System and method for virtual channel selection in IP telephony systems

• US 20040228327A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Ruyle, Kenny, Punjabi, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• 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: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A ToL client is provided having, e.g., a key or button for the user to press or click when a voice problem arises. A controller maintains a set of predetermined “channels” having various voice quality settings, for example, related to codec selection, noise filters, jitter buffer size, echo cancellation, and the like. The user can select one of the channels and the connection will transfer over to using the parameters indicated. On subsequent uses, the new “best” channel can be the default or first selected.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device, comprising:

a call setup unit; and

a virtual channel control unit operably coupled to said call setup unit;

wherein said virtual channel control unit is adapted to store a plurality of virtual channels, said virtual channels comprising one or more call settings, such that said virtual channel control unit and said call setup unit can change one or more call settings while a call is ongoing.

2. A telecommunications device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said virtual channel control unit is adapted to supervise a new H.245 control channel.

3. A telecommunications device in accordance with claim 1, further including a user interface for selecting which of said virtual channels is to be set.

4. A telecommunications device in accordance with claim 3, further including a memory for storing a most recently used virtual channel and applying said virtual channel to initiate a subsequent all.

5. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a network; and

a plurality of telecommunications device operably coupled to said network, at least one of said plurality of telecommunications devices including a virtual channel control unit, said virtual channels comprising one or more call settings, such that said virtual channel control unit and said call setup unit can change one or more call settings while a call with another of said plurality of telecommunications devices is ongoing.

6. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said virtual channel control unit is adapted to supervise a new H.245 control channel.

7. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 6, said at least one of said plurality further including a user interface for selecting which of said virtual channels is to be set.

8. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 7, said at least one of said plurality further including a memory for storing a most recently used virtual channel and applying said virtual channel to initiate a subsequent call.

9. A telecommunications method, comprising:

storing a plurality of call settings as virtual channels;

establishing a call between at least a first party and a second party using a first call setting; and

changing said first call setting during said call by selecting a new virtual channel.

10. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising saving a selected most-recently used virtual channel as a default channel for a next call.

11. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said call settings include noise filters, echo cancellation, or codec selection.

12. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising analyzing an RTCP statistic and suggesting one or more virtual channels based on said analysis.

13. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said changing comprises re-establishing an H.245 connection with new setting s while said call is ongoing.

14. A telecommunications method, comprising:

providing a network; and

providing a plurality of telecommunications device operably coupled to said network, at least one of said plurality of telecommunications devices including a virtual channel control unit, said virtual channels comprising one or more call settings, such that said virtual channel control unit and said call setup unit can change one or more call settings while a call with another of said plurality of telecommunications devices is ongoing.

15. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said virtual channel control unit is adapted to supervise a new H.245 control channel.

16. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 15, said at least one of said plurality further including a user interface for selecting which of said virtual channels is to be set.

17. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 16, said at least one of said plurality further including a memory for storing a most recently used virtual channel and applying said virtual channel to initiate a subsequent call.

18. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a network; and

a plurality of telecommunications devices operably coupled to said network, at least one of said plurality of telecommunications devices including means for setting and changing one or more virtual channels while a call is ongoing.