KR20010101525A - Priority transmission for various types of speech in network traffic - Google Patents

Abstract

The method 500, the apparatus 220, and the transmission format 400 allow a packet 400 that transmits various types of information 406 to be assigned to various types of priority levels 402 and to be transmitted accordingly. . In one embodiment, the packet includes an indication as to whether it has a high priority (eg, interactive voice), low priority (eg, non-conversational voice), or the like. The low priority packet is queued and delayed (525) until a high priority packet is sent (515). Examples of nonconversational voices include voice mails, computer generated menus, e-mails to and from voices, and the like. In one particular embodiment, system identification blocks 685 and 695 of TFO messages 680 and 690 are replaced with priority level indications.

Description

Priority transmission of various types of voice in network traffic {PRIORITY TRANSMISSION FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF SPEECH IN NETWORK TRAFFIC}

Today's mobile wireless systems offer subscribers many new and useful features. Such characteristics include, for example, caller identification, voice mail, message transmission, and multiparty calling. In addition, wireless services have become more relaxed as they use the available spectrum more efficiently. One technique for achieving this improvement is the performance of digital transmission. Digital transmissions not only provide packet-based distribution and / or the ability to perform transmissions, but also make more efficient use of the available spectrum.

Compared with current services due to the introduction of adaptive multi-rate (ARM) voice codecs in General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rate (EDGE) for GSM evolution, and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) This results in increased and variable bandwidth. These and other factors additionally facilitate the performance of packet based distribution and / or transmission. However, packet-based transmission solutions for GSM base station subsystem (BBS) for public land mobile networks (PLMN) are not known today. Therefore, there is no known method for accommodating fluctuation and peak bandwidth demands of GSM systems when using packet based techniques.

On the other hand, for the office communication environment solution, a system for transmitting voice, data, etc. in the form of packets using a conventional LAN (Intranet) infrastructure in the company (for example, Internet Protocol (IP) transmission) It is under development. However, quality of service (QoS) issues have not been raised to ensure that resources are not oversupplied to the infrastructure or not dependent on other QoS mechanisms originally supported by the company's LAN / Intranet infrastructure. Unfortunately, this approach is inadequate for GSM systems because bandwidth is significantly more expensive for GSM systems than LAN / ethernet technology.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to the field of network communications, and more particularly to setting and performing priority delays for various types of traffic, such as non-interactive voice traffic.

The method, system, and transmission format of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates a portion of a typical wireless network system in which the present invention may be usefully performed.

2 illustrates a typical arrangement of a transceiver and a router in accordance with the present invention.

3A illustrates an exemplary transmission delay diagram prior to activating priority transmission.

3B illustrates an exemplary transmission delay after activating priority transmission in accordance with the present invention.

4A illustrates an exemplary packet with priority transmission indications in accordance with the present invention.

4B illustrates an exemplary packet router for transmitting prioritized packets in accordance with the present invention.

5 is a flow diagram of a method for transmitting a received packet according to the priority level of the received packet according to the present invention.

6A illustrates exemplary handling of MS-to-MS calls with TFOs in accordance with the present invention.

6B illustrates an exemplary TFO Request message.

6C shows a typical TFO Acknowledgment message.

FIG. 6D illustrates an exemplary TFO Request message with a priority level indication in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

6E illustrates an exemplary TFO Acknowledgment message with a priority level indication in accordance with the present invention.

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the method and system of the present invention. For example, as it has not been recognized so far, packet-based technology using delay priority routing and / or transmitting allows the GSM system to efficiently and economically accommodate bandwidth requirements. There is this. In practice, for example, it would be useful if different priorities were assigned to packets transmitting interactive voice rather than packets transmitting non-interactive voice.

