Method and system for identifying media type transmitted over an atm network

Abstract

A system and method suitable for identifying the type of communication that is transferred between two intermediate nodes over a communication link that has a plurality of different channels or sub-channels each of which carry user's data. With accurate identification of the communication types, subsequent bandwidth management decisions can be made such that a telecommunications system can have increased bandwidth utilization without jeopardizing user contracted QoS levels.

1 . A method for identifying types of communication sessions carried over a bearer between two nodes, wherein the communication content is carried over at least three layers including a user layer, an adaptation layer and a data link layer and wherein the data in each layer is organized in layer's frames and wherein each layer's frame is comprised of a header and payload, the method comprising the steps;
 intercepting the data communication toward the bearer;   parsing the header of the data link layer of intercepted data link frames;   identifying the one or more sessions carried by the intercepted data link layer frames;   identifying the beginning and the end of one or more user's frames per session; and   calculating the size of the one or more user's frames per session.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, per each session:
 analyzing the size of the one or more user's frames per session; and   determining the session type.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user's frames are encrypted. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising controlling the load over the bearer based on the determined session type. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein parsing the header of the data link layer further comprising parsing the header of at least one adaptive layer frame embedded within the intercepted data link layer's frames. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptive layer's frame is an AAL-2 frame and the data link layer's frame is an ATM cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a session is defined by a combination of Vp, Vc and CID. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein controlling the load over the bearer is executed by dynamically changing the communication tunnel of one or more data link frames of at least one session according to its type. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for identifying a beginning and an end of a user's layer frame from a plurality of user's layer frames traveling over a communication link between two nodes, wherein said user's layer frame is carried over at least three layers including a data link adaptation layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer and wherein a data in said data link layer and said data link adaptation layer is organized in a plurality of layer frames, wherein each said layer frame is comprised of a header and a payload and each said payload may comprise content of one or more different user's layer frame, the apparatus comprising:
 an input interface module;   an output interface module;   a data link layer frame analyzer module; and   wherein said input interface module parses the received physical layer and transfers the data link layer frames toward said output interface module and said data link layer frame analyzer module; and   wherein said output interface module converts the data link layer frame to said physical layer and transmits it toward said data communication link; and   wherein said data link layer frame analyzer module parses the data link layer frames and the adaptation data link layer frames and identifies said beginning and said end of said user layer frame.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said data link layer is an ATM. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said data link adaptation layer is an ATM adaptation layer 2. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said data link layer frame analyzer module searches for padding bytes for determining said end of said user layer frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said user layer frame is an IP packet. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said user layer frame is an encoded audio frame. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said user layer frame is encrypted. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said data link layer frame is an ATM cell. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said data link layer frame analyzer module uses a Vp, a Vc and a CID values for determining said beginning or said end of said user layer frame. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said data link layer frame analyzer module determines the number of bytes between said beginning and said end of said user layer frame. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an active session data structure that has a plurality of entries and for each one of said user layer frames from said plurality of user layer frames one of said entries is assigned for storing the receipt time of said beginning of said user layer frame and the number of bytes between said beginning and said end of said user layer frame. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a session type analyzer module that processes the information stored in said active session data structure and determines the type of a communication session, wherein a communication session is comprised from one or more of said user layer frames. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a bandwidth control module placed between said input interface module and said output interface module and intercepts the transferred data link layer frames and controls the bandwidth utilization over said communication link.