Synchronization of a media codec between network elements of a media communication session

A network element to synchronize a media codec between network elements of a media communication session, the network element comprising:

• one or more computer readable storage media;
• a processing system operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media;
• and
• program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when read and executed by the processing system, direct the processing system to:
• after initiation of the media communication session between a first network element and at least a second network element:
• determine that a first clock speed for the media codec at the first network element comprises a most accurate clock speed relative to clock speeds of other network elements on the media communication session;
• designate the first network element to be a static-clock network element during the media communication session and designate at least the second network element to be a dynamic-clock network element during the media communication session, wherein real-time user communications are exchanged between the first network element and at least the second network element during the media communication session, wherein the real-time user communications comprise media encoded using the media codec;
• determine that a difference in clock speed exists between a second clock speed for the media codec at the second network element and the first clock speed;
• and
• adjust the second clock speed to account for the difference in clock speed;
• at a time after designating the first network element to be the static-clock network element:
• determine that the first clock speed no longer comprises the most accurate clock speed;
• designate the first network element as a dynamic-clock network element;
• and
• designate another network element now having the most accurate clock speed to be the static-clock network element.

A network element to synchronize a media codec between network elements of a media communication session, the network element comprising:

• one or more computer readable storage media;
• a processing system operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media;
• and
• program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when read and executed by the processing system, direct the processing system to:
• after initiation of the media communication session between a first network element and at least the network element:
• designate the network element to be a dynamic-clock network element during the media communication session, wherein a first clock speed for the media codec at the first network element is determined to comprise a most accurate clock speed relative to clock speeds of other network elements on the media communication session, wherein the first network element is designated to be a static-clock network element during the media communication session, wherein real-time user communications are exchanged between the first network element and at least the network element during the media communication session, and wherein the real-time user communications comprise media encoded using the media codec;
• determine that a difference in clock speed exists between a second clock speed for the media codec at the network element and the first clock speed;
• and
• adjust the second clock speed to account for the difference in clock speed;
• wherein at a time after designating the first network element to be the static-clock network element, the first clock speed is determined to no longer comprise the most accurate clock speed, first network element is designated as a dynamic-clock network element, and another network element now having the most accurate clock speed is designated to be the static-clock network element.