Packet Network Call Routing via Performance Information Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephony systems over packet networks face challenges in managing bandwidth and call quality due to the lack of connection path state awareness, leading to issues like congestion, jitter, and packet loss, which are difficult to diagnose and resolve, especially in converged networks carrying real-time and non-real-time traffic.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of performance information packets (PIP packets) that monitor and communicate network performance information in-band, allowing for real-time transmission rate and quality assessment, enabling proactive diagnostics and management of network nodes to address bandwidth and quality issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If packet networks are used to carry both real-time and non-real-time traffic, then network utilization and versatility are improved, but call quality and reliability deteriorate due to congestion, jitter, and packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network performance monitoring into distributed components at multiple network nodes, with each node independently monitoring its local performance metrics. This segmentation allows granular control and monitoring of different traffic flows, enabling quality assurance for real-time traffic while maintaining high utilization for non-real-time traffic through separate performance management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where network performance information is collected, analyzed, and used to dynamically adjust routing decisions. Performance metrics are fed back to routing algorithms in real-time, allowing the system to automatically respond to congestion, jitter, or packet loss conditions by rerouting calls around problematic network segments, thus maintaining call quality while preserving network utilization
2Reliability
If performance monitoring is implemented in real-time, then call quality and reliability are improved, but device complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs performance monitoring components with multi-functionality, where the same monitoring infrastructure serves multiple purposes: collecting performance metrics, detecting congestion, measuring jitter, identifying packet loss, and providing feedback for routing decisions. This universal monitoring system reduces overall device complexity by consolidating functions that could otherwise require separate specialized systems
Solution Approach 2:
Network nodes automatically monitor and report their own performance metrics without requiring external probing or manual configuration. Each node maintains local performance information and autonomously participates in the monitoring network, reducing the complexity of centralized monitoring infrastructure and eliminating the need for separate measurement devices
3Measurement precision
If distributed performance monitoring is implemented across multiple network nodes, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and loss of information increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested information structure where detailed local performance metrics are collected at individual network nodes, aggregated into regional summaries, and then consolidated into global network views. This nesting allows precise local measurements to be preserved while automatically synthesizing hierarchical summaries, preventing information loss during aggregation and enabling both detailed and overview perspectives simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for diagnosing a problem on a packet network. Network performance information associated with data packet communications over a packet network may be collected. A network performance information parameter may be monitored and a determination that the network performance information parameter crosses a threshold value may be made. In response to determining that the network performance information parameter crossed the threshold value, diagnostics may be initiated to determine a cause of the network performance information parameter crossing the threshold value.