System and method for routing data on a packet network

• US 8,374,090 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrill, Robert J., Wiley, William L., Bugenhagen, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuen, Kan
• Application Number:
  US12/906,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 370216-253, 370/395.2, 370/401, 709223-229, 379/22.03
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• 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 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities

Abstract

A system and method routing content over a packet network. A call request is received at a call control manager to communicate data packets including real-time over a packet network. A determination is made of at least one network node through which a call path for a call is to be routed, the network performance information including real-time bandwidth usage and non-real time bandwidth usage. Network performance information associated with communications are accessed over the at least one network node. An automatic determination is made whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested. The real time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage is determined from the network performance information if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested. The communications of the data packets are altered including the non-real-time content to modify the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information if the at least one network node is determined to be impaired or congested. Otherwise, the call is established through the at least one network node.

Claims

1. A method for routing content over a packet network, the method comprising:

receiving a call request at a call control manager to communicate data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content over a packet network;

determining at least one network node through which a call path for a call is to be routed;

accessing network performance information associated with communications over the at least one network node, the network performance information including real-time bandwidth usage and non-real time bandwidth usage;

automatically determining whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is impaired or congested, determining the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage from the network performance information, altering by the at least one network node, communications of the data packets including the non-real-time content to modify the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is not impaired or congested, establishing the call through the at least one network node;

determining priority of the call request;

if the call request has a priority above a threshold value, establishing the call through the at least one network node; and

if the call request has a priority below another threshold value, dropping the call through the at least one network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein altering communications includes delaying communication of the data packets including the non-real-time content.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real bandwidth usage for each of the-a plurality of customers based on a respective service level agreement and quality of service guarantees in response to determining the at least one network node is impaired or congested.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the call path has a capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC; and

implementing the call utilizing the lower bandwidth CODEC in response to determining the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC to alleviate congestion and improve call connectivity.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a class of service of a user associated with the call request; and

if the class of service of the user guarantees for calls to be established, establishing the call over the at least one network node.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining if another call being communicated over the at least one network node has a lower class of service for a user associated with that call; and

completing the call associated with a higher class of service to be completed at a bandwidth guarantee for the user.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

re-routing current or future calls to bypass the at least one network node in response to determining the at least one network node is impaired or congested.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a threshold associated with the network performance information; and

performing a diagnostic for the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real bandwidth usage for each of a plurality of customers based on respective service level agreement and quality of service guarantee to minimize service level credits contractually granted to each of a plurality of customers.

10. A system for routing non-real-time content over a packet network, the system comprising:

an input/output (I/O) unit in communication with a packet network and configured to receive a call request to communicate data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content over a packet network;

a processing unit in communication with the I/O unit and configured to;

determine at least one network node through which a call path for a call is to be routed;

access network performance information associated with communications over the at least one network node, the network performance information includes real-time bandwidth usage and non-real time bandwidth usage;

determine whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is impaired or congested, determine the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage from the network performance information, alter, by the at least one network node, communications of the data packets including the non-real-time content, and modify the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is not impaired or congested, establish the call on the at least one network node;

wherein the processing unit is further configured to;

determine priority of the call request; and

if the call request has a priority above a threshold value, establish the call through the at least one network node; and

if the call request has a priority below another threshold value, dropping the call through the at least one network node.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit, in altering communications, causes the at least one network node to temporarily delay communication of the data packets including the non-real-time content to increase available bandwidth for the real-time content.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit, in altering communications, causes the at least one network node to slow down communications of the data packets including non-real-time content.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the system is a call control manager and the processing unit is further configured to:

adjust the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real bandwidth usage for each of a plurality of customers based on a respective service level agreement and quality of service guarantees.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine a class of service contracted by a user associated with the call request; and

if the class of service contracted by the user guarantees that calls be established, establish the call through the at least one network node.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine if another call being communicated through the at least one network node has a lower class of service contracted by a user associated with that call; and

alter the other call to enable the call associated with a higher class of service to be completed at a bandwidth guaranteed as contracted by the user.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to allow communications of data packets including real-time content over the at least one network node irrespective of communications of data packets including non-real-time content over the at least one network node.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine whether the call path has a capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC;

implement the call utilizing the lower bandwidth CODEC in response to determining the call path has the capability of using a lower bandwidth CODEC.

18. A call control manager for routing content over a packet network, the call control manager comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and

a memory operable to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

receive a call request at a call control manager to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network;

determine at least one network node through which a call path for a call associated with the call request is to be routed;

access network performance information associated with communications over the at least one network node, the network performance information including real-time bandwidth usage and non-real time bandwidth usage;

automatically determine whether the at least one network node is impaired or congested;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is impaired or congested, determine the real-time bandwidth usage and the non-real time bandwidth usage from the network performance information, alter communications through the at least one network node of the data packets including the non-real-time content; and

modify the real-time bandwidth usage by decreasing the non-real time bandwidth usage based on the network performance information;

in response to a determination that the at least one network node is not impaired or congested, establishing the call through the at least one network node;

determining priority of the call request;

if the call request has a priority above a threshold value, establishing the call through the at least one network node; and

if the call request has a priority below another threshold value, dropping the call through the at least one network node.