Auto-compression for media over ip

Abstract

The present invention allows communicating devices to control the amount of compression used in packet sessions for transmitting streaming media to and from each other. When a communicating device detects a decrease in performance or quality of service indicative of a limited bandwidth condition, the amount of compression for the current or subsequent sessions is temporarily increased to allow the currently available bandwidth to support the session or subsequent sessions. After a set period of time, or when the limited bandwidth condition is removed, communications associated with the sessions can revert back to transporting uncompressed data or reducing the amount of compression for the sessions, thus using more of the available bandwidth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network device for coupling to a remote terminal via a communication network, the network device comprising:
 a network interface for coupling the network device to the communication network; and   a controller configured:
 to transmit a media stream via the communication network to the remote terminal, the media stream having a first level of compression; 
 to determine an indication of quality of the media stream at the remote terminal; 
 to dynamically change the level of compression of the media stream based on the indication of quality from the first level of compression to a second level of compression; and 
   to revert to transmitting the media stream at the first level of compression.   
     
     
         2 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to revert to transmitting the media stream at the first level of compression after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         3 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to revert to transmitting the media stream at the first level of compression after a predetermined time which is based on repair time history of the communication network. 
     
     
         4 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured:
 to dynamically change the level of compression from the first level of compression to the second level of compression when the indication of quality indicates that the quality is below a predetermined threshold; and   to revert to transmitting the media stream at the first level of compression when the indication of quality indicates that the quality is not below the predetermined level.   
     
     
         5 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of quality by monitoring performance of the media stream for at least one condition indicative of congestion in the communication network. 
     
     
         6 . The network device of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor communication performance of the media stream by at least one of:
 detecting a reduction in available bandwidth; and   detecting an excessive demand situation.   
     
     
         7 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of quality by receiving at least one message indicating quality of the media stream. 
     
     
         8 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the second level of compression is a higher level of compression than the first level of compression. 
     
     
         9 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of compression is no compression. 
     
     
         10 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller may dynamically change the level of compression of the media stream from the second level of compression to a third level of compression before reverting to transmitting the media stream at the first level of compression. 
     
     
         11 . The network device of  claim 10 , wherein the third level of compression is between the first level of compression and the second level of compression. 
     
     
         12 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of quality of the media stream comprises an indication that quality of the media stream has dropped below a threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of quality of the media stream comprises an indication of packet loss in the communication network. 
     
     
         14 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of quality of the media stream comprises an indication of packet latency in the communication network. 
     
     
         15 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of quality of the media stream comprises an indication of jitter in the communication network. 
     
     
         16 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface is a packet interface for interfacing with a packet communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the level of compression of the media stream by dynamically changing coding of the media stream at the network device for transmission over the communication network to the remote terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the coding of the media stream by dynamically changing a coder used at the network device to encode the media stream for transmission on the communication network. 
     
     
         19 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for transmission of at least one of a voice media stream, a video stream and an audio media stream to at least one remote terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for communication sessions with remote terminals, at least a portion of which are based on voice media streams, and the controller is configured to dynamically change between G.711 coding and G.723 coding. 
     
     
         21 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the level of compression of the media stream based on the indication of quality from the first level of compression to a second level of compression for a current communication session of the network device and the remote terminal. 
     
     
         22 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the level of compression of the media stream based on the indication of quality from the first level of compression to a second level of compression for a next communication session of the network device and the remote terminal.