Avaya Technology LLC

Avaya Technologies Corp

Yuk-Ming Peter Lam

Eric Jonathan Bauer

Prakash Iyer

John Orleanski

Fang-Fe S Huan

A network monitoring agent is disclosed that monitors network conditions, such as traffic volume, and determines when to dynamically adjust the encoding scheme for one or more connections. The network monitoring agent can select an encoding standard based on, for example, current network traffic volume, network error characteristics, time of day or day of week. In the illustrative network traffic implementation, an encoding standard that provides a lower degree of compression and a higher quality level is selected at times of lighter network traffic. Likewise, as network traffic increases, an encoding standard that provides a higher degree of compression, although at a lower quality level, is selected in order to maximize the network utilization. The network monitoring agent notifies one or both of the devices associated with each connection of changes in the encoding scheme. Generally, both devices must change the compression algorithm at the same time, to ensure proper decoding of received packets. The initiating device inserts a notification in a field of a predefined number of packet headers to inform the recipient device that subsequent packets will be encoded with a different specified encoding algorithm, until further notice. Thereafter, the recipient device can load the appropriate codec to properly decompress and decode the received packets.

Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating bandwidth utilization in a packet telephony system

A method and apparatus are disclosed for notifying a far-end calling party when a near-end calling party utilizes a hold or mute feature. The present invention reduces bandwidth utilization by suppressing the transmission of packets during periods of extended silence. Each packet telephony device includes a packet suppression system that monitors local terminal activity and notifies the far-end party that the near-end device is discarding the &ldquo;listen&rdquo; stream. In addition, the disclosed packet suppression system monitors the incoming packets and processes such notifications from the far-end party that the far-end device is discarding the &ldquo;listen&rdquo; stream. In response, the packet suppression system can suppress the transmission of further packets and optionally activate a music-on-hold feature for the held party.

Method and apparatus for suppression of packets during silence periods in a packet telephony system

A media exchange monitor is disclosed that selectively (i) introduces a mixer into a two-party call when the two-party call becomes a conference call (ad-hoc conference), and (ii) removes the mixer when one or more conference call participants drop out, leaving only two participants behind. When a party to a two-party call requests to convert the call into a conference call, the packet telephony system responds to the conference call request by connecting a mixer to service the conference call between the parties. When parties drops out of a conference call, leaving only two parties behind, the mixer is removed from the conference call. In one implementation, the mixer is removed from the conference call only if the two remaining parties can exchange media directly. When the media connection among the parties must be changed to introduce or remove the mixer, the media exchange monitor achieves the desired connectivity by initially querying the parties for their capabilities. Thereafter, the media exchange monitor instructs the parties to establish a direct connection for a two-party call or to connect to the mixer for a conference call. The media exchange monitor processes the results of the capability query to select a compatible compression algorithm.

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Colts Neck, NJ, United States of America

Yuk-Ming Peter Lam