Optimal use of multiple concurrent internet protocol (IP) data streams for voice communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9398165-B2
Application number	US-201514806953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

Examples are disclosed for hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device enabling the exchange of multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over multiple different IP based networks between the hybrid mobile device and the communications server. The communications server determines a packet quality for each corresponding packet in the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams and creates a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams. On the send side, the communications server receives a single IP packet data media stream and simultaneously fully and partially encodes it to be sent out over the multiple different IP based networks to the hybrid mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
in a communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network:
hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in which the communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, wherein the communications server has established separate communication links with the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, and wherein the hybrid mobile device and the communications server are capable of exchanging multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links;
receiving multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links and network connections, at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of fully encoded IP data packets and at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of partially encoded IP data packets that contain less information than fully encoded IP data packets;
determining a packet quality for each corresponding packet in each time slot for the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams, the highest quality packet being the one containing the most information;
creating a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet for each time slot from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams; and
sending the blended IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , the different communication link and IP based packet data network comprising one of an 802.11 WiFi network connection, a cellular network connection, an 802.16 WiMax network connection, a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, and a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz.

3. The method of claim 2 , the cellular network connection utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

4. The method of claim 1 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

5. The method of claim 4 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

6. A communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network comprising:
a memory unit for storing code;
at least one processor for executing the stored code to:
host a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in which the communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, wherein the communications server has established separate communication links with the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, and wherein the hybrid mobile device and the communications server are capable of exchanging multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links;
receive multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links and network connections, at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of fully encoded IP data packets and at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of partially encoded IP data packets that contain less information than fully encoded IP data packets;
determine a packet quality for each corresponding packet in each time slot for the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams, the highest quality packet being the one containing the most information;
create a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams; and
send the blended IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.

7. The communications server of claim 6 , the different communication link and IP based packet data network comprising one of an 802.11 WiFi network connection, a cellular network connection, an 802.16 WiMax network connection, a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, and a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz.

8. The communications server of claim 7 , the cellular network connection utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

9. The communications server of claim 6 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

10. The communications server of claim 9 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

Assignees

• Bandwidth Com Inc

Inventors

• Surmay Stan
• Brownworth Anders
• Kashimba Jared

Classifications

• H04L69/14

  Multichannel or multilink protocols · CPC title

• H04W80/04

  Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol] · CPC title

• H04M7/006

  Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer (H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42) · CPC title

• H04W16/14

  Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title