Optimal use of multiple concurrent internet protocol (IP) data streams for voice communications
Examples are disclosed for mediating a voice communication session in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between a hybrid mobile device and a second endpoint. The hybrid mobile device sends, over an upstream link, and receives, over a downstream link, an Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link to and from the communications server. The hybrid mobile device is also capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a second IP packet data media stream representing the same voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server. The hybrid mobile device monitors the quality of service (QoS) of the IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection. When the communication link parameters dip below a specified QoS, the hybrid mobile device interleaves a help packet into the upstream IP packet data media stream instructing the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the cellular IP data communication link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream being sent over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.
1. A method of mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the method comprising:
in the hybrid mobile device:
monitoring the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and
when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleaving a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.
2. The method of claim 1 , the cellular IP data communication link 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).
3. The method of claim 1 , the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising: detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.
4. The method of claim 1 , the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
interleaving a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.
6. The method of claim 1 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.
7. The method of claim 6 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.
8. A communications server for mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the communications server comprising:
a memory unit for storing code;
at least one processor for executing the stored code to:
monitor the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and
when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.
9. The communications server of claim 8 , the cellular IP data communication link 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).
10. The communications server of claim 8 , the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising: detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.
11. The communications server of claim 8 , the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.
12. The communications server of claim 8 , the at least one processor for executing the stored code to:
interleave a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.
13. The communications server of claim 8 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.
14. The communications server of claim 13 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.
15. At least one machine-readable non-transitory medium for mediating a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device endpoint in which a communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device endpoint for a voice communication session, wherein the hybrid mobile device is currently sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a WiFi Internet Protocol (IP) packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a WiFi IP data communication link comprising an 802.11 wireless fidelity (WiFi) network connection to and from the communications server and the hybrid mobile device is capable of sending, over an upstream link, and receiving, over a downstream link, a cellular IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over a cellular IP data communication link to and from the communications server, the at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium comprising a set of instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
monitor the quality of service (QoS) of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream as determined by multiple communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection; and
when the QoS of the downstream WiFi IP packet data media stream dips below a specified threshold, interleave a help packet into the upstream cellular IP packet data media stream, the help packet including an instruction for the communications server to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream cellular link in addition to and in sync with the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the downstream link of the WiFi IP data communication link.
16. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15 , the cellular IP data communication link 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).
17. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15 , the communication link parameters for the 802.11 WiFi network connection comprising: detected signal strengths, available networks, jitter, latency, dropped packets, access point signal strength, and link speed.
18. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15 , the help packet further comprising a timeout duration such that the instruction causing the hybrid mobile device to begin streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link expires upon reaching the timeout duration unless a subsequent help packet has been interleaved into the downstream IP packet data media stream before the timeout duration.
19. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15 , further comprising a set of instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
interleave a stop help packet into the downstream cellular IP packet data media stream causing the hybrid mobile device to stop streaming the IP packet data media stream representing the voice communication session over the upstream link of the cellular IP data communication link.
20. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 15 , the IP packet data media streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream.
21. The at least one machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.