Efficient handover of media communications in heterogeneous IP networks

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a computing device, a first media stream associated with a media session, wherein transmitting the first media stream comprises (i) using a first Internet Protocol address and port (IP:port) number as a source IP address and source port of the first media stream, and (ii) using a second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the first media stream;

receiving a second media stream from the second IP:port number;

acquiring a third IP:port number;

determining a network quality associated with the first IP:port number and a network quality associated with the third IP:port number;

making a determination, based at least in part on at least one of the network quality associated with the first IP:port number and the network quality associated with the third IP:port number, to handover the media session from the first IP:port number to the third IP:port number;

in response to making the determination, transmitting, by the computing device, a third media stream, wherein transmitting the third media stream comprises (i) using the third IP:port number as a source IP address and source port of the third media stream, and (ii) using the second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the third media stream; and

receiving a fourth media stream from the second IP:port number.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third media stream starts before the first media stream stops.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fourth media stream starts before the second media stream stops.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fourth media stream starts before the second media stream stops.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to making the determination, transmitting a call-control signal to indicate the handover.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the call-control signal comprises at least one packet inserted within the first media stream or the third media stream.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the network quality is based on at least one of round-trip delay, packet loss, bit error, and jitter for a respective media stream associated with a respective IP:port number.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a media control channel.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

transmitting and receiving, by the computing device, media control channel packets, via the established media control channel, at the third IP:port number.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third media stream includes at least a portion of the first media stream, and wherein the fourth media stream includes at least a portion of the second media stream.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

transmitting a first media stream associated with a media session, wherein transmitting the first media stream comprises (i) using a first Internet Protocol address and port (IP:port) number as a source IP address and source port of the first media stream, and (ii) using a second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the first media stream;

receiving a second media stream from the second IP:port number;

acquiring a third IP:port number;

determining a network quality associated with the first IP:port number and a network quality associated with the third IP:port number;

making a determination, based at least in part on at least one of the network quality associated with the first IP:port number and the network quality associated with the third IP:port number, to handover the media session from the first IP:port number to the third IP:port number;

in response to making the determination, transmitting a third media stream, wherein transmitting the third media stream comprises (i) using the third IP:port number as a source IP address and source port of the third media stream, and (ii) using the second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the third media stream; and

receiving a fourth media stream from the second IP:port number.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the third media stream starts before the first media stream stops.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the fourth media stream starts before the second media stream stops.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the fourth media stream starts before the second media stream stops.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to making the determination, transmitting a call-control signal to indicate the handover.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the call-control signal comprises at least one packet inserted within the first media stream or the third media stream.

17. A device comprising:

at least one processor; and

data storage comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to perform functions comprising:

transmitting a first media stream associated with a media session, wherein transmitting the first media stream comprises (i) using a first Internet Protocol address and port (IP:port) number as a source IP address and source port of the first media stream, and (ii) using a second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the first media stream;

receiving a second media stream from the second IP:port number;

acquiring a third IP:port number;

determining a network quality associated with the first IP:port number and a network quality associated with the third IP:port number;

making a determination, based at least in part on at least one of the network quality associated with the first IP:port number and the network quality associated with the third IP:port number, to handover the media session from the first IP:port number to the third IP:port number;

in response to making the determination, transmitting a third media stream, wherein transmitting the third media stream comprises (i) using the third IP:port number as a source IP address and source port of the third media stream, and (ii) using the second IP:port number as a destination IP address and destination port of the third media stream; and

receiving a fourth media stream from the second IP:port number.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein determining the network quality is based on at least one of round-trip delay, packet loss, bit error, and jitter for a respective media stream associated with a respective IP:port number.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the functions further comprise

establishing a media control channel; and

transmitting and receiving media control channel packets, via the established media control channel, at the third IP:port number.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the third media stream includes at least a portion of the first media stream, and wherein the fourth media stream includes at least a portion of the second media stream.