Adjusting connection bandwidth in a data network

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the bandwidth of a connection between at least two communication endpoints in a data network via a monitoring unit and a control unit. The connection in the data network is assigned at least one transmission channel for data transmission. The user data is, in this case, allocated to at least one communication connection; in particular a voice connection. The monitoring unit monitors the signaling connection for requests for at least one further communication connection; in particular, a voice connection. When a request occurs, it signals to the control unit to assign to the connection one or more additional free transmission channels for the at least one requested communication connection.

1. A method for adjusting a bandwidth of a connection between at least two communication endpoints in a data network, the method comprising the steps of:
 assigning the connection at least one transmission channel for data transmission, the connection including a signaling connection and a user channel connection; 
 transmitting user data in packet-oriented form via the user channel connection between the communication endpoints; 
 allocating the user data to at least one communication connection; 
 monitoring, via a monitoring unit, the signaling connection for requests for at least one further communication connection; 
 signaling to a control unit, via the monitoring unit and in the event of a request, to assign to the connection at least one additional free transmission channel for the requested at least one further communication connection; 
 carrying out a check to determine whether the bandwidth is sufficient for the requested communication connection; 
 determining whether an appropriately large number of transmission channels are free for the bandwidth requirements for the requested communication connection; 
 storing the connection request in a queue; setting up free transmission channels; 
 deleting the stored connection request; and assigning the set-up transmission channels to the user channel connection. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of rejecting a signaled request if all available transmission channels are busy. 
     
     
       3. A method for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user data is transmitted using a Voice-over Internet protocol. 
     
     
       4. A method for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communication connection includes a TCP port number. 
     
     
       5. A method for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the request for a communication connection is signaled via a message to the TCP port number. 
     
     
       6. A method for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the packet-oriented transmission of the user data is carried out via TCP/IP. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth of a connection between at least two communication endpoints in a data network, comprising:
 a router having both a monitoring unit and a control unit, with the monitoring unit being connected to the control unit via a signal line, wherein the connection is assigned at least one transmission channel for data transmission, with the connection including a signaling connection and a user channel connection, user voice-over IP data is transmitted in packet-oriented form via the user channel connection between the communication endpoints, the user data is allocated to at least one communication connection, the monitoring unit monitors the signaling connection for requests for at least one further communication connection and, in the event of a request, signals to the control unit to assign to the connection at least one additional free transmission channel for the requested at least one further communication connection,; 
 wherein the monitoring unit carries out a check to determine whether the bandwidth is sufficient for the requested communication connection and determines whether an appropriately large number of transmission channels are free for the bandwidth requirements for the requested communication connection; and 
 wherein the control unit stores the connection request in a queue; setting, sets up free transmission channels, and deletes the stored connection request, and assigns the set-up transmission channels to the user channel connection. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a measurement unit as part of the router for measuring a data throughput rate of the transmission channels of the connection. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the communication endpoints are at least one of telecommunication systems, ISDN terminals and personal computers with data network connections. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the router is a component of a telecommunication system. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 10 , where the telecommunication system has a LAN connection for connection to at least one of personal computers, IP telephones with a LAN connection and further telecommunication systems via a LAN. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for adjusting a bandwidth as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the telecommunication system is an ISDN telecommunication system with one of a base rate connection and a primary rate connection. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus comprising:
 a router configured to:
 set up a first transmission channel configured to transmit packet-based voice data between first and second communication endpoints; 
 assign a first port number to a connection including the first transmission channel; 
 receive a request for a second transmission channel, wherein the second transmission channel is configured to transmit packet-based voice data between the first and second communication endpoints; 
 store the received request in a queue; 
 determine whether sufficient bandwidth is available to service the request while maintaining a current quality of service for other established transmission channels; 
 if the sufficient bandwidth is available, set up the second transmission channel, including assigning a second port number to the second transmission channel, and assign the second transmission channel to the connection including the first transmission channel; and delete the stored request from the queue. 
   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the router further comprises a monitoring unit and a control unit. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to determine whether the sufficient bandwidth is available to service the request while maintaining a current quality of service for other established transmission channels. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to store the received request, set up the second transmission channel, delete the stored request, and assign the second transmission channel. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a measurement unit configured to measure a data throughput rate of a plurality of voice transmission channels. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second communication endpoints are each at least one of a telecommunication system, ISDN terminal, or personal computer. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor first and second signaling connections for transmission channel requests, wherein the first signaling connection corresponds to a connection between the apparatus and a device in a first network, and wherein the second signaling connection corresponds to a connection between the router and a device in a second network. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the check to determine whether sufficient bandwidth is available includes a first check on a first connection between the apparatus and the first communication endpoint and includes a second check on a second connection between the apparatus and the second communication endpoint. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the first communication endpoint via a LAN connection, and to communicate with the second communication endpoint via an ISDN connection, wherein the ISDN connection is one of a base rate connection or a primary rate connection. 
     
