IP Library Granted Patent US 8,718,046
Granted Patent B2
US 8,718,046 · App. 13/450,182 · Granted May 6, 2014

System and method for monitoring a connection of an end-user device to a network

Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen (Olathe, KS)
Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,718,046
App. No.
13/450,182
Granted
May 6, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of monitoring the connection of a first end-user device to a network includes determining the amount of bandwidth present, tracking the amount of bandwidth in use by different classes of traffic, and tracking performance of the connection to detect when a threshold crossing has been reached. The method also includes transmitting a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached. The method further includes changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action.

Claims (33)

1. A method of monitoring a link in a network between a first end-user device and a network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a receiving device, performance data collected by the first end-user device, the performance data indicating a communication quality of the link between the first end-user device and the network;

determining that a threshold has been reached based on the received performance data, the threshold associated with a decline in quality of the link;

transmitting a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached;

receiving the communication action from the first end-user device, the communication action auto-generated by the first end-user device based on previously established preferences, wherein the previously established preferences prioritizes communications of one or more parties in communications with the first end-user device and prioritizes modes of connections with the one or more parties in communications with the first end-user device;

determining whether a change is to be made to a communication session between the first end-user device and the network based on the received communication action specified by the user of the first end-user device;

responsive to a determination that a change to is to be made to the communication session based on the received communication action, changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action, wherein changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network includes switching the communications session from the first end-user device and the network to the first end-user device and a second network, the second network selected based on the previously established preferences; and

responsive to a determination that a change to the communication session is not to be made based on the received communication action, maintaining the communications session between the first end-user device and the network unchanged.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising receiving a command entered by a user of the first end-user device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication action is preselected by the user of the first end-user device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of bandwidth has been reached.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of packet loss has been reached.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of jitter has been reached.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the link between the first end-user device and the network is a wired connection link and the performance data indicating the communication quality of the wired connection link between the first end-user device and the network.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the communications session comprises terminating the communications session and initiating a new communications session between the first end-user device and the second network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is established based on previous performance data collected by the first end-user device.

10. A system for monitoring a link in a network between a first end-user device and a network, the system comprising:

a communication interface for receiving performance data collected by the first end-user device, the performance data indicating a communication quality of the link between the first end-user device and the network;

a processor configured to execute instructions to:

determine that a threshold has been reached based on the received performance data, the threshold associated with a decline in quality of the link, the decline in quality being associated with a decline in quality applicable to multiple sessions communicated on at least a portion of the link; and

transmit a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached;

receiving, using the communication interface, the communication action from the first end-user device, the communication action auto-generated by the first end-user device based on previously established preferences, wherein the previously established preferences prioritizes communications of one or more parties in communications with the first end-user device and prioritizes modes of connections with the one or more parties in communications with the first end-user device;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to:

determine whether a change is to be made to a communication session between the first end-user device and the network based on the received communication action specified by the user of the first end-user device;

responsive to a determination that a change to is to be made to the communication session based on the received communication action, change the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action, wherein changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network includes switching the communications session from the first end-user device and the network to the first end-user device and a second network, the second network selected based on the previously established preferences; and

responsive to a determination that a change to the communication session is not to be made based on the received communication action, maintain the communications session between the first end-user device and the network unchanged.

11. The system of claim 10 , and further comprising receiving, using the communication interface, a command entered by a user of the first end-user device.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the communication action is preselected by the user of the first end-user device.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of bandwidth has been reached.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of packet loss has been reached.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the threshold has been reached comprises determining that an amount of jitter has been reached.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the link between the first end-user device and the network is a wired connection link and the performance data indicating the communication quality of the wired connection link between the first end-user device and the network.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein changing the communications session comprises terminating the communications session and initiating a new communications session between the first end-user device and the second network.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 17, 2014
From: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
Reel/Frame 032458/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2012
From: BUGENHAGEN, MICHAEL K.
To: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 028068/0276 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11583765 · Oct 19, 2006
Related Publication 20120201360A1 · Aug 9, 2012