USER ACTIVATED BYPASS FOR IP MEDIA

• US 20100182921A1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Basart, Edwin J., Sueoka, Greg T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. The present invention uses a PSTN as a fallback for the IP media when the IP network cannot pass the media acceptably and while continuing to use the IP network for call control and other features. In one embodiment, a call manager has a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the GUI module presents an interface to the user that allows selection of the secondary network or the primary IP network for continuation of the call. If the user selected the secondary network, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for falling back to a secondary network and a method for dynamically switching between a primary and a secondary network to ensure call quality.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting call quality and switching between a first and a second network in a distributed telephony system, the method comprising:

establishing a call from a first endpoint to a second endpoint using the first network;

monitoring the first network for a quality of service;

determining whether the quality of service is below a predefined threshold;

generating and presenting an interface for inputting a selection to improve call quality;

determining whether input to improved call quality was received; and

if input to improved call quality was received;

using the first network for call control; and

using the second network for data transmission.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network is a PSTN.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network is a cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the first network for a quality of service includes monitoring for an availability of the first network, monitoring for a quality of service over the first network or monitoring for a stored preference.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the call is between three or more endpoints.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein using the secondary network for data transmission includes initiating a call between a first gateway and a second gateway over a PSTN.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

continuing to monitor the first network for the quality of service; and

if the quality of service is above a predefined threshold, switching the data transmission to the first network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the call control includes one from the group of transfer, conference, directory listing, callee status, a graphical interface, voice messaging, instant messaging and text messaging.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether input to improved call quality was received includes receiving a signal that a selection button was activated.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether input to improved call quality was received includes receiving a signal that a selection button was activated more than three times.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface is presented on both the first and the second endpoints.

12. An apparatus for switching a call from a first network to a second network of an distributed IP telephony system having a plurality of endpoints, the apparatus comprising:

a first gateway coupled to the first network and the second network for interconnecting with the first network and the second network;

a second gateway coupled to the first network and the second network for interconnecting with the first network and the second network; and

a first controller for setting up and controlling calls, the first controller sending control signals to the first gateway and the second gateway, the controller for determining an availability of the first network and establishing the call on the second network if the first network is not available, the first controller generating and sending an interface to an endpoint for controlling switching to the second network, the first controller coupled to the first gateway, the second gateway and the first network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first network is an IP network and the second network is a PSTN network.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first network is an IP network and the second network is a cellular network.

16. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first controller is part of one from the group of the first gateway, the second gateway, an IP phone, a server, or other device coupled to the distributed IP telephony system.

15. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first controller uses the first network for call control when the call is established on the second network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein first controller comprises an admission control module for determining whether the first network has sufficient bandwidth for the call.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein first controller comprises a bypass module for switching the data communication (media transmission) from being on the first network to being on the second network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein first controller comprises a resumption module for switching of data communication from being on the second network to being on the first network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein first controller comprises a graphic user interface module for generating and sending the user interface to the endpoint.

21. A method for automatically detecting call quality and switching between a first and a second network in a distributed telephony system, the method comprising:

establishing a call from a first endpoint to a second endpoint using the first network;

monitoring the first network for a quality of service;

determining whether the quality of service is below a predefined threshold;

if the quality of service is below a predefined threshold;

using the first network for call control and at least one unified communication application; and

using the second network for data transmission.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the unified communication application is a form of non real-time communication.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the unified communication application is one from the group of instant messaging, presence and application sharing.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein determining whether the quality of service is below a predefined threshold includes determining that first network is unable to transmit voice.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the first endpoint to the second endpoint both display a graphical unified communication interface.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the second network is a PSTN.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the second network is a cellular network.