In one exemplary embodiment, the information transmitted from the mobile station MS to the base station transceiver BTS in the time slot TS is received and decoded at the transceiver TRX. The TRX formats the information into IP packets and sends them to the internal router. The internal router receives the packet and stores it in memory. Each packet contains a priority level indication that is resolved at the router. Packets having a lower priority level (eg, corresponding to non-voice speech) are delayed while packets having a higher priority level (eg, corresponding to interactive voice) are transmitted without delay.

Interactive voices include, for example, verbal conversations between two people in real time. Examples of non-interactive voices include voice mails, computer-generated menus, e-mails to and from voices, and the like. In one particular embodiment, priority level indication analysis and transmission according to the present invention is used in connection with a tandem free operation (TFO) of a speech codec in a GMS system. In particular, the system identification block of the TFO request and confirmation message may be replaced with a priority level indication. Therefore, the TFO function of the network is to detect the "system" identifier, which is a priority level indication, and handle the packet accordingly.

An important technical advantage of the present invention is that it enhances packet based routing / transmission in GSM systems.

Another important technical advantage of the present invention is that it is possible to optimally use the available bandwidth when routing / transmitting interactive and non-interactive voice by prioritizing the interactive voice prior to the non-interactive voice.

Another important technical advantage of the present invention is that the TFO can be used, for example, by including a priority indication in the system identification block of request and confirmation messages.

The above and other features of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the described embodiments are provided for the purpose of illustration and understanding and that many equivalent embodiments are contemplated herein.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages will be fully understood by reference to Figs. 1-6E, where like numerals are used for the same or corresponding portions of the various figures.

Aspects of the GSM standard will be used to describe preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the principles of the present invention are digital and capable of transmitting information in packets, such as other wireless communication standards (or systems), in particular, for example, digital enhanced mobile telephone systems (D-AMPS) and worldwide mobile telephone systems (UMPS). It should be understood that it is applicable to the system. Moreover, the principles of the present invention are generally applicable to networks based on any packet, whether wired or wireless.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a portion of a typical wireless network system in which the present invention may be usefully illustrated is shown generally at 100. The BTS 110 includes control circuitry and antennas to cover all or part of one or more cells. The BTS 110 may be part of a wireless network system (not explicitly shown) and may be connected to the wireless network system. The BTS 110 may communicate with one or more MSs 130 (1), ... 130 (6), ..., 130 (x). The BTS 110 communicates on one or more frequencies, each of which consists of a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame 120. Each frame 120 is subdivided into eight (eg, numbered 0 through 7) TSs. Each MS 130 (1), ..., 130 (6), ..., 130 (x) may transmit one normal burst in each TS.

The BSS (which BTS 110 may form in whole or in part of that BSS) is modified to accommodate packet switched transmissions. Performing packet switched transmissions within the BSS increases flexibility and transmission efficiency when using statistical multiplexing. IP can be used and the priority bits in the IP header can be used to introduce QoS in the IP network. When introducing packet-based transmissions into the GSM BSS, the delay requirements of the GSM must be met. Currently, since voice information is the most delay sensitive traffic, the present invention usefully places voice in the highest delay priority class in one exemplary embodiment. Other services / information (eg, ambiguous data) that do not follow strict delay conditions are placed by default at lower priority classes with varying delays.

However, the improvements due to the use of various delay priorities will be limited because the transmitted traffic is dependent on the current voice and is likely to persist for so long. Then, improvements derived from statistical multiplexing are limited only to the statistics of the sound sources within the network, and additional improvements from various priority levels (in some cases only require very low bandwidth). Is not achieved (except for signaling). The use of statistical multiplexing of speech is enabled by the implementation of voice activity detection / discontinuous transmission (VAD / DTX) mechanisms, which are already performed in GSM systems.

