Patent ID: 8593959
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for collecting bandwidth information, comprising: providing a first switch and/or a first server in communication with a plurality of subscriber voice communication endpoints; selecting, from the plurality of subscriber voice communication endpoints, a first subscriber voice communication endpoint; requesting, by the first switch and/or first server, bandwidth information from the first subscriber voice communication endpoint; the first subscriber voice communication endpoint requesting, from at least one first intermediate node, other than the first switch and/or first server, in at least one communication path between the first subscriber voice communication endpoint and another subscriber voice communication endpoint, a first subset of bandwidth information; selecting, from the plurality of subscriber voice communication endpoints, a second subscriber voice communication endpoint; requesting, by the first switch and/or first server, bandwidth information from the second subscriber voice communication endpoint; the second subscriber voice communication endpoint requesting, from at least one second intermediate node, other than the first switch and/or first server, in at least one communication path between the second subscriber voice communication endpoint and another subscriber voice communication endpoint, a second subset of bandwidth information; and providing, by one or more of the first and second subscriber voice communication endpoints, at least one of the first subset of bandwidth information and the second subset of bandwidth information to the first switch and/or first server; the first subscriber voice communication endpoint receiving from a first user associated with the first subscriber voice communication endpoint at least one signal associated with initiation of a requested voice communication from the first subscriber voice communication endpoint to at least one destination endpoint; the first subscriber voice communication endpoint collecting bandwidth information used to determine an expected quality of the requested voice communication by obtaining bandwidth information from one or more entities in a communication path to the at least one destination endpoint; the first subscriber voice communication endpoint comparing a portion of the collected bandwidth information with at least one threshold and dynamically determining, when the portion of the collected bandwidth information fails to satisfy the at least one threshold, whether to perform by the first subscriber communication endpoint one or more of: (i) notifying the first user at the first subscriber voice communication endpoint of a likelihood of a low quality of the requested voice communication, and (ii) prohibiting initiation of the requested voice communication; wherein the at least one signal comprises a telephone number or an address on a data network and wherein the first switch and/or first server requests permission to initiate the voice communication and further comprising: when the at least some of the collected bandwidth information satisfies the at least one threshold, the first subscriber voice communication endpoint permitting initiation of the requested voice communication with the at least one destination endpoint; wherein the first switch and/or first server performs the following steps: receiving the at least one of a telephone number and address on a data network; requesting permission from the first subscriber voice communication endpoint to initiate the requested voice communication; and receiving from the first subscriber voice communication endpoint a communication initiation message, wherein: (i) when the communication initiation message indicates insufficient bandwidth is available for the requested voice communication, not connecting the first subscriber voice communication endpoint and the at least one destination endpoint, wherein the user is notified why the first subscriber voice communication endpoint is not to be connected with the at least one destination endpoint and wherein the user has the ability to override the first subscriber voice communication endpoint and proceed with the connection of the first subscriber voice communication endpoint and the at least one destination endpoint; and (ii) when the communication initiation message indicates sufficient bandwidth is available for the requested voice communication, connecting the first subscriber voice communication endpoint and the at least one destination endpoint.