Cisco Technology, Inc.

Juniper Networks, Inc.

Shai Mohaban

Itzhak Parnafes

Opher Kahane

Keith McCloghrie

Silvano Gai

Steven M Woo

John Strassner

Yoram Snir

Yoram Ramberg

Benjamin Getz

Arthur Zavalkovsky

Arad Naveh

Methods for optimizing the media path between multimedia endpoints in a network are described. One embodiment allows avoiding having to relay the media traffic through a central device, such as a border controller's media controller element, and lets endpoints communicate directly under various conditions.

Media path optimization for multimedia over internet protocol

A system and method for transferring Media over IP (MoIP) packets over an overlay network is provided. The system provides specially designed overlay network units located at key points in the IP network effectively creating an overlay network that is capable of interacting both on the overlay level as well as over the standard IP network.

Methods and apparatus providing an overlay network for voice over internet protocol applications

Techniques are described for aggregating multiple media packets to improve end-to-end bandwidth efficiency. The techniques include using an RTP aggregation protocol that is not sensitive to packet loss to aggregate multiple media packets under a single header. According to the RTP aggregation protocol, the single header for an aggregated media packet comprises a version field, a zero field, a sequence number field and a trunk ID field. The single header encapsulates the aggregated payload, which is an aggregation of Real-Time Protocol (RTP) segments. An RTP segment either has a compressed format or an uncompressed format. The uncompressed RTP segment includes the complete uncompressed RTP packet copied from the original User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet. The compressed RTP segment includes the payload of the original RTP rather than the complete original RTP packet.

Method and apparatus providing media aggregation in a packet-switched network

A method and apparatus for communicating a COPS protocol policy to a non-COPS-enabled network device is provided. A COPS proxy is connected between a policy server and a non-COPS-enabled network device. The policy server is configured to communicate COPS protocol policies to the COPS proxy, which is, in turn, configured to translate the COPS protocol policy into a policy that is in accordance with a policy protocol that the non-COPS-enabled network device can receive and correctly interpret ('non-COPS protocol'). The translation of the policy utilizes a mapping database that delineates predetermined relationships between COPS protocol policies and the non-COPS protocol policies. More specifically, the mapping database can include relationships between COPS protocol policy information base variables, network device roles and characteristics, and non-COPS protocol parameters and associated values. Further, the COPS proxy can be configured to detect and reconcile policy conflicts for one or more network devices.

Method and apparatus for communicating COPS protocol policies to non-COPS-enabled network devices

Techniques for creating policies for use in policy-based management of quality of service treatments of network data traffic flows are described. Policies are defined based on information about types of flows generated by an application and quality of service functions that are available in the network. Application information is received that defines flows generated by an application, including points where the application generates the traffic flows. QoS information is received that defines one of more quality of service treatments that the network device may apply to data processed by the network device. Based on the information, processing policies that associate the flows with the QoS treatments are determined. Mappings of the application information to the QoS treatments, which may be used to generate the quality of service value when the application program generates flows, are created and stored. Thus, the policies are informed both by application expertise and network expertise.

Method and apparatus for creating policies for policy-based management of quality of service treatments of network data traffic flows

A method, performed in a network element, for communicating packet multimedia data between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of receiving an outbound multimedia data packet; determining if the outbound multimedia data packet originated from a first endpoint that is logically behind a security device; determining and storing information identifying a logical pinhole in the security device, wherein the logical pinhole is associated with expected inbound multimedia data packets directed to the first endpoint; performing an action that keeps the logical pinhole open during all of a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint; and forwarding inbound multimedia data packets directed from the second endpoint to the first endpoint via the logical pinhole.

Method of communicating packet multimedia to restricted endpoints

A method for communicating packet multimedia data between a source endpoint and a destination endpoint is disclosed, wherein at least the source endpoint is within a virtual private network, and comprises the steps of receiving, at a signaling controller, a first signaling packet from the source endpoint, wherein the source endpoint is within a virtual private network; determining whether the source endpoint and destination endpoint may communicate directly over the same virtual private network; when the source endpoint and destination endpoint cannot communicate directly over the same virtual private network, associating a unique identifier of the source endpoint with a virtual private network identification marker; when the source endpoint and destination endpoint can communicate directly over the same virtual private network, instructing the source endpoint and destination endpoint to communicate media packets directly.

Multimedia over internet protocol border controller for network-based virtual private networks

A method and apparatus are provided for automatic reverse-direction or bi-directional quality of service treatment of network data flows. A network device located at the edge or border of a network, such as a router that is connected to another network, identifies a data flow originating within its network and directed outside the network, and having packets set with quality of service treatment values. Identified quality of service treatments may be IP precedence, DSCP marking of packets in the flow, an RSVP PATH message, etc. The network device creates and stores, in its local memory, values that uniquely identify the flow and that tell the device how to treat packets of the same flow that are transmitted in the opposite or inbound direction. Upon identifying a corresponding inbound flow with quality of service treatment, all packets of the flow are given a pre-configured quality of service treatment based upon the quality of service treatment of the originally identified flow.

Automatically applying bi-directional quality of service treatment to network data flows

A method and apparatus for providing network resource reservation capability for receiver nodes that either cannot or do not facilitate RSVP processes is provided. A RESV proxy is connected between an anticipated sender node and an anticipated receiver node in a computer network, e.g., a voice over IP network. The RESV proxy can detect an RSVP Path message and determine whether a RESV message is appropriate for the anticipated traffic flow. If it is so determined, the RESV proxy generates and communicates a RESV message through the network back to the anticipated sender node. The appropriateness of a RESV message can be based upon predetermined relationships or logic involving one or more of network parameters, transport parameters, and characteristics of the anticipated traffic flow, and other traffic flow attributes determined from analyzing the RSVP Path message. The RESV proxy can also interface with a policy server on the network to facilitate generation of the RESV message according to one or more of the anticipated traffic flow attributes. Alternatively, the RESV proxy can include the policy server functionality itself.

Method and apparatus providing automatic RESV message generation for non-RESV-capable network devices

A method and apparatus for creating policies for use in policy-based management of quality of service treatments of network data traffic flows are described. The policies are defined based on information about types of network traffic flows generated by an application program, and information about quality of service functions that are available in devices of the network. In one embodiment, application information is received that defines one or more traffic flows generated by an application program, including information identifying one or more points at which an application generates the traffic flows, from a first individual having responsibility for managing enterprise applications in the network. Further, QoS information is received that defines one of more quality of service treatments that the network device may apply to data processed by the network device, from a second individual having responsibility for managing the network. Based on the device QoS information and the application information, one or more processing policies that associate the traffic flows with the quality of service treatments are determined. Mappings of the application information to the quality of service treatments, which may be used to generate the quality of service value when the application program generates traffic flows, are created and stored. As a result, the policies are informed both by application program expertise and network expertise. Methods and mechanisms of integrating the policies into a directory are described.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Shai Mohaban