Depending on the characteristics of the sound source, various levels of transmission improvement can be achieved with statistical multiplexing. One of the problems addressed by the present invention relates to a synchronized wireless air interface in a GSM system. The synchronized air aerial interface creates a very "bursty" operation on the generated data. For example, all 20 ms blocks of traffic within a cell may have the same TDMA frame ( Will be received / decoded. This can also be observed in the downlink direction. This "bursty" operation can be accommodated by routing in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a typical arrangement of transceivers and routers in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 200. The arrangement 200 may be part of the structure, for example, for a GSM BTS (eg, BTS 110 in FIG. 1). This arrangement 200 uses packet based transmission (eg, IP) in this exemplary embodiment. This arrangement 200 includes a number of TRXs. TRX (e.g., TRX1 (210 (1)), TRX2 (210 (2)), TRX3 (210 (3)), ..., TRXx (210 (x))) 215 (1), 215 (2), 215 (3), ..., 215 (x)) to the router 220). The router 220 may output the packet (directly or indirectly) to the wireless network system via the Abis interface 230.

Each TRX (e.g., TRX (1) 210 (1), ..., TRXx (210 (x))) is an MS (130 (1), ..., 130 (x) Information units (e.g., voice frames) sent from one of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >) < / RTI > The information unit may be a packet of general nature, some form of message, voice frame, or the like. In the GSM embodiment, the speech frame consists of eight bursts on a single time slot for eight eight TDMA frames. After eight (8) bursts have been received, the bursts may be combined into a single voice frame. For example, TRX1 210 (1) may receive voice frames from MS 130 (1) at TS0 for 8 frames 120, and TRX6 210 (6) (not shown) may have 8 frames. With respect to 120, a voice frame may be received from MS 130 (6) at TS5, and TRXx 210 (x) is for 8 frames 120 that exist on a different frequency than the frequency of frame 120. The TS may receive a voice frame from the MS 130 (x). Therefore, in this embodiment, an eighth burst on TS0 is received at the correct multi-frame position (eg, as a voice frame in the GSM embodiment) at TRX1 210 (1), deinterleaved and decoded. When it is, it is formatted into an IP-type packet and sent to the internal router 220 of the BTS 110.

By way of example, and not of limitation, assuming that there is an active call with voice activity for each TS, the voice frame is in TS0 into each TRX (TRX1 (210 (1), ..., TRXx (210 (x))). Therefore, each TRX (TRX1 210 (1), ..., TRXx 210 (x)) transmits one IP packet to the router almost simultaneously. As a result, between each TRX and router 220 The internal bandwidth of BTS 110 (e.g., on lines 215 (1), 215 (2), 215 (3), ..., 215 (x))) is preferably high enough. Each packet in its entirety is transmitted before the packet corresponding to TS1 is transmitted to avoid internal queuing of the packet within the individual TRX, therefore, in a GSM embodiment, each packet is one burst time frame ( Is transmitted within). As a result, the bandwidth of the Abis interface 230 is less than the bandwidth of x * internal buses (e.g., lines 215 (1), 215 (2), 215 (3), ..., 215 (x)). In this case, the packet needs to be buffered at the router 220 before being sent over the Abis interface 230 and may begin to queue. Typically, the bandwidth on the Abis interface 230 is 2 Mbps (E1) or 1.5 Mbps (T1). However, the bandwidth on the internal bus is greater than 2 Mbps.

In general, without the benefit of the present invention, all packets from TS0 originating from TRX (TRX1 (210 (1), ..., TRXx (210 (x))) are transmitted before any packets from TS1 are transmitted. This packet from TS1 becomes one burst time frame after TS0 ( Is prepared). As a result, the packets of TS1 need to be buffered until all packets of TS0 have been transmitted.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, a typical transmission delay diagram prior to activating priority transmission is shown generally at 300. The arrangement 200 and the diagram 300 are used together to describe the effect of the transmission delay. In diagram 300, queuing and Abis transmission delays are indicated together as "Tabis." The Tabis, of course, is a voice activity (eg, voice = 1, non-voice = 0), whether or not there is an active call, and a TS number (eg 0,1,2, ..., 7), It is a function of the number of TRX (eg x). By way of example and not limitation, 100% of the available TS is estimated for sending the call.

