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US 7,453,891 B2Granted
Clusters of devices, softwares and methods for improved handling of a gatekeeper load in VoIP communication
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsPaul E. Jones, Vivek Bhargava
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cluster of alternate gatekeepers handles the load of a single logical zone. The alternate gatekeepers exchange signals among each other according to a special cluster protocol. Each alternate gatekeeper may be connected and exchange signals with endpoint devices.
Claims66
A device, comprising:
- a first alternate gatekeeper capable of coupling to at least a second alternate gatekeeper in a cluster, the first alternate gatekeeper being capable of exchanging cluster signals with the second alternate gatekeeper,
- wherein the first and the second alternate gatekeepers are capable of coupling to and exchanging endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints, and
- wherein the cluster signals encode one of alternate gatekeepers status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster, and endpoint status information about at least one of the endpoints.
A cluster, comprising:
- a plurality of alternate gatekeepers capable of being coupled with each other through data transmission links, the alternate gatekeepers being capable of being coupled to and exchanging endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints,
- wherein the alternate gatekeepers are capable of exchanging through the links cluster signals which encode one of alternate gatekeeper status information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers in the cluster and endpoint status information about at least one of the endpoints.
A system, comprising:
- first, second, and third alternate gatekeepers having first, second, and third processors respectively, wherein the first, the second, and the third alternate gatekeepers have interfaces for being connected together in a cluster through data transmission links,
- wherein the first processor is capable of:
- encoding individual status information in a cluster signal, and
- transmitting the cluster signal to the second alternate gatekeeper and to the third alternate gatekeeper,
- wherein the second processor is capable of:
- decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal, and
- processing the decoded individual status information to update a first version of a cluster status,
- and wherein the third processor is capable of:
- decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal, and
- processing the decoded individual status information to update a second version of the cluster status.
7 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a processor capable of receiving cluster signals from a cluster of alternate gatekeepers that are coupled with each other through data transmission links,
- the alternate gatekeepers capable of being coupled to and exchanging endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints,
- the processor being further capable of computing an evolving priority table of the alternate gatekeepers based on the received cluster signals;
- and
- a memory coupled with the processor and capable of storing the computed priority table.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- means for receiving cluster signals from a cluster of alternate gatekeepers that are coupled with each other through data transmission links, the alternate gatekeepers capable of coupling to and exchanging endpoint status signals with a plurality of endpoints,
- means for computing an evolving priority table of the alternate gatekeepers based on the received cluster signals;
- and
- means for storing the computed priority table.
1 more element
A device, comprising:
- means for accumulating a list of first registrations of first endpoints associated with a first alternate gatekeeper;
- means for receiving from a second alternate gatekeeper a second registration of a second endpoint associated with the second alternate gatekeeper;
- and
- means for incorporating the second registration in the list.
1 more element
A computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, result in:
- receiving a registration from a first endpoint;
- transmitting the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers;
- receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint;
- and
- transmitting the usage data to the two alternate gatekeepers.
2 more elements
A computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, result in:
- receiving cluster signals from a plurality of alternate gatekeepers;
- decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers;
- adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization;
- receiving a request for a new call;
- and
- determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.
3 more elements
A computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, result in:
- determining availability functions of one or more alternate gatekeepers,
- compare the determined availability functions;
- generating a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison;
- receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers;
- determining, based on the recent usage information, an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;
- then comparing the recently determined availability functions;
- and
- adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- a first alternate gatekeeper encoding individual status information in a cluster signal;
- the first alternate gatekeeper transmitting the cluster signal to a second alternate gatekeeper and a third alternate gatekeeper;
- the second alternate gatekeeper decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal;
- the second alternate gatekeeper processing the decoded individual status information to update a first version of a cluster status;
- the third alternate gatekeeper decoding the individual status information from the received cluster signal;
- and
- the third alternate gatekeeper processing the decoded individual status information to update a second version of the cluster status.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- accumulating a list of first registrations of first endpoints associated with a first alternate gatekeeper;
- receiving from a second alternate gatekeeper a second registration of a second endpoint associated with the second alternate gatekeeper;
- and
- incorporating the second registration in the list.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- receiving a registration from a first endpoint;
- transmitting the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers;
- receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint;
- and
- transmitting the usage data to the two alternate gatekeepers.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving cluster signals from a plurality of alternate gatekeepers;
- decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers;
- adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization;
- receiving a request for a new call;
- and
- determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- determining availability functions of one or more alternate gatekeepers;
- comparing the determined availability functions;
- generating a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison;
- receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers;
- determining, based on the recent usage information, an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;
- then comparing the recently determined availability function;
- and
- adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison.
5 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a processor configured to:
- accumulate a list of first registrations of first endpoints associated with a first alternate gatekeeper, and
- receive from a second alternate gatekeeper a second registration of a second endpoint associated with the second alternate gatekeeper,
- the processor further configured to incorporate the second registration in the list.
1 more element
A device, comprising:
- means for receiving a registration from a first endpoint;
- means for transmitting the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers;
- means for receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint;
- and
- means for transmitting the usage data to the at least two alternate gatekeepers.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a processor configured to receive a registration from a first endpoint and transmit the registration to at least two alternate gatekeepers, and
- the processor receiving from the first endpoint usage data associated with the first endpoint and transmitting the usage data to the at least two alternate gatekeepers.
A device, comprising:
- means for exchanging cluster signals among a plurality of alternate gatekeepers;
- means for decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers;
- means for adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization;
- means for receiving a request for a new call;
- and
- means for determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.
3 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a processor capable of exchanging cluster signals among a plurality of alternate gatekeepers,
- the processor decoding from the cluster signals bandwidth utilization data for each of the alternate gatekeepers and adding together the bandwidth utilization data to determine a cluster bandwidth utilization, and
- the processor receiving a request for a new call and determining whether to grant the request depending on a value of the determined cluster bandwidth utilization.
A device, comprising:
- means for determining availability functions of one or more alternate gatekeepers;
- means for comparing the determined availability functions;
- means for generating a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison;
- means for receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers;
- means for determining, based on the recent usage information, an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;
- means for comparing the recently determined availability functions;
- means for adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison.
4 more elements
A network processing device, comprising:
- a processor configured to:
- determine availability functions of one or more alternate gatekeepers,
- compare the determined availability functions, and
- generate a priority list of the alternate gatekeepers based on the comparison,
- the processor receiving recent usage information about at least one of the alternate gatekeepers and, based on the recent usage information, determining an updated availability function for each of the alternate gatekeepers for which recent usage information has been received;
- and
- the processor then comparing the recently determined availability functions and adjusting the priority list based on the most recent comparison.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.