Abstract:
A Packet Network for use in association with a wireless communication system employs packet distribution and call set-up methods optimized to select from a plurality of network routing devices, a single node (i.e., Rendezvous Point (VP) or.multicast core) as a function of attributes exhibited by the communication devices involved in the call or as a function of various communication system performance and/or quality of service (QOS) attributes, including but not limited to, bandwidth requirements, resource availability, network processing capacity, network response time, network traffic data, information technology and other knowledge and know-how regarding system equipment, system software, system integration, installation and/or deployment, bit error rate (BER), received signal strength indication (RSSI), quality of service (QOS) metrics, and any other measure of system performance or call quality.
Abstract:
A packet-based communication system and method of call control that allows variable numbers of calls of potentially multiple types (e.g., conventional and trunking calls) to proceed concurrently over shared links of an IP network without exceeding available bandwidth. Call counts are determined for one or more paths between endpoints, defining numbers of calls that are supportable by the one or more paths. The call counts may be apportioned between first and second types of call (e.g., between trunking and conventional calls). Upon receiving call requests that require use of one or more paths, the call requests are granted if they do not exceed the call counts associated with the one or more paths. Optionally, the call requests may be denied or busied if they exceed the call counts associated with the one or more paths. As another option, call requests of one type (e.g., trunking calls) may be granted even if there are no remaining call counts allocated for that type by borrowing call counts that are allocated for a second type (e.g., conventional calls) and/or by preempting calls of the second type.
Abstract:
A method of call control in a packet-based communication system having consoles, distributed among one or more console sites, that are adapted to monitor talkgroup calls. The console sites are served by console site links having a limited available bandwidth. Upon receiving a request for a talkgroup call, there is identified a number of priority consoles requesting participation in a talkgroup call. For example, the priority consoles (or console operators) may indicate that monitoring of the talkgroup call is nullcriticalnull for those consoles. Based on the location of the priority consoles, a number of priority console sites are identified for the talkgroup call. If sufficient bandwidth (e.g., call units of bandwidth) is available (or made available) to each of the priority console sites, the call is granted. Alternatively or additionally, the call may be granted to certain non-priority console sites if bandwidth is available. Bandwidth may be made available for critical talkgroups at certain sites by pre-empting non-critical talkgroups being monitored at those sites.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for determining a link Op from among a plurality of host devices on a LAN, for exchanging control messages between a communication server and one or more sites having a link Op and a listening Op and for the link Op and/or listening Op to detect and recover from missing packets in a sequence of IP packets received from the server. The link Op and listening Op join a control multicast group address to receive control messages from the server. The link Op establishes a reliable message transfer session with the server. Upon the link Op detecting a missing packet, the link Op may request that the communication server resend the packet. Upon the listening Op detecting a missing packet, the listening Op determines whether the link Op will request retransmission of the missing packet. If the link Op is determined to not request retransmission of the missing packet, the listening Op requests retransmission of the missing packet or accepts the packet as missing and processes an out-of-sequence packet. If the link Op is determined to request retransmission of the missing packet, the listening Op discards the packet and relies upon the link Op to request retransmission of the missing packet.
Abstract:
Methods are described that enable host devices of a multicast IP network to reliably join multicast group address(es) in talkgroup or point-to-point calls. For a talkgroup call, a sourcing host sends nullhellonull packets or payload to one or more network devices, addressed to a multicast group address. The receiving host issues a join command to the one or more network devices in an attempt to reliably join the multicast group address. If any packets are received by the receiving host within a designated time period associated with the attempt, the receiving host is reliably joined to the multicast group address. For a point-to-point call, a controller sends a pair of multicast group addresses, one designated for sourcing packets and the other designated for receiving packets, to a first and second host participating in the point-to-point call. The designated nullsourcenull and nullreceivenull multicast group address are complementary for the first and second hosts. When the first or second host is acting as a source, it sends hello packets or payload addressed to its designated nullsourcenull multicast group address. When the first or second host is acting as a receiver, it attempts to join its designated nullreceivenull multicast group address. The first or second host acting as a receiver knows that it is reliably joined to its designated nullreceivenull multicast group address if it receives any packets addressed to that address within a designated time period.