RTCP Packet Scheduling During Silence Periods
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uncontrolled nature of RTCP traffic in VoIMS networks can impair RTP traffic, leading to delayed or lost RTP packets and subsequent speech quality issues due to larger RTCP packet sizes and unpredictable transmission times.
Innovation Solution
Limiting RTCP packet sizes to be multiples of RTP packet sizes and scheduling RTCP packets during silence periods to minimize impact on RTP flow, while signaling the maximum RTCP packet size through SDP attributes for transparent network operation in both UTRAN and GERAN environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If RTCP packets are transmitted with larger sizes and uncontrolled timing, then RTCP can provide comprehensive feedback and control information, but RTP packet transmission is impaired leading to delays and losses
Solution Approach 1:
RTCP packets are scheduled to be transmitted during silence periods between speech segments, creating a periodic transmission pattern that avoids continuous interference with RTP traffic. The patent implements this by detecting speech activity and scheduling RTCP transmissions only during detected silence intervals, ensuring RTP packets carrying speech data are not delayed or lost.
Solution Approach 2:
RTCP traffic is extracted and separated from the continuous RTP traffic flow by confining RTCP transmissions to specific silence periods. This extraction prevents RTCP packets from interfering with the steady stream of RTP packets, as RTCP transmissions occur only when no RTP speech packets are being transmitted.
2Loss of information
If RTCP packet sizes are increased to carry more control data, then RTCP monitoring and control capabilities are enhanced, but network bandwidth for RTP traffic is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
RTCP packets are transmitted periodically during silence periods rather than continuously, allowing larger RTCP packets to be sent without reducing overall RTP throughput. The periodic transmission during unused bandwidth periods (silence intervals) enables comprehensive RTCP feedback without compromising RTP traffic productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission timing parameter of RTCP packets from continuous to silence-period-based scheduling, and adjusts RTCP packet size parameters to be multiples of RTP packet sizes. This parameter optimization allows larger RTCP packets to coexist with maintained RTP throughput by utilizing otherwise wasted bandwidth during silence intervals.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RTCP and RTP packets are transmitted simultaneously without coordination, then both protocols can operate independently, but packet transmission becomes unpredictable causing speech quality issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scheduling control of RTCP and RTP transmissions by coordinating RTCP transmissions with RTP silence periods. This merging creates a unified transmission strategy where both protocols operate together harmoniously rather than independently, achieving stable packet transmission while maintaining protocol functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses speech activity detection feedback to dynamically schedule RTCP transmissions. The speech detector provides feedback about current speech activity, and this feedback is used to determine appropriate RTCP transmission timing, creating a closed-loop control system that stabilizes packet transmission while preserving protocol independence.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal, system and a method for transmitting voice from the terminal to at least one other terminal over a network. Voice is transmitted in first packets, and control information is transmitted in second packets. A bearer service is reserved from the network for transmission of the first and the second packets. In the terminal, voice activity is detected to determine whether there is voice or silence, wherein detected silence is used for transmitting at least one of the second packets.