VoIP Packet Size Control for CPU Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VoIP systems lack the ability to control the rate of incoming voice packets, leading to high CPU load on gateways and a compromise in speech quality and resource utilization, as they only have a field for maximum packet size, resulting in a fixed packet rate that does not account for varying network conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to set both maximum and minimum packet sizes at the source and destination during voice coding negotiations, with dynamic adjustment of the jitter buffer to manage CPU load and bandwidth, ensuring a balanced relationship between speech quality and resource requirements by signaling the minimum packet size and adjusting it based on traffic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If terminals send audio packets at a high packet rate to achieve desired speech quality, then speech quality (mouth-to-ear delay) is improved, but CPU load on the gateway becomes too high to cope with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the packet size variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts packet sizes based on network conditions and gateway capacity, allowing the packet rate to be optimized in real-time. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high packet rates when gateway capacity is available while reducing packet rates when CPU load becomes excessive, thus maintaining speech quality within acceptable ranges while preventing gateway overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of packet size to resolve the contradiction. By varying packet size instead of maintaining a fixed size, the system can adjust the packet rate to match gateway processing capacity. Larger packets reduce packet rate and CPU load, while smaller packets increase packet rate and improve speech quality. This parameter change enables the system to operate at optimal points on the trade-off curve between speech quality and CPU load.
2Quantity of substance
If smaller packet size is used to reduce bandwidth requirement, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but packet rate increases leading to higher CPU load
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts packet size based on overall system conditions, allowing it to optimize the trade-off between bandwidth utilization and CPU load. When bandwidth is abundant but gateway capacity is limited, the system can use larger packets to reduce CPU load. When bandwidth is the constrained resource, smaller packets can be used. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting to different operational contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the packet size parameter to simultaneously address both bandwidth and CPU load concerns. By adjusting packet size, the system can control both the bandwidth consumption (through payload efficiency) and the CPU load (through packet processing frequency). This single parameter change provides a mechanism to balance both resources effectively.
3Productivity
If larger packet size is used to reduce CPU load, then CPU capacity utilization is improved, but mouth-to-ear delay increases reducing speech quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts packet size to maintain optimal speech quality while utilizing gateway capacity effectively. When gateway capacity is underutilized, the system can use smaller packets to reduce delay and improve speech quality. When capacity is fully utilized, larger packets are used to reduce the number of packets to process, preventing overload. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting to real-time capacity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the gateway monitors its CPU load and adjusts packet size accordingly. When delay measurements indicate poor speech quality, the system feedbacks this information and reduces packet size to improve quality. When CPU load approaches capacity, feedback triggers an increase in packet size to reduce processing demand. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by continuously balancing speech quality and CPU utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling provision of audio communication on a network comprising at least two endpoints (1, 3), at least one acting as a source and at least one acting as a destination, comprises setting a desired maximum and minimum packet size at the source; setting a desired maximum and minimum packet size at the destination; determining a minimum send packet size as the greater of the desired minimum set by the source and the desired minimum set by the destination; setting a jitter buffer at the destination to an appropriate size for the determined minimum send packet size; and transmitting audio packets of a size greater than or equal to the determined minimum send packet size.