In a GSM system without packet-oriented communication, the "round-trip delay" for Abis is 23.85 ms when using a 16 kbps circuit-switched connection. This same condition is achieved in a typical embodiment using packet oriented communication. However, the distribution of delays is different. For example, Tabisd (Tabis downlink) may be 17.4 ms or less while Tabisu (Tabis uplink) may be 4.0 ms or more. If the traffic load is symmetric, Tabisd = Tabisu = 12ms. In the above description and in FIG. 3A, a regular 20 ms time interval is used to describe the timing for the GSM air interface. For greater clarity, the GSM air interface introduces jitter due to the multiplexing of the slow associated control channel (SACCH) logical channel on the same physical channel. As a result, the interval is cycled on the basis of multi-frames. However, in one embodiment, the received speech frames may be buffered to produce the same 20 ms interval or directly aligned to the air interface timing.

With continued reference to FIG. 3A, a diagram 300 illustrates a typical transmission delay, which delays when the priority transmission is not active (e.g., eight (8) TSs per TDMA frame). 100% send the call). " Tabis0 " is the transmission delay at router 220 for TS0, which is x voice frames when each TRX (TRX1 (210 (1), ..., TRXx (210 (x))) receives voice frames The transmission delay at router 220 for TS1 is " Tabis0 -0.6+ Tabis1 " for x voice frames (and those previously transmitted for TS0) in TS1. About time ( ) Is subtracted from the delay for TS0 (eg, Tabis0) when calculating the delay for TS1. In general, the time for one burst is subtracted for each preceding transmission delay time (eg, each "Tabis"). For TS7, the transmission delay is " Tabis0 + Tabis1 + ... +" Tabis6-7 * 0.6 + Tabis7 ". Standard GSM frames are also And voice frame interval Is shown. Therefore, diagram 300 illustrates a typical transmission delay when voice frames are received and queued in router 220 if priority among voice frames is not set or used for routing.

Usefully, according to the invention, the speech frames are prioritized so that those with lower priorities are transmitted after those with higher priorities. In one typical aspect, the principles of the present invention make use of the fact that there are voice services that vary in the level of real-time conditions. For example, "live" conversations between two people have a relatively higher priority, for example, communications such as voice mail, recorded announcement messages, banking over the telephone, etc. have a lower priority. Voicemail alone has been the majority of voice traffic these days. This type of non-interactive voice service is also likely to grow. Moreover, new noninteractive services are likely to be introduced. Such new non-interactive services may include various forms of voice recognition services such as network-supported, voice-initiated dialing; e-mail to / from voice, and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, these various types of calls are identified. After identification, the various forms are assigned at different levels of priority and then queued so that they are sent at different times. For example, a call identified as containing non-interactive voice is placed at a lower delay priority class. As a result, the available links (eg, Abis interface 230) can be better used. This increased utilization can be used in a number of ways. For example, this may require lower bandwidth on the link for the provided voice delay or may provide lower voice delay for the provided bandwidth.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, a typical transmission delay diagram after activating priority transmission in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at 350 for most TS. Lower voice delay is illustrated in diagram 350. By way of example and not limitation, all calls in TS0 for all TRXs are assumed to be non-interactive and are placed at lower delay priority classes. " Tabis0 " is equal to queuing due to lower delay priority plus queuing and Abis interface 230 transmission delay for TS0 of all TRXs . The transmission delay for TS1 is now " Tabis1 ", which is reduced to " Tabis0 -0.6 ", as in diagram 300. Similarly, the overall transmission delay for TS2 is reduced to " Tabis1 -1 * 0.6 + Tabis2 ", and the overall transmission delay for TS7 is " Tabis1 + ... +" Tabis6-6 * 0.6 + Tabis7 ". Therefore, the transmission delay for non-interactive communication of TS0 becomes considerably longer, therefore, the transmission delay for TS1 to TS7 is reduced and the delay for TS0 is increased as a result.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, a typical packet with another priority transmission indication is shown at 400 in the present invention. Packet 400 includes multiple blocks. A packet can generally be logically divided into multiple blocks, such as, for example, a heading block, an information block to be transmitted, and the like. Packet 400 is shown as containing three (3) blocks, although they may include more or fewer blocks and blocks may exist in any order. Priority level (block) 402 indicates the priority level of the packet. The priority indication may consist of a numerical indication (eg, 1 to 10), a call type (eg, interactive voice, non-interactive voice, data, etc.). Packet 400 also includes destination block 404 (e.g., phone number, IP address, etc.) and information block 406 (e.g., data, voice, etc.) that holds information to be transferred from one place to another. ).

