Abstract: Methods and systems for per-session dynamic management of media gateway resources are disclosed. According to one method, the logical and physical resources in a media gateway are divided and dynamically managed at the Transport Layer (i.e. OBI Layer 4), which results in finer granularity than managing such resources statically at the Data Link Layer (i.e. OBI Layer 2) or Network Layer (i.e. OBI Layer 3). Voice-processing resources provided by voice server cards may be pooled into a common pool available to all external networks. For each new call/session, the dynamic resource manager of the media gateway dynamically allocates a voice chip from the pooled voice processing resources, and assigns a logical resource identifier (e.g. a local IP and local UDP pair) to the session. When a network interface card receives incoming voice packets, it checks the destination IP and UDP and optionally the source IP and UDP to find out, and forward voice packets to, the voice chip assigned to the session.

Abstract: Methods and systems for per-session NAT learning and firewall filtering are disclosed. Media packets associated with a call/session are received and processed at a media gateway. For the first few received media packets associated with a session, the media gateway uses various unique methods to learn the actual source IP address and UDP port assigned to the remote communication terminal by its customer-premises Network Address Translators (NATs) to the media flows of the current session. After the remote IP and UDP are learned, the media gateway reconfigures its firewall filtering function to check both the dynamically learned remote IP and UDP and the locally assigned IP and UDP of the current session. The per-session NAT learning function removes reachability issues in VoIP deployment, and the per-session firewall filtering function enhances security protection in VoIP deployment.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for storing communication session information at a network interface module. One method described herein includes receiving a plurality of RTCP packets associated with a communication session at a network interface module. RTCP information is extracted from at least one of the packets. The extracted RTCP information is stored in memory local to the network interface module.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for selecting a route in a network are provided. A respective link cost is assigned to links of a plurality of routes, and a respective node cost is assigned to nodes of the plurality of routes. A respective link cost is calculated for each of the links, and a respective node cost is calculated for each of the nodes. A respective route cost for each of the plurality of routes is calculated based on the calculated link cost for each of the links and the calculated node cost for each of the nodes.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for oversubscription of wireless media gateway resources. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for oversubscription of wireless media gateway resources. The method includes defining at least one per-resource oversubscription factor for wireless media gateway resources required by at least one wireless network connection. The wireless media gateway resources are provisioned for the at least one wireless network connection using the at least one per-resource oversubscription factor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing link redundancy in a media gateway are provided according to one method, a media gateway link protection group is provisioned to associate with a common VLAN a common virtual local area network (VLAN) primary and secondary links associated with at least one line card in a media gateway. The primary and secondary links are connected using a cross connection between ports associated with the at least one line card. At run time, traffic is automatically bridged between the primary and secondary links using the common VLAN and the cross connection.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for load balanced and symmetric SPF path computations for VoIP traffic engineering. One method includes advertising an output interface cost in a first direction over a first network segment between a source IP device and a destination IP device that is different from an output interface cost in advertised in a second direction over the first network segment. A plurality of available network paths between the source IP device and the destination IP device is identified. A path cost is calculated for each of the available network paths from the source IP device to the destination IP device. Calculating a path cost includes, for paths that include the first network segment, substituting the output interface cost advertised in the first direction with the output interface cost advertised in the second direction. The path costs are ranked based on the calculated costs. A lowest cost path is selected from the ranked paths.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for multipath Shortest-Path-First (SPF) computations and distance-based interface selection for VoIP traffic are disclosed. According to one method, a multi-path router instance associated with a plurality of network interfaces in a source IP device is provided. A cost is assigned to each of a plurality of internal segments between the multi-path router instance and the network interfaces associated with the multi-path router instance. An aggregate cost is calculated for each of a plurality of traffic paths originating at the multi-path router instance in the source IP device and extending through each of the network interfaces associated with the multi-path router instance to a destination IP device in the network. A list of IP paths is generated, and the paths in the list are ranked based on the calculated cost. Traffic is sent from the source IP device over at least one of the paths in the list.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for throttling network address translation (NAT) learning traffic in a voice over IP device are disclosed. According to one method, a plurality of media packets associated with a media session are received at a voice over IP device. A NAT learning throttling filter is applied to select the subset of the packets to be used for NAT learning and thereby limit the number of received media packets to be used for NAT learning. NAT learning is performed for the session using the packets selected by the NAT learning throttling filter.

Abstract: A media gateway comprises a non-packet switching matrix operable to switch non-packetized data, a packet switching matrix operable to switch packetized data, a plurality of processing resources coupled to the non-packet and packet switching matrices, each processing resource processing a substantially equal load of multimedia sessions processed by the media gateway without inactive protecting resources.

