Patent US7002993B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7002993B1
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Method and apparatus providing media aggregation in a packet-switched network
Assignee: Juniper Networks Inc
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Filing: 2001-01-31
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Granted: 2006-02-21
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Expires: 2021-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Techniques are described for aggregating multiple media packets to improve end-to-end bandwidth efficiency. The techniques include using an RTP aggregation protocol that is not sensitive to packet loss to aggregate multiple media packets under a single header. According to the RTP aggregation protocol, the single header for an aggregated media packet comprises a version field, a zero field, a sequence number field and a trunk ID field. The single header encapsulates the aggregated payload, which is an aggregation of Real-Time Protocol (RTP) segments. An RTP segment either has a compressed format or an uncompressed format. The uncompressed RTP segment includes the complete uncompressed RTP packet copied from the original User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet. The compressed RTP segment includes the payload of the original RTP rather than the complete original RTP packet.
Inventors
- 👤 Shai Mohaban
- 👤 Itzhak Parnafes
- 👤 Opher Kahane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1083; H04L65/60; H04L65/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising de-aggregating the aggregated media payload for one or more destination endpoints by separating the aggregated media payload to result in creating and sending restored copies of the two or more media packets, wherein each media packet corresponds to one of the two or more concurrent calls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating the two or more media packets comprises compressing one or more headers of each media packet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of aggregating two or more media packets further comprises the steps of: compressing an IP header and a UDP header of each RTP packet to form a corresponding uncompressed RTP segment; and encapsulating the two or more uncompressed RTP segments with the single aggregated header.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an aggregated media packet format for each aggregated media packet wherein the aggregated media packet format comprises a version field indicating a version of the aggregation protocol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an aggregated media packet format for each aggregated media packet wherein the aggregated media packet format comprises a placeholder field that reserves packet space for future use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an aggregated media packet format for each aggregated media packet wherein the aggregated media packet format comprises a sequence number field that is incremented for each aggregated media packet and is used to detect media packet loss.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an aggregated media packet format for each aggregated media packet wherein the aggregated media packet format comprises a trunk ID field that uniquely identifies a corresponding trunk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a context ID field indicating a session context ID for the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a compression bit indicating whether the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment is uncompressed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a placeholder field for future use.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that includes a full length field containing a length of a Real-Time Protocol packet that corresponds to the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol payload and a Real-Time Protocol header corresponding to a Real-Time Protocol packet that in turn corresponds to the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a padding field that aligns an end of the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment with a next four-byte boundary.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of aggregating two or more media packets further comprises the steps of: compressing an IP header, a UDP header, and an RTP header of each RTP packet to form a corresponding compressed RTP segment; and encapsulating the two or more compressed RTP segments with the single aggregated header.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a context ID field indicating a session context ID for the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a compression bit indicating whether the Real-Time Protocol segment is compressed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header marker bit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a length field containing a length of a Real-Time Protocol payload of a Real-Time Protocol packet of the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a sequence number field carrying a Real-Time Protocol header sequence number.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment wherein the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format comprises a timestamp field carrying a Real-Time Protocol header timestamp.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the aggregation protocol further comprises forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a padding field that aligns an end of the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment with a next boundary.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: means for aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; means for re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; means for forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; means for forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: means for aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; means for re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; means for forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; means for forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors coupled to an aggregator for aggregating two or more media packets into an aggregated media packet; a memory accessible to the one or more processors; and one or more sequences of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors coupled to an aggregator for aggregating two or more media packets into an aggregated media packet; a memory accessible to the one or more processors; and one or more sequences of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, which sequences of instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, which sequences of instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on an uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the uncompressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: means for aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; means for re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; means for forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; means for forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: means for aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; means for re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; means for forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; means for forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors coupled to an aggregator for aggregating two or more media packets into an aggregated media packet; a memory accessible to the one or more processors; and one or more sequences of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for efficiently transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, the apparatus comprising: one or more processors coupled to an aggregator for aggregating two or more media packets into an aggregated media packet; a memory accessible to the one or more processors; and one or more sequences of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, which sequences of instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for transmitting media information associated with two or more concurrent calls carried in a packet-switched network, which sequences of instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: aggregating, according to an aggregation protocol, two or more media packets from the two or more concurrent calls originating from one or more source end points into an aggregated media payload; re-packetizing the aggregated media payload using a single aggregated header to form an aggregated media packet; forwarding the aggregated media packet to a next hop in the packet-switched network; forming the aggregated media payload based on a compressed Real-Time Protocol segment format for each compressed Real-Time Protocol segment of the two or more media packets that comprises a Real-Time Protocol header extension bit indicating whether a Real-Time Protocol header extension appears in the compressed Real-Time Protocol segment.
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