Bonding of Multiple Concurrent Data Streams Among Multiple Devices

Abstract

Examples are disclosed for hosting a communication session between a computer device and a destination communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A communications server receives multiple concurrent IP packet data streams each representative of the same content but received over corresponding multiple communication links. The original IP packet data stream is created by the computer device. At least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream traverses a communication link through a second communication device working in tandem with the computer device before arriving at the communications server. The communications server determines a packet arrival time for each corresponding packet in the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams. The communications server then creates a bonded IP packet data stream by selecting the first to arrive packet for each time slot from among corresponding time slots of the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 in a communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network, the communications server separately communicable over one or more IP communication links with a computer device and a communication device:
 receiving multiple concurrent IP packet data streams each IP packet data stream representative of the same content received over corresponding multiple communication links, wherein an original IP packet data stream is created by the computer device and at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server; 
 determining a first to arrive packet in each time slot from among corresponding time slots of the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams; and 
 creating a bonded IP packet data stream by selecting the first to arrive packet for each time slot from among corresponding time slots of the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the one or more communication links comprising one or more of an Ethernet communication link, an 802.11 WiFi network communication link, a cellular IP data communication link, an 802.16 WiMax network communication link, a wireless network communication link operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, a wireless network communication link operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz a wireless network communication link operating at or above 35 GHz. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the cellular IP data communication link utilizing a protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , the communication link for the at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream that traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server comprising a wireless communication link between the computer device and the communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , the communication link for the at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream that traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server comprising a wired communication link between the computer device and the communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an Ethernet communication link between the computer device that created the original IP packet data stream and the communications server.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an 802.11 WiFi communication link between the computer device that created the original IP packet data stream and the communications server.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an 802.11 WiFi communication link between the communication device that received the original IP packet data stream from the computer device and the communications server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing a cellular IP data communication link between the communication device that received the original IP packet data stream from the computer device and the communications server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the bonded IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the IP packet data streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets. 
     
     
         13 . A communications server situated in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network, the communications server separately communicable over one or more IP communication links with a computer device and a communication device, the communications server comprising:
 a memory unit for storing code;   at least one processor for executing the stored code to:
 receive multiple concurrent IP packet data streams each IP packet data stream representative of the same content received over corresponding multiple communication links, wherein an original IP packet data stream is created by the computer device and at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server; 
 determine a first to arrive packet in each time slot from among corresponding time slots of the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams; and 
 create a bonded IP packet data stream by selecting the first to arrive packet for each time slot from among corresponding time slots of the multiple concurrent IP packet data streams. 
   
     
     
         14 . The communications server of  claim 13 , the one or more communication links comprising one or more of an Ethernet communication link, an 802.11 WiFi network communication link, a cellular IP data communication link, an 802.16 WiMax network communication link, a wireless network communication link operating within a frequency range of 100 MHz and 700 MHz, a wireless network communication link operating within a frequency range of 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz a wireless network communication link operating at or above 35 GHz. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the cellular IP data communication link utilizing a protocol based on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or High Rate Packet Data (HRPD). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the communication link for the at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream that traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server comprising a wireless communication link between the computer device and the communication device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , the communication link for the at least one IP packet data stream representative of the original IP packet data stream that traverses a communication link through the communication device before arriving at the communications server comprising a wired communication link between the computer device and the communication device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an Ethernet communication link between the computer device that created the original IP packet data stream and the communications server.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an 802.11 WiFi communication link between the computer device that created the original IP packet data stream and the communications server.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing an 802.11 WiFi communication link between the communication device that received the original IP packet data stream from the computer device and the communications server.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , the received multiple concurrent IP packet data streams comprising:
 at least on IP packet data stream traversing a cellular IP data communication link between the communication device that received the original IP packet data stream from the computer device and the communications server.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 sending the bonded IP packet data media stream to the second communication device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , the IP packet data streams comprising a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) media stream. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , the VoIP media stream comprised of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets.