METHOD OF MANAGING REAL-TIME SERVICES

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of managing real-time services in a packet-based telecommunications network (1) of a plurality of coequal nodes (10 to 14) and a telecommunications network (1) for executing this method. A rule base for each node (10 to 14) is defined in consideration of the capabilities of each node (10 to 14) and/or the capabilities of all other nodes (10 to 14). After receiving information about an event requiring action, one or more of said nodes (10 to 14) determine node-specific action in consideration of said rule base and node-specific aggregated data as reaction to said event. Media data and/or signaling data associated with said real-time services are routed based on the determined action.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as further features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications network according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing components of a node according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of a node according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a message flow diagram showing a part of the telecommunications network according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a message flow diagram showing a part of the telecommunications network according to still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a message flow diagram showing a part of the telecommunications network according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a message flow diagram showing a part of the telecommunications network according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of managing real-time services in a packet-based telecommunications network of a plurality of coequal nodes, whereby the method comprises the steps of: defining a rule base for each node in consideration of the capabilities of each node and/or the capabilities of all other nodes;receiving information about an event requiring action;determining, by one or more of said nodes, node-specific action in consideration of said rule base and node-specific aggregated data as reaction to said event; androuting media data and/or signaling data associated with said real-time services based on the determined action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:distributing an event notification about said event or forwarding said received information about said event to one or more of the other coequal nodes in consideration of said rule base and said node-specific aggregated data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:receiving information about an event requiring action by an initial node;sending, by a target node, a feedback message to the initial node after reception of information about said event from the initial node, whereby the feedback message comprises information about whether the target node is able to contribute node-specific action as reaction to said event; anddetermining, by the initial node, other nodes as substitute for the target node if the feedback message from the target node informs the initial node about the inability of the target node to contribute node-specific action as reaction to said event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:determining by a target node, after reception of information about said event from an initial node, other nodes as substitute for the target node if the target node is unable to contribute node-specific action as reaction to said event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:determining by means of a time-out mechanism or a keep-alive mechanism whether a target node is out of operation;initiating by another node steps in reaction to the determined out-of-operation state of the target node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further step of:exchanging, by each of said one or more nodes, said node-specific aggregated data with other nodes of said one or more nodes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the further step of:adapting the rule base of a node based on the event and/or the aggregated data in consideration of the rule bases of the remaining nodes.

8. A packet-based telecommunications network of a plurality of coequal nodes for managing real-time services, whereby the network comprises database resources with a rule base defined for each node in consideration of the capabilities of each node and/or the capabilities of all other nodes and node-specific aggregated data, media resources and signalling resources for receiving information about an event requiring action, and service logic for determining, by one or more of said nodes, node-specific action in consideration of said rule base and the node-specific aggregated data as reaction to said event and routing media data and/or signaling data associated with said real-time services based on the determined action.

9. The telecommunications network of claim 8, wherein said service logic is adapted to take into consideration both signalling traffic processing and media traffic processing.

10. The telecommunications network of claim 8, wherein two or more of said coequal nodes provide a terminal with redundant access points to the telecommunications network.