Systems, methods, devices and arrangements for cost-effective routing
Assignee8x8, Inc.
InventorsMarc Petit-Huguenin, Garth Judge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for assessing and/or controlling call routing for Internet-based (e.g., VoIP/VioIP) calls. According to one such method, endpoint devices are used to monitor and/or assess the call-quality. The assessment is sent to a centralized server arrangement and call-routing is controlled therefrom. Endpoint devices employ a decentralized testing mechanism to further monitor and assess call quality including the use of test connections. Aspects of call quality are analyzed and attributed to endpoint devices and/or local connections or networks to distinguish intermediate routing issues from local/endpoint issues.
Claims16
In a data communications system configured to provide call routing on behalf of a plurality of endpoint devices each having an Internet Protocol (IP) interface and each having an audio input/output circuit to transform between audible sounds and electrical signals and a computer-processor circuit to measure a plurality of call quality factors for a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call implemented using the IP interface, an apparatus comprising:
- test circuitry to establish a test connection with another of the plurality of endpoint devices, to measure a plurality of test-call-quality factors relating to the test connection;
- data-output circuitry to publish, using the IP interface, data representing the plurality of call quality factors and other data representing the plurality of test-call-quality factors from the test connection;
- and
- data-processing circuitry to isolate perceived call quality issues associated with the audio input and output circuits from transmission related call-quality;
- and
- at least one server to access a database containing call-quality metrics and call-cost metrics for call-routing options, the at least one server to
- receive the published data representing the plurality of call quality factors from each endpoint device participating in the VoIP calls to which the published data applies, and
- select a second call route for a subsequent VoIP call using an algorithm based on data indicative of a relative correlation between different portions of a first call route for the VoIP call and each of the call-quality factors for the first call route, and on the call-cost metrics for each portion of the second call route for the subsequent VoIP call.
In a data communications system configured to provide call routing on behalf of a plurality of endpoint devices each having an Internet Protocol (IP) interface and each having an audio input/output circuit to transform between audible sounds and electrical signals and a computer-processor circuit to measure a plurality of call quality factors for a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call implemented using the IP interface, an apparatus comprising:
- means, including circuitry, for establishing a test connection with another of the plurality of endpoint devices, to measure a plurality of test-call-quality factors relating to the test connection;
- means, including circuitry, for publishing, using the IP interface, data representing the plurality of call quality factors and other data representing the plurality of test-call-quality factors from the test connection;
- and
- means, including circuitry, to isolate perceived call quality issues associated with the audio input and output circuits from transmission related call-quality;
- and
- means, including a server, for accessing a database that contains call-quality metrics and call-cost metrics for call-routing options, and for
- receiving the published data representing the plurality of call quality factors from each endpoint device participating in the VoIP calls to which the published data applies, and
- selecting a second call route for a subsequent VoIP call using an algorithm based on data indicative of a relative correlation between different portions of a first call route for the VoIP call and each of the call-quality factors for the first call route, and on the call-cost metrics for each portion of the second call route for the subsequent VoIP call.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.