Columbia Technology Ventures

Smart signaling of data through IP tunneling paths

This technology is an efficient method and apparatus for generating and transmitting an end-to-end signaling flow through an IP tunneling path, which can be used to classify and prioritize different types of data packets going through IP-based communication networks.

Unmet Need: Efficient method for maintaining and managing data through communication networks

For IP-based communication networks, IP tunneling technology has been the preferential method for achieving transmittance of all types of data through a specific IP network because of its flexibility to transmit typically incompatible data packets by encapsulating them with headers that conform to said network. However, to achieve optimal quality of service (QoS), some data packets require prioritization through the network. While these data packets can be encapsulated with a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) tunneling header, these types of headers are relatively large, resulting in considerable overhead being sent through in each data packet.

The Technology: A non-header method for transmitting signals through an IP tunnel

This technology allows for the usage of an IP tunneling path, such as a VPN tunnel or other type of overlay network, enabling efficient signaling through the IP tunnel to communicate desired features such as content prioritization to improve QoS in a given communication network. In this method, an end-to-end signaling flow is transmitted through an end-to-end path connected to an IP tunneling path. Then, a tunnel signaling flow is generated that corresponds to the end-to-end signaling flow, followed by transmitting the generated flow through the IP tunneling path. Both signaling flows comprise binding data objects that store binding information for an end-to-end session or a tunnel session, respectively. As such, this technology can perform signaling and data transmitting over an IP tunneling path, manage end-to-end and tunnel sessions, manage an aggregation of data sessions provided through an end-to-end or IP tunneling path, and perform resource reservations and releases of an aggregate section over an IP tunneling path in a simple and direct way.

Applications:

  • Voice over IP (VoIP) with quality on par with public switched telephone network (PSTN)
  • High-definition media streaming
  • Development of high-speed wireless networks
  • Intranet at corporations with offices at distributed locations
  • Localized Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Advantages:

  • More efficient and smaller in size than using a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) header
  • Reduction in signaling delay transmission
  • Eliminates the use of a header
  • Aggregation of multiple flows
  • Maintains security and privacy of data while performing QoS

Lead Inventor:

Henning Schulzrinne, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications: