Call Control Manager Bandwidth-Aware Codec Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephony systems over packet networks lack real-time bandwidth awareness, leading to issues with call handling and voice quality due to congestion, jitter, and packet loss, as call control managers do not have information about the bearer path, making it difficult to manage network performance and diagnose communication problems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network segment status table accessible by the call control manager to determine the operational status of node segments along the transmission path, using performance information packets (PIP packets) to collect and communicate network performance information, such as transmission rate, quality, and connectivity, enabling intelligent call management and diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time bandwidth awareness is implemented, then call handling and voice quality improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting network performance information and determining transmission path status before call setup. The call control manager retrieves performance metrics such as bandwidth availability, packet loss, and jitter measurements in advance, allowing it to make informed decisions about call admission and CODEC selection before the actual call begins, thereby improving call handling without requiring complex real-time monitoring during the call itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a network performance information retrieval system that acts as a mediator between the call control manager and the network transmission path. This intermediary collects and processes network status information (bandwidth, packet loss, jitter) and presents it to the call control manager in a usable format, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling sophisticated call handling decisions
2Reliability
If transmission path status is monitored, then voice quality improves, but loss of information increases due to congestion and packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring network performance information including packet loss, jitter, and bandwidth availability. The call control manager uses this feedback to dynamically adjust call handling decisions, such as selecting appropriate CODECs that are resilient to packet loss or adjusting transmission parameters to compensate for network conditions, thereby maintaining voice quality despite adverse network conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying transmission parameters based on monitored network conditions. When packet loss or jitter exceeds thresholds, the system changes parameters such as selecting more robust CODECs with higher error tolerance, adjusting packetization intervals, or modifying transmission bit rates to match available bandwidth, thereby compensating for information loss and maintaining voice quality
3Measurement precision
If network performance information is collected, then call setup accuracy improves, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by collecting and processing only the most critical network performance parameters needed for call setup decisions, such as bandwidth availability, packet loss rate, and jitter. Rather than measuring all possible network metrics, the call control manager focuses on the subset of parameters that have the greatest impact on call quality and setup success, thereby achieving accurate call setup without requiring excessive measurement precision across all network dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for establishing a phone call over a packet network. The process may receive a call request from an originating call device to a termination call device. A determination may be made to determine whether the terminating call device is available. If the terminating call device is determined to be available, transmission path status information between the originating and terminating call devices may be retrieved. Status of the transmission path on the packet network between the originating and terminating call devices may be determined. If the status of the transmission path is determined to be within a first range, a call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via an encoder/decoder (CODEC) having a first data rate. Otherwise, the call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via a CODEC having a second, lower data rate.