Method and system for guaranteeing quality of service for voice-over-IP services

A method for providing voice communication over a network in which data is transferred in packets, the method comprising:

• identifying a reserved path within the network;
• when a voice communication is requested, determining whether the identified reserved path contains sufficient bandwidth for the requested voice communication;
• setting a priority parameter for the requested voice communication;
• sending a priority parameter message to a gateway in the network requesting the voice communication, including mapping the priority message to a differentiated service code point field and a user priority field;
• and
• if the reserved path is determined to contain sufficient bandwidth, transmitting the requested voice communication over the reserved path at the set priority.

A method for providing voice communication over a network in which data is transferred in packets, the method comprising:

• identifying a reserved path within the network;
• when a voice communication is requested, determining whether the identified reserved path contains sufficient bandwidth for the requested voice communication;
• setting a priority parameter for the requested voice communications including mapping the priority message to a differentiated service code point field and a user priority field;
• requesting a voice communication through a call setup process protocol that recognizes said priority parameter;
• and
• if the reserved path is determined to contain sufficient bandwidth, transmitting the requested voice communication over the reserved path at the set priority.

A system for providing voice communication over a network in which data is transferred in packets, the system comprising:

• first means for identifying a reserved path within the network;
• second means for determining whether the identified reserved path contains sufficient bandwidth for a requested voice communication, comprising estimating means for estimating the bandwidth required for the requested voice communication based on one or more factors;
• third means for determining a service class parameter for the requested voice communication based on a profile of a user requesting the voice communication;
• fourth means for setting a priority parameter for the requested voice communication, including mapping the priority message to a differentiated service code point field and a user priority field;
• and
• fifth means for transmitting the requested voice communication over the reserved path at the set priority if the reserved path is determined to contain sufficient bandwidth.

A system for providing voice communication over a network in which data is transferred in packets, the system comprising:

• first means for identifying a reserved path within the network;
• second means for determining whether the identified reserved path contains sufficient bandwidth for a requested voice communication;
• third means for setting a priority parameter for the requested voice communication;
• fourth means for sending a priority parameter message to a gateway in the network requesting the voice communication, including mapping the priority message to a differentiated service code point field and a user priority field;
• and
• fifth means for transmitting the requested voice communication over the reserved path at the set priority if the reserved path is determined to contain sufficient bandwidth.