     
       22. A method comprising:
 a router setting up a first transmission channel configured to transmit packet-based voice data between first and second communication endpoints;   the router assigning a first port number to a connection including the first transmission channel;   the router, in response to receiving a request for a second transmission channel, storing the request in a queue, wherein the second transmission channel is configured to transmit packet-based voice data between the first and second communication endpoints;   the router determining whether sufficient bandwidth is available to service the request while maintaining a current quality of service for other established transmission channels;   the router, in response to determining that sufficient bandwidth is available, setting up the second transmission channel, including assigning a second port number to the second transmission channel, and assigning the second transmission channel to the connection including the first transmission channel; and   the router deleting the stored request from the queue.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein the router is configured to communicate via the connection using a Voice-over Internet protocol. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 22, wherein:
 the first port number is a TCP port number; and   the second port number is a TCP port number.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the router monitoring the first TCP port number for the request to assign the second transmission channel. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the router performing first and second checks to determine whether sufficient bandwidth is available, wherein the first check is for a first connection between the router and the first communication endpoint, and wherein the second check is for a second connection between the apparatus and the second communication endpoint. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus comprising:
 a monitoring unit; and   a control unit;   wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 in response to a request for a digital voice communication connection, determine whether sufficient free bandwidth is available to service the request while maintaining a current quality of service for other digital voice communication connections monitored by the apparatus, wherein the request for the digital voice communication connection corresponds to a connection between an origin and a destination; and 
 in response to determining that sufficient free bandwidth is available to service the request, establish one or more free transmission channels and assign the established one or more free transmission channels to the digital voice communication connection, wherein determining that sufficient free bandwidth is available comprises performing a first check on a first connection between the apparatus and the origin and performing a second check on a second connection between the apparatus and the destination; and 
 in response to determining that sufficient free bandwidth is not available, deny the request. 
   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is a router, and wherein the monitoring unit is configured to monitor first and second signaling connections for connection requests;
 wherein the first signaling connection corresponds to a connection between the router and a device in a first network; and   wherein the second signaling connection corresponds to a connection between the router and a device in a second network.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the request for the digital voice communication connection corresponds to an already existing connection between the origin and the destination, and wherein the digital voice communication connection is configured to communicate user data transmitted using a Voice-over Internet protocol. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the control unit is configured to store the connection request in a queue and delete the stored connection request from the queue. 
     
     
       31. A method comprising:
 a communication device receiving a request for a digital voice communication connection, wherein the request for the digital voice communication connection corresponds to a connection between an origin and a destination;   the communication device determining whether a sufficient amount of free bandwidth is available to service the request for the digital voice communication connection while maintaining a current quality of service for one or more other digital voice communication connections managed by the communication device, wherein the determining comprises performing a first check on a first connection between the apparatus and the origin and performing a second check on a second connection between the apparatus and the destination; and   in response to determining that the sufficient amount of free bandwidth is available, the communication device establishing one or more free transmission channels and assigning the established one or more free transmission channels to the digital voice communication connection.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the communication device denying a second request for a different digital voice communication connection in response to a subsequent determination that insufficient free bandwidth is available to service the second request while maintaining the current quality of service for the one or more other digital voice communication connections managed by the communication device. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31, further comprising monitoring a signaling connection over which requests for digital voice communication connections are made. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 31, wherein the digital voice communication connection is a VoIP connection corresponding to a TCP port of the communication device. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 31, further comprising monitoring one or more signaling connections for requests for digital voice communication connections, wherein the one or more signaling connections correspond to the one or more other digital voice communication connections managed by the communication device.