RSVP Proxy for QoS Admission Control and Media Path Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internet Service Providers face challenges in managing Quality of Service (QoS) and monitoring end-to-end connections, which leads to difficulties in diagnosing network problems, maintaining control over QoS, and ensuring media security, especially with the use of Session Border Controllers (SBCs that can become bottlenecks and compromise reliability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) proxy in combination with a signaling proxy to provide improved admission control and QoS reservation, allowing for separate processing of call signaling and media paths, and using QoS access network control schemes like Packet Cable Multi-Media (PCMM) and Dynamic Quality of Service (DQoS) to manage media flows without relying on SBCs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are used to manage QoS and media paths, then QoS control and admission control are improved, but network reliability deteriorates and latency increases due to all media traffic being routed through the SBC

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidSBC complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the QoS management function by separating the signaling path (which goes through the SBC for control) from the media path (which bypasses the SBC for actual data transmission). The RSVP proxy handles admission control and QoS reservation independently, allowing media traffic to be routed through optimized paths without passing through the SBC, thus improving reliability and reducing latency while maintaining QoS control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If SBCs are used for centralized QoS management, then QoS control is improved, but routing efficiency deteriorates as media must be routed through remote SBCs instead of direct paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoidmedia transmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating control functions (signaling) from data transmission functions (media). The RSVP proxy performs admission control and QoS reservation in the control plane, while the media plane establishes direct routes between endpoints without passing through the SBC. This eliminates the delay of routing media through remote SBCs while maintaining centralized QoS management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If end-to-end connections are established without ISP monitoring, then user connection freedom is improved, but ISP QoS management capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection freedomVSAvoidISP QoS management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the RSVP proxy acts as a mediator between users and the network infrastructure. The proxy intercepts RSVP messages and performs admission control and QoS reservation on behalf of the ISP, enabling the ISP to monitor and manage QoS for end-to-end connections without requiring direct ISP involvement in every data packet transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If RSVP is used for admission control, then QoS reservation is improved, but device complexity increases due to RSVP protocol requirements and compatibility issues

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQoS reservationVSAvoidRSVP implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the RSVP proxy as an intermediary that handles the complex RSVP protocol processing. The proxy receives RSVP messages from endpoints, performs admission control and QoS reservation, and manages the complexity of RSVP state management and path computation. This centralizes the complexity in the proxy while simplifying the endpoint implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7502320B2Method and apparatus for network-based admission control using path-coupled quality of service signaling

Publication Date: 2009.03.10 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) proxy is used in combination with a signaling proxy to provide improved admission control, Quality of Service (QoS) reservation, and media path routing. This avoids entangling call signaling with media plane functions as required with Session Border Controllers (SBCs). A QoS access network control scheme, such as Packet Cable Multi-Media (PCMM) and/or Dynamic Quality of Service (DQoS), is conventionally used to set up QoS and other flow states on an access network. However, the gate parameters established during this access operation are also provided to an RSVP proxy in an edge router. The gate parameters trigger the RSVP proxy to attempt to establish a QoS reservation over the packet network toward a media flow destination. If admission control for the QoS reservation is successful, the edge router permits the signaling proxy to complete the media call.