;

storing the secondary address while retaining the primary address;

receiving a primary media bridge connection from the primary datacenter, wherein the primary media bridge provides a first communication path between the network device and a second network device;

establishing a communication session between the network device and the second network device using the primary media bridge connection; and

receiving a secondary media bridge connection from the secondary datacenter while maintaining the established communication session between the network device and the second network device using the primary media bridge connection, wherein the secondary media bridge connection provides a second communication path between the network device and the second network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication session via the primary datacenter while maintaining the mapping to the secondary datacenter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the communication session comprises receiving session initiation protocol signaling from the primary datacenter.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising requesting the primary media bridge connection from the primary datacenter.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining a quality rating of the primary media bridge connection, wherein establishing the communication session between the network device and the second network device using the primary media bridge connection is based on the quality rating.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the primary datacenter and the secondary datacenter are located in separate geographic locations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein maintaining the established communication session between the network device and the second network device using the primary media bridge connection comprises transmitting the communication session between the network device and the second network device over the primary media bridge connection.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting a fault in a data connection that maps the network device to the primary datacenter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary media bridge connection differs from the primary media bridge connection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting a fault in the primary media bridge connection.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching from the primary media bridge connection to the secondary media bridge connection upon detecting ft the fault in the primary media bridge connection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending communications over the secondary media bridge while maintaining the mapping to the primary datacenter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a voice-over internet protocol device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the primary address and storing the secondary address.

15. A method for communication on a voice-over internet protocol network, comprising:

mapping a first voice-over internet protocol device to a primary datacenter and a secondary datacenter;

receiving a primary address from the primary datacenter;

receiving a secondary address from the secondary datacenter;

requesting a primary media bridge connection from the primary datacenter, wherein the primary media bridge connection provides a first communication path between the first voice-over internet protocol device to a second voice-over internet protocol device;

establishing a communication session between the first voice-over internet protocol device and the second voice-over internet protocol device via the primary media bridge;

requesting a secondary media bridge connection from the secondary datacenter while maintaining the established communication session between the first voice-over internet protocol device and the second voice-over internet protocol device using the primary media bridge connection, wherein the secondary media bridge connection provides a second communication between the first voice-over internet protocol device to the second voice-over internet protocol device;

detecting a fault in the primary media bridge connection; and

switching the communication session from the primary media bridge connection to the secondary media bridge connection upon detecting the fault in the primary media bridge connection.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing a primary datacenter connection with the primary datacenter upon receiving the primary address, wherein the network device actively employs the primary datacenter connection; and

establishing a secondary datacenter connection with the secondary datacenter upon receiving the secondary address, wherein the network device does not actively employ the secondary datacenter connection.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting a fault in the primary datacenter connection.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising actively employing the secondary datacenter upon detecting the fault in the primary datacenter connection.

19. A system for voice-over internet protocol communication, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

map a first voice-over internet protocol device to a primary datacenter and a secondary datacenter;

receive a primary address from the primary datacenter;

receive a secondary address from the secondary datacenter;

request a primary media bridge connection from the primary datacenter, wherein the primary media bridge connection provides a first communication path between the first voice-over internet protocol device to a second voice-over internet protocol device;

establish a communication session between the first voice-over internet protocol device and the second voice-over internet protocol device;

request a secondary media bridge connection from the secondary datacenter while maintaining the established communication session between the first voice-over internet protocol device and the second voice-over internet protocol device using the primary media bridge connection, wherein the secondary media bridge connection provides a second communication path between the first voice-over internet protocol device to the second voice-over internet protocol device;

detect a fault in the primary media bridge connection; and

switch from the primary media bridge connection to the secondary media bridge connection upon detecting the fault in the primary media bridge connection.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

establish a primary datacenter connection with the primary datacenter upon receiving the primary address, wherein the network device actively employs the primary datacenter connection; and

establish a secondary datacenter connection with the secondary datacenter upon receiving the secondary address, wherein the network device does not actively employ the secondary datacenter connection.