Network Path Selection for VoIP Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Poor network performance in wide-area networks often results in poor call quality for voice calls made over the public Internet, as existing VoIP technologies do not effectively predict and optimize network paths for reliable communication.
Innovation Solution
The techniques involve analyzing network path measurements to predict call quality by determining network performance metrics such as round-trip time, packet loss, and signal jitter, and using these metrics to select the best network paths for voice calls through managed overlay architectures with geographically distributed datacenters, employing methods like network tomography and multi-armed bandit algorithms to dynamically choose optimal paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VoIP technologies are used to deliver voice calls over wide-area networks, then availability of voice calls is improved, but call quality deteriorates due to poor network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary network path measurements and analyses before voice calls are made. By measuring network performance metrics (RTT, packet loss, jitter) in advance and storing historical data, the system can predict future call quality and select optimal paths beforehand, avoiding poor network conditions without requiring real-time intervention during the call.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network performance by analyzing call records and measurements from previous voice calls. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from historical performance data, update network path recommendations, and adapt to changing network conditions, thereby improving call quality selection over time based on actual observed performance.
2Measurement precision
If network path measurements are obtained through explicit active measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the voice call traffic itself to perform network measurements. Instead of requiring separate active probing mechanisms, the system analyzes call records and performance data naturally generated during normal voice call operations. This self-service approach obtains measurement data without adding complex measurement infrastructure or overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses call records from previous voice calls as copies of actual network performance data. Rather than requiring new active measurements, the system analyzes historical call records that contain embedded performance information, effectively copying and reusing existing measurement data to infer current network conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If historical network performance data is used to select network paths, then call quality is improved, but adaptability to dynamic network changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically updates historical network performance data by continuously incorporating new call records and measurements. Network path recommendations are not static but evolve over time as the system learns from recent performance patterns, allowing adaptation to changing network conditions while maintaining the benefits of historical data for quality prediction.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for determining network paths for voice calls include analyzing network path measurements of the network paths to determine historical network performance data for the network paths, and identifying a group of top-k network paths based on those network paths having better network performance data other network paths. A particular network path may be selected using various techniques, such as selecting the network path with the best historical network performance, selecting a network path by applying a multi-armed bandit algorithm to select the path from the group of top-k network paths, or selecting a network path at random. The selected network path may be used to by a source-destination pair of computing devices for a voice call, and a record of that voice call may be used to update network performance information for the particular network path.