Multi-protocol telecommunications routing optimization

• US 9,806,988 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patentmarks Communications LLC
• Original Assignee: Patentmarks Communications LLC
• Inventors: Kaplan, Allen D., McCarthy, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US14/714,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/123 Evaluation of link metrics techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A telecommunications switching system employing multi-protocol routing optimization which utilizes predetermined and measured parameters in accordance with a set of user priorities in determining the selection of a telecommunications path to be utilized for transmitting a data file to a remote destination. The switching system has a first memory for storing the data file to be transferred, a second memory for storing predetermined parameters such as cost data associated with each of the telecommunications paths, a third memory for storing a set of user priorities regarding the transmission of data files, and means for measuring the value of variable parameters such as file transfer speed associated with each of the telecommunications paths. Processor means are operatively associated with the second and third memories and the variable parameter measuring means for determining which of the plurality of telecommunications paths should be utilized for transferring the data file in accordance with the set of user priorities, the predetermined telecommunications path parameters, and the measured variable parameters. The switching system further comprises input means for allowing a user to change the user priorities in the third memory prior to transmitting a file.

Claims

1. In a communications switching system comprising a plurality of interfaces, each of the interfaces interconnected with at least one of a plurality of communications paths capable of transferring data to a remote destination, the communications paths having at least one predetermined parameter associated therewith, a system for determining which of the plurality of communications paths should be utilized for transferring the data, said system for determining comprising at least one processor that:

determines a data type of the data to be transferred;

measures at least one variable parameter for at least one of said communications paths; and

determines which of the communications paths provides a set of characteristics for transferring the data to the remote destination in accordance with the at least one measured variable parameter, the at least one predetermined parameter, and the data type,

wherein the determining of the communication paths is based on a requisite relative weighting of at least one of, the at least one measured variable parameter and the at least one predetermined parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable parameter corresponds to an available bandwidth on the at least one of said paths.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one interface, coupled to the at least one processor, for transmitting the data to the remote destination over the path determined to provide the characteristics;

wherein the at least one variable parameter corresponds to the available bandwidth of the at least one of said paths when the data is transmitted to the remote destination.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable parameter corresponds to an operational state of the at least one of said paths.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one interface, coupled to the at least one processor, for transmitting the data to the remote destination over the path determined to provide the characteristics;

wherein the at least one variable parameter corresponds to the operational state of the at least one of said paths when the data is transmitted to the remote destination.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the determining the data type of the data to be transferred consists of determining whether the data to be transferred corresponds to a facsimile data type or a further different data type.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the determining the data type of the data to be transferred consists of determining whether the data to be transferred corresponds to a facsimile data type or a further different data type.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the determining the data type of the data to be transferred consists of determining whether the data to be transferred corresponds to a video data type or a further different data type.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the determining the data type of the data to be transferred consists of determining whether the data to be transferred corresponds to a video data type or a further different data type.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one of said paths is a wireless link.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of said paths is a wireless link.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is included in a personal communication device coupled to said at least one interface, wherein said at least one interface is a wireless interface.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is included in a personal communication device coupled to said at least one interface, wherein said at least one interface is a wireless interface.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one of said paths is a fiber optic link.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data to be transferred corresponds to data packets.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of said paths is a fiber optic link.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor determines the path that provides a set of characteristics for transferring the data to the remote destination in accordance with whether the data comprises an emergency message.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the requisite relative weighting is based on each of parameters in accordance to a user'"'"'s specific requirements as stored in a user priorities memory.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the each of the parameters in accordance to the user'"'"'s specific requirements comprises at least one of, maximum amount of bandwidth available for an interface, reliability of an interface, currency expenditure of an interface, availability of an interface, data security of an interface, present state of an interface, average present state of an interface over a prior five minute window, size in kilobyte of a data file to be transmitted, measure in millisecond of delay through a path based on a real-time test on an interface, time of day and day of week, and available bandwidth of an interface at a given time of file transfer.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the determining of the communication paths is also based on fixed weighting values that are stored in a memory in a switching system and used in conjunction with a routing methodology for all files transferred.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the weighting values are used as multipliers for variables in an algorithm in order to allow a user to customize the algorithm as desired.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein, in arriving at a routing decision, the system is configured to allow the user to force a program to ignore certain parameters and rely on only one parameter.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is configured to allow the user to store certain sets of parameter weighting to be used in different situations and then select the set when desired.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is configured to automatically apply certain weighting sets as a function of data type.

25. A telecommunications switching system comprising:

a plurality of interfaces, each of said interfaces interconnected with an associated telecommunications path capable of transferring a data file to a remote destination;

a predetermined parameter associated with each associated telecommunications path stored in memory; and

a processor capable of determining which associated telecommunications path should be utilized for transferring the data file to the remote destination by taking into account the associated predetermined parameter and a variable parameter associated with the telecommunications path measured by the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the communication paths based on a requisite relative weighting of at least one of, at least one measured variable parameter and at least one predetermined parameter.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is included in a personal communication device coupled to at least one of said plurality of interfaces, wherein said at least one of said plurality of interfaces is a wireless interface.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the requisite relative weighting is based on each of parameters in accordance to a user'"'"'s specific requirements as stored in a user priorities memory.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the each of the parameters in accordance to the user'"'"'s specific requirements comprises at least one of, maximum amount of bandwidth available for an interface, reliability of an interface, currency expenditure of an interface, availability of an interface, data security of an interface, present state of an interface, average present state of an interface over a prior five minute window, size in kilobyte of a data file to be transmitted, measure in millisecond of delay through a path based on a real-time test on an interface, time of day and day of week, and available bandwidth of an interface at a given time of file transfer.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the determining of the communication paths is also based on fixed weighting values that are stored in a memory in a switching system and used in conjunction with a routing methodology for all files transferred.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the weighting values are used as multipliers for variables in an algorithm in order to allow a user to customize the algorithm as desired.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein, in arriving at a routing decision, the system is configured to allow the user to force a program to ignore certain parameters and rely on only one parameter.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the system is configured to allow the user to store certain sets of parameter weighting to be used in different situations and then select the set when desired.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the system is configured to automatically apply certain weighting sets as a function of data type.