System and Method For Managing Multimedia Communications Across Convergent Networks

Abstract

The present invention provides for bidirectional or duplex transmission of multimedia content such as live video and/or audio between access devices of a calling party and a called party in a convergent network. The quality of transmission is managed through a convergent communications platform, which periodically tests performance characteristics of network routes in operative communication with the platform, categorizes the network routes based on measured performance metrics, and selects network operators whose network characteristics meet the desired quality parameters of a particular multimedia content to be transmitted (e.g., real-time high definition video conference). The management of transmissions is transparent to the end users who will be able to communicate with others regardless of the type of devices or networks the called parties use or subscribe to.

1 . A computer-implemented method for optimized routing of a multimedia communication between access devices across a plurality of communications networks having different communications protocols, comprising the steps of:
 determining, by a control node, a quality of each IP network of a plurality of IP networks connected to the control node;   creating, by the control node, a quality matrix including the determined quality for the each IP network;   setting up, by the control node, a media session between an originating access device and a receiving access device across a plurality of communications networks having different communications protocols including internet protocol;   upon successful setup of the media session, routing by the control node the multimedia communication between the originating and receiving access devices along a select path through at least a portion of one of the IP networks based on the quality matrix; and   converting by a gateway the multimedia communication from one communication protocol to another as required by the different communications protocols of the plurality of communications networks along the select path.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control node includes a SIP server for managing the media session between the originating and receiving access devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control node includes a registrar server for collecting subscriber information of each of a plurality of subscribers including at least one of telephone number, user name identifying the subscriber, device type, network operator associated with the access device, device identifier, subscription level, and MAC address, the collected subscriber information being stored in a subscriber registry. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the device type includes one of laptop computer, tablet computer, smart phone, mobile phone, fixed line phone, and desktop PC. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communications networks includes one of circuit switched network, data network, cellular network, WiFi network, WiMAX network, LTE network, and satellite system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the device identifier includes one of a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier, a telephone number, and an ENUM identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control node further includes a media server for manipulating the multimedia communication from the originating access device for delivery to the receiving access device across the plurality of communications networks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the control node applies an encryption protocol to encrypt the multimedia communication between the originating and receiving access devices. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subscriber registry includes a list of access devices ranked by the subscriber in order of preference of media session setup by the control node. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the control node algorithmically determines the appropriate IP network for routing the multimedia communication based on the quality matrix and capabilities of the originating and receiving access devices inferred from device-related information in the subscriber registry. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control node comprises a signaling gateway for converting media setup messages between the plurality of communications networks having different communications protocols. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining includes testing penultimate hop routers of the each IP network for latency, jitter and packet loss. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the quality matrix comprises at least one of latency, jitter and packet loss corresponding to a route of the each IP network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the quality matrix is updated periodically by the control node. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining comprises sending a ping packet to a penultimate hop router of the each IP network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving access device is connected to an enterprise network and the control node includes a session border controller for interfacing with the enterprise network and to route the multimedia communication to the receiving access device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality matrix includes packet loss, latency, availability, BGP stability, and the date and time of testing for said each IP network. 
     
     
         18 . A computer system for managing multimedia communications between access devices across a plurality of communications networks having different telecommunications protocols, comprising:
 a registrar server configured for collecting subscriber information and storing the subscriber information in a subscriber registry, the subscriber information including at least one of a subscriber identifier, a device type, a device identifier, subscription level and MAC address;   a control node configured for determining quality of each of the plurality of IP networks in operative communication with the control node, and for managing a media session and routing of communication between originating and receiving access devices of subscribers;   a route optimizer for selecting a path of communication through at least a portion of the plurality of IP networks based on the determined quality of the each IP network and access device capabilities inferred from device-related information in the subscriber registry; and   a switch for routing communications between the originating and receiving access devices through the selected path through the IP network upon successful setup of the media session by the control node.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control node determines quality of the each of the plurality of IP networks by sending a ping packet to a penultimate hop router of the each IP network. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control node creates a quality matrix including at least one of packet loss, latency, availability, BGP stability, and the date and time of testing. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control node comprises a signaling gateway for converting call setup messages between the plurality of communications networks having different communications protocols. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control node includes a gateway for converting the communication from one telecommunications protocol to another as required by the different communications protocols of the plurality of communications networks along the selected path. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the route optimizer creates a route plan for each access device listed in the subscriber registry. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for communicating across communication networks having different telecommunications protocols, comprising:
 an access device capable of establishing a media session through a cellular network, a circuit-switched network or an IP network, and configured to include contact information of a called party that comprises a telephone number and user identification for an IP based communication service provider, the access device being responsive to a user selection of the called party for communication and establishing the media session with the called party via the IP based communication service provider when the IP based communication service provider indicates the called party is available or via the cellular network or circuit-switched network when the IP based communication service provider indicates the called party is not available.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the access device is configured to access a database containing presence information of the called party to determine availability of the called party. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the access device establishes the media session without requiring further user input. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the access device is further configured to access the Internet via a WiFi router and communicate with the called party through a VoIP service provider. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the access device is one of laptop computer, tablet computer, smart phone, mobile phone, fixed line phone, and desktop PC. 
     
     
         29 . A method of communicating across a plurality of communications networks having different telecommunications protocols using a multi-modal access device configured to communicate via a PSTN and an IP network, comprising the steps of:
 storing, by the access device, contact information of a called party comprising a telephone number and a user identifier of an IP based communications service provider;   determining, by the access device, availability of the called party by accessing presence information of the called party from the IP based communications service provider;   establishing, by the access device, a media session with the called party via the IP based communications service provider when the presence information indicates the called party is available; and   establishing, by the access device, a media session with the called party via the cellular network when the presence information indicates the called party is not available.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of providing a database of presence information of the called party for access by the access device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of delivering communications traffic upon setup of the media session. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for communicating across communication networks having different telecommunications protocols, comprising:
 a switch node capable of establishing a media session through a cellular network, a circuit-switched network or an IP network, and configured to include contact information of a called party that comprises a telephone number and user identification for an IP based communication service provider, the switch node being responsive to a user selection of the called party for communication and establishing a media session with the called party via the IP based communication service provider when the IP based communication service provider indicates the called party is available or via the cellular network or the circuit-switched network when the IP based communication service provider indicates the called party is not available.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the switch node is configured to access a database containing presence information of the called party to determine availability of the called party. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the switch node is configured to use a client application to establish the media session with the called party via the cellular network, the circuit-switched network, or the IP network.