VoIP Network Testing via Instrumented Test Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
VoIP networks lack testing for quality assurance, leading to potential low-quality communications, and there is a need for regular diagnostic audits to maintain acceptable quality levels.
Innovation Solution
Implementing instrumented test streams and a call manager program to measure network characteristics like jitter, packet loss, and delay, allowing for dynamic routing and CODEC switching to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If VoIP network is deployed without testing, then deployment speed and time to market are improved, but communication quality and network reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary testing of VoIP networks using instrumented test streams before deploying actual voice services. The system performs quality assessments, capacity measurements, and routing validations in advance to ensure network reliability is established prior to user deployment, resolving the contradiction between fast deployment and quality assurance.
2Reliability
If comprehensive testing is implemented, then network quality and reliability are improved, but system complexity and testing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional testing system that simultaneously performs quality assessment, capacity measurement, routing validation, and codec evaluation using a unified instrumented test stream framework. This universal testing platform reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple testing functions into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate testing mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system automatically generates, transmits, and analyzes instrumented test streams without requiring manual intervention for each test parameter. The system self-configures test parameters, automatically routes test calls through the network, and generates quality reports, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive testing capabilities.
3Reliability
If periodic testing is performed, then network quality maintenance is improved, but network utilization and available capacity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic quality assurance testing using instrumented test streams that are inserted into the network at scheduled intervals. The system performs brief quality assessments at regular intervals to maintain network quality without requiring continuous testing, thereby balancing quality maintenance with network utilization by limiting testing to specific periodic windows rather than constant monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention enables testing of a VoIP network using various instrumented test streams. The testing can determine the quality of the transmission network before an internet VoIP service is put into production. The testing also enables regular diagnostic audits of a VoIP network to maintain the quality of the VoIP network. The testing enable measurement of, for example jitter, packet loss and delay and allow characteristics of the VoIP network to be obtained. In addition, the present invention can to determine the capacity and utilization of a VoIP transport network. Based on the measurements and characteristics of the VoIP network the present invention can control routing of a call on the VoIP network or can prevent a call from being made. The present invention also enables dynamic switching of CODECS during a session to enhance the performance of the VoIP network.