VoIP Packet Capture for Remote Troubleshooting
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Solution Overview
Problem
VoIP systems face challenges in rapid troubleshooting due to the complexity of IP networks, leading to voluminous data capture and analysis issues, which often result in repeated technician visits and difficulty in confirming user-experienced problems.
Innovation Solution
A computer program product captures network traffic data from VoIP sessions, identifies relevant packets, determines call quality, and temporarily stores problematic packets for remote analysis, enabling efficient troubleshooting without the need for on-site technician visits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive network traffic data is captured for analysis, then troubleshooting completeness is improved, but data volume and analysis complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network traffic data into distinct categories: VoIP signaling packets, voice communication packets, and other network traffic. This segmentation allows the system to focus analysis on relevant VoIP data while filtering out unnecessary traffic, reducing overall data volume while maintaining troubleshooting completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the specific packets relevant to the reported VoIP problem from the entire network traffic stream. By identifying and isolating packets associated with the problematic VoIP session, the system removes irrelevant data, significantly reducing the volume of data that needs to be analyzed while ensuring all problem-related information is captured.
2Measurement precision
If all network packets are captured and analyzed, then problem identification accuracy is improved, but processing time and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing network packets in real-time during the VoIP session, rather than waiting to analyze all traffic after a problem is reported. This preliminary capture of relevant packets during normal operation allows for immediate analysis when a problem occurs, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only packets associated with the specific VoIP session and protocol types relevant to the reported problem (signaling and voice packets). This selective extraction eliminates the need to process entire network traffic streams, significantly reducing processing time while focusing analysis on the specific packets that contain problem information.
3Reliability
If technicians visit client sites repeatedly to troubleshoot, then problem resolution thoroughness is improved, but service efficiency and customer satisfaction worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - a client-side packet capture and analysis system that collects, filters, and prepares VoIP traffic data locally before transmitting it to technicians. This intermediary enables remote analysis of captured packets, allowing technicians to perform thorough problem resolution without needing to be physically present at the client site, thereby improving service efficiency while maintaining diagnostic thoroughness.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer program product being embodied on a computer readable medium for facilitating troubleshooting a VoIP session associated with at least one VoIP station using network traffic data, the computer program product including computer-executable instructions for: identifying data packets of the network traffic data indicative of VoIP signaling information or voice communications; determining if the identified packets are associated with the at least one VoIP station; determining whether a quality of the VoIP session was acceptable substantially simultaneously with the VoIP session; and, at least temporarily storing at least a portion of the identified packets determined to be associated with the at least one VoIP station when the VoIP session is determined to of an unacceptable quality.