Abstract: A method of measuring network quality for VoIP calls comprises setting up a test call from a local IP endpoint to a remote IP endpoint reachable by a logical trunk group associated with the local IP endpoint, receiving statistical data regarding the test call, tearing down the test call, processing the statistical data and generating measurement results, and routing a VoIP call using a route selected based at least in part on the measurement results.

Abstract: A switching system includes at least one packet processing circuit interfacing with at least one packet transmission link. The switching system further includes a switch fabric coupled to the at least one packet processing circuit, whereby the switch fabric is operable to switch between channels receiving and transmitting data over the at least one packet transmission link and channels receiving and transmitting data over at least one non-packet transmission link interfaced by the switch fabric.

Abstract: Methods and systems for per-session traffic rate policing in a media gateway include receiving voice over IP (VoIP) packets at a media gateway where it is determined whether each VoIP packet is associated with an existing VoIP session in the media gateway. A per-session traffic rate policing policy is applied to the packets associated with the existing sessions in the media gateway. In response to determining that a packet violates the per-session traffic rate policing policy, the packet is discarded.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a packet data ingress, a packet data egress, and a packet data switching matrix configured to switch packet data from the packet data ingress to the packet data egress. The apparatus may further include a packet data jitter buffer and a packet data splitter, wherein the packet data splitter interposes the packet data ingress and the packet data switching matrix and is configured to multicast the packet data to the packet data switching matrix and the jitter buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sub-element processing (SEP) module configured to perform sub-element and/or per-session processing for each of a plurality of data elements included in data being switched between ones of a plurality of transmission links. The data can include wireless packet data, wireless non-packet data, wireline packet data, wireline non-packet data, and combinations thereof. The sub-element and/or per-session processing includes at least one of extracting and bundling at least one of voice data, encoding data and signaling data corresponding to one of a plurality of channels or sessions bundled within individual ones of the plurality of data elements.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of packet processors each included in one of a plurality of voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) network interfaces. Each of the plurality of packet processors is configured to cache a latest version of realtime transport control protocol (RTCP) report data by discarding an older version of the RTCP report data. The RTCP report data includes at least one of RTCP sender report data and RTCP receiver report data. The apparatus also includes a packet data switching matrix configured to switch packet data between ones of the plurality of VoIP network interfaces. A central processor of the apparatus is configured to generate a final session detail record upon the termination of a VoIP-session by selecting RTCP session-concluding report data from a plurality of RTCP final report data each cached by a corresponding one of the plurality of packet processors.

Abstract: A switching system includes at least one packet processing circuit interfacing with at least one packet transmission link. The switching system further includes a switch fabric coupled to the at least one packet processing circuit, whereby the switch fabric is operable to switch between channels receiving and transmitting data over the at least one packet transmission link and channels receiving and transmitting data over at least one non-packet transmission link interfaced by the switch fabric.

Abstract: A method of adaptive resource allocation in transmitting data is provided. In particular, the method of the present invention is applicable to scheduling bandwidths using a modified and dynamic weighted round robin process. The method includes the steps of allocating a resource to each of a plurality of data transmitting active connections, the plurality of active connections belonging to more than one class of service. Then the method determines a lender class of service for each active connection from which resources may be reallocated to the active connection, and periodically comparing the resource usage of an active connection to an upper threshold and a lower threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing voice over IP traffic engineering and path resilience using a network-aware media gateway are provided. In a media gateway, voice over IP hosts are assigned a first set of IP addresses. Network interfaces in the media gateway are assigned a second set of IP addresses that differ from the first set of IP addresses. Per-interface routers advertise reachability information from at least one of the voice over IP hosts via multiple interfaces and participate in network routing protocols to generate per interface routing tables. Voice over IP path lists may be generated based on the per interface routing tables. Internal costs may be assigned to the associations between the voice over IP hosts and the interfaces based on traffic engineering criteria.

Abstract: A method of optimizing access network utilization is provided. The access network includes a plurality of integrated access devices coupled to a segment and reassembly device, where each segment and reassembly device has a plurality of channels, X. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of subscriber lines, ?mi, coupled to the integrated access devices, providing a plurality of integrated access device lines, ?ni, between the integrated access devices and the segment and reassembly device, multiplexing the plurality of subscriber lines by the integrated access device onto the plurality of integrated access device lines, such that ?mi>?ni=X, and providing a reorder tone to any subscriber whose call is blocked.