Embedding Maintenance Packets in Active Voice Data Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP) increase network traffic by transmitting maintenance packets over a separate connection, which degrades network performance and affects the quality of voice/data packets.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that embeds maintenance information within active voice/data packets communicated over an existing packet connection, using maintenance components to request and respond with performance data without creating additional network traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If maintenance packets are transmitted over a separate connection to monitor voice/data packets, then network performance monitoring is achieved, but network traffic increases and performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance monitoringVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines maintenance/monitoring packets with voice/data packets by transmitting both types of information over the same packet connection. The maintenance component embeds maintenance information within the same packets that carry voice or data, eliminating the need for a separate connection and thereby reducing overall network traffic while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If maintenance packets are transmitted over a separate connection, then network performance can be monitored, but the quality of voice/data packets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance monitoringVSAvoidvoice/data packet quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging maintenance packet transmission with voice/data packet transmission into a single connection, the patent eliminates the separate maintenance connection that was causing performance degradation. This ensures that only the necessary voice/data traffic flows over the network, preserving packet quality while still enabling monitoring through the embedded maintenance information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If separate connections are established for voice/data packets and maintenance packets, then monitoring function is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance monitoringVSAvoidconnection management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces device complexity by merging the maintenance connection with the voice/data connection into a single connection. This eliminates the need to manage two separate connections, reduce connection establishment overhead, and simplify the network architecture while maintaining the monitoring function through embedded maintenance packets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7821940B2Transmission of maintenance information of an active packet connection through employment of packets communicated over the active packet connection

Publication Date: 2010.10.26 WSOU INVESTMENTS LLC

AI summary

A maintenance component of an apparatus in one example employs one or more packets that are communicated over an active packet connection to evaluate the active packet connection.