IP Library Granted Patent US 9,398,165
Granted Patent B2
US 9,398,165 · App. 14/806,953 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Optimal use of multiple concurrent internet protocol (IP) data streams for voice communications

Inventors: Stan Surmay (Cary, NC); Anders Brownworth (Cambridge, MA); Jared Kashimba (Micanopy, FL)
Assignee: Bandwidth.com, Inc.
H04M7/066H04L12/4625H04L29/06H04L29/12H04L61/1529H04W16/14H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,398,165
App. No.
14/806,953
Granted
Jul 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples are disclosed for hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device enabling the exchange of multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over multiple different IP based networks between the hybrid mobile device and the communications server. The communications server determines a packet quality for each corresponding packet in the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams and creates a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams. On the send side, the communications server receives a single IP packet data media stream and simultaneously fully and partially encodes it to be sent out over the multiple different IP based networks to the hybrid mobile device.

Claims (23)

1. A method comprising:

in a communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network:

hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in which the communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, wherein the communications server has established separate communication links with the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, and wherein the hybrid mobile device and the communications server are capable of exchanging multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links;

receiving multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links and network connections, at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of fully encoded IP data packets and at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of partially encoded IP data packets that contain less information than fully encoded IP data packets;

determining a packet quality for each corresponding packet in each time slot for the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams, the highest quality packet being the one containing the most information;

creating a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet for each time slot from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams; and

sending the blended IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , the different communication link and IP based packet data network comprising one of an 802.11 WiFi network connection, a cellular network connection, an 802.16 WiMax network connection, a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, and a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz.

3. The method of claim 2 , the cellular network connection utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

4. The method of claim 1 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

5. The method of claim 4 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

6. A communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network comprising:

a memory unit for storing code;

at least one processor for executing the stored code to:

host a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in which the communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, wherein the communications server has established separate communication links with the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device, and wherein the hybrid mobile device and the communications server are capable of exchanging multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links;

receive multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over corresponding multiple different communication links and network connections, at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of fully encoded IP data packets and at least one IP packet data media stream comprised of partially encoded IP data packets that contain less information than fully encoded IP data packets;

determine a packet quality for each corresponding packet in each time slot for the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams, the highest quality packet being the one containing the most information;

create a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams; and

send the blended IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.

7. The communications server of claim 6 , the different communication link and IP based packet data network comprising one of an 802.11 WiFi network connection, a cellular network connection, an 802.16 WiMax network connection, a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, and a wireless network connection operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz.

8. The communications server of claim 7 , the cellular network connection utilizing an IP protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD).

9. The communications server of claim 6 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.

10. The communications server of claim 9 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2021
From: REPUBLIC WIRELESS, INC.
To: RELAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 056753/0703 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 9,014,138 SHOULD BE PATENT NO. 9,014,038 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 041030 FRAME 0123. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: BANDWIDTH.COM, INC.
To: REPUBLIC WIRELESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053583/0771 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2016
From: BANDWIDTH.COM, INC.
To: REPUBLIC WIRELESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041030/0123 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: BANDWIDTH.COM, INC.
To: REPUBLIC WIRELESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040821/0231 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2015
From: SURMAY, STAN
To: BANDWIDTH.COM, INC.
Reel/Frame 036163/0449 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62158858 · May 8, 2015
Related Publication 20150326637A1 · Nov 12, 2015