Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call charge metering or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-25
2001-09-04
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call charge metering or monitoring
C379S111000, C379S112030, C379S114030, C379S137000, C370S229000, C370S230000, C370S232000, C370S233000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to network traffic monitoring and control.
2. Description of Related Art
Network traffic includes voice and voiceband data communications. Voice communications such as telephone conversations usually require a continuous connection. In contrast, voiceband data communications do not require a continuous connection because delays in data communications are easily tolerated. For example, sending facsimiles may tolerate short delays because the communication is not required to be continuous. However, conventional telephone networks handle both the voice and voiceband data communications similarly without taking advantage of the varying transmission requirements of the respective types of communication. Thus, there is a need for new technology to further optimize network traffic control to reduce cost of communications as well as improve communication services by taking advantage of different transmission requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a network traffic control system that generates traffic monitor information by monitoring and controlling the network traffic based on the traffic monitor information. The network traffic monitoring system includes a network traffic monitor and a network traffic controller. The network traffic monitor monitors all network traffic communications and generates the traffic monitor information by detecting, for each network traffic communication information such as types of each communication (i.e. voice or voiceband data), communicating partners, geographical locations of the communicating partners, etc. The traffic monitor information is sent to the network traffic controller which processes and stores the processed traffic monitor information in a database.
The network traffic controller controls the network traffic based on the processed traffic monitor information. For example, if two particular communicating parties participate in voiceband data communication during a specific period of time, the network traffic controller may pre-empt such communication during network congestion periods. The network traffic controller may also set a lower billing rate for voiceband data communication as compared to voice communication because voiceband data communication demands less stringent communication requirements. Thus, the traffic network controller reduces the cost of network communication as well as optimizes network performance based on traffic monitor information obtained by the traffic monitor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4531208 (1985-07-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 5488655 (1996-01-01), Hamlen
patent: 5504744 (1996-04-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5515425 (1996-05-01), Penzias et al.
patent: 5530724 (1996-06-01), Abrams et al.
patent: 5673256 (1997-09-01), Maine
patent: 5754634 (1998-05-01), Kay et al.
patent: 5825769 (1998-10-01), O'Reilly et al.
patent: 5848139 (1998-12-01), Grover
patent: 5886984 (1999-03-01), Abu-Amara et al.
patent: 5896445 (1999-04-01), Kay et al.
patent: 5898668 (1999-04-01), Shaffer
patent: 5903638 (1999-05-01), Welter, Jr. et al.
patent: 5926483 (1999-07-01), Javitt
patent: 6011838 (2000-01-01), Cox
AT&T Corporation
Barnie Rexford
Kuntz Curtis
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Network traffic controller does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Network traffic controller, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Network traffic controller will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2450691