Dynamic real-time quality management of packetized communications in a network environment

Abstract

Dynamic real-time quality management of packetized communications in a network environment. Packetized communications are monitored by and exchanged between wireless Access Points (APs) and wireless terminals or by quality monitoring modules located within network segments or at network vertices. The processing unit analyzes the packetized communications to identify communication signatures associated with the packetized communications. The processor then uses these signatures to identify network impediments to the exchange of the packetized communications. These impediments may take the form of coding problems in which case an appropriate coding scheme is employed by the programmable COder/DECoder (CODEC) to convert incoming packetized communications to incoming user communications, and outgoing user communications to outgoing packetized communications. These impediments may also take the form of communication problems along and between the various network segments. In these cases, the processor may choose a more appropriate communication pathway with which to route the packetized communications.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a network interface for supporting a communication with a communication device via a communication network;   a processor, coupled to the network interface, for monitoring a service level of the communication network; and   a codec, coupled to the processor, for selectively employing a first coding scheme or a second coding scheme to process the communication based on the service level.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional network interface, coupled to the processor, for supporting the communication with the communication device via at least one additional communication network; and wherein:   the processor monitoring at least one additional service level of the at least one additional communication network; and   the apparatus employing the at least one additional network interface for supporting the communication with the communication device via the at least one additional communication network based on the service level and the at least one additional service level.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the codec selectively employing the first coding scheme or the second coding scheme to process the communication based on the service level and the at least one additional service level.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor analyzing a signature associated with the communication to determine whether the communication is a real-time packetized communication;   when the communication is a real-time packetized communication, the codec firstly employing the first coding scheme to process the communication; and   when the service level is below a predetermined service level, then the codec secondly employing the second coding scheme to process the communication or at least one additional communication.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor analyzing a signature associated with the communication to determine whether the communication is a non-real-time packetized communication; and   when the communication is a non-real-time packetized communication, the codec employing a third coding scheme to process the communication.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the third coding scheme is the first coding scheme or the second coding scheme.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the codec employing the first coding scheme to process the communication; and   the codec employing the second coding scheme to process at least one additional communication.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor analyzing a signature associated with the communication in determining that the communication is a real-time packetized communication;   the processor analyzing a signature associated with at least one additional communication in determining that the at least one additional communication is a non-real-time packetized communication; and   the processor prioritizing the real-time packetized communication over the non-real-time packetized communication.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the network interface is a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio frequency (RF) interface, a cellular RF interface, or a satellite RF interface.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus is a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first network interface for supporting a first communication with a communication device via a first communication network;   a second network interface for supporting a second communication with the communication device via a second communication network;   a processor, coupled to the first network interface and the second network interface, for monitoring a first service level of the first communication network and a second service level of the second communication network; and   a codec, coupled to the processor, for selectively employing a first coding scheme or a second coding scheme to process the first communication or the second communication based on the first service level and the second service level.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the processor analyzing a signature associated with the first communication to determine whether the first communication is a real-time packetized communication;   when the first communication is a real-time packetized communication, the codec firstly employing the first coding scheme to process the first communication; and   when the first service level is below a predetermined service level, then the codec secondly employing the second coding scheme to process the first communication or a third communication.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the processor analyzing a signature associated with the first communication to determine whether the first communication is a non-real-time packetized communication; and   when the first communication is a non-real-time packetized communication, the codec employing a third coding scheme to process the first communication.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the network interface is a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio frequency (RF) interface, a cellular RF interface, or a satellite RF interface.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 operating a network interface for supporting a communication with a communication device via a communication network;   monitoring a service level of the communication network; and   operating a codec for selectively employing a first coding scheme or a second coding scheme to process the communication based on the service level.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 monitoring at least one additional service level of at least one additional communication network for supporting the communication with the communication device; and   operating at least one additional network interface for supporting the communication with the communication device via the at least one additional communication network based on the service level and the at least one additional service level.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 operating the codec for selectively employing the first coding scheme or the second coding scheme to process the communication based on the service level and the at least one additional service level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 analyzing a signature associated with the communication to determine whether the communication is a real-time packetized communication;   when the communication is a real-time packetized communication, firstly employing the first coding scheme to process the communication; and   when the service level is below a predetermined service level, secondly employing the second coding scheme to process the communication or at least one additional communication.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 analyzing a signature associated with the communication in determining that the communication is a real-time packetized communication;   analyzing a signature associated with at least one additional communication in determining that the at least one additional communication is a non-real-time packetized communication; and   prioritizing the real-time packetized communication over the non-real-time packetized communication.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the network interface is a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio frequency (RF) interface, a cellular RF interface, or a satellite RF interface implemented within a communication device.