Referring now to FIG. 4B, an exemplary packet router for transmitting another prioritized packet is shown in the present invention. Router 220 receives voice frames from TRX over lines 215 (1), 215 (2), 215 (3), ..., 215 (x). The voice frame may be formatted in TRX, as an IP packet (or any packet based format) at the router 220, and additionally may also be formatted in subsequent networks such as Abis interface 230, but is preferred. In an embodiment, the voice frame is formatted as an IP packet in TRX before arriving at memory 410. The memory 410 may be memory for any particular purpose, general purpose, or the like (eg, a queue, a set of registers, content-addressable memory, general RAM, etc.). Each packet 400 received from lines 215 (1), 215 (2), 215 (3), ..., 215 (x) is contained within memory 410 (e.g., memory location 410 ( 1), 410 (2), 410 (3), ..., 410 (x), respectively .. Memory locations 410 (n) have more memory locations in the memory 410 than the packet 400. It means that it can be used to store data.

In an alternative embodiment, the number of memories (eg, memory queues) is increased by providing separate memory queues for each of the TRX / line 210 (x) / 215 (x) to receive the packet 400. Can be. In another alternative embodiment, the number of individual memory queues may be increased by providing multiple memory queues designated at one or more specific priority levels (eg, one for interactive voice and another for non-interactive voice). . In another alternative embodiment, the number of individual memory queues may be further increased by providing multiple memory queues designated at one or more specific priority levels in each of the TRX / line 210 (x) / 215 (x).

Priority analyzer 415 is responsible for increasing priority level 402 (either alone or with other portions of packet 400) via data bus 420 from one of memory locations 410 (x) in memory 410. Search. Continuing the example provided above with respect to FIG. 3B, the priority analyzer 415 analyzes the priority level 402 retrieved from the memory location 410 (1) so that it is received on non-interactive voice (eg, on TS0). Classified bursts). Therefore, the corresponding packet 400 is delayed. Priority analyzer 415 then moves priority level 402 (along with or alone with other portions of packet 400) from data location 410 (2) within memory 410 via data bus 420. Search. The memory analyzer 415 analyzes the priority level 402 retrieved from the memory location 410 (2) and classifies it as an interactive voice (e.g., the burst received on TS1 in the example described above with respect to FIG. 3B). Decide on Therefore, the corresponding packet 400 is suitable for transmission. Priority analyzer 415 notifies packet transmitter 425 that packet 400 in memory location 410 (2) will be transmitted via control signal / line 430. Packet transmitter 425 sends data. Retrieves packet 400 from memory location 410 (2) via bus 420 and sends the packet 400 onto Abis interface 230. The priority analyzer receives packets received in memory 410. Priority level 402 of 400, for example, all packets 400 are analyzed and continuously analyzed until additional packets 400 are received.

Note that the elements / logic blocks in router 220 may be rearranged and / or otherwise modified by those skilled in the art after a good understanding of the principles of the present invention. For example, priority analyzer 415 and packet transmitter 425 may be combined into one discrete and / or functional unit of hardware, software, palmware, and the like. In one example of such an embodiment, if one unit analyzes each packet 400 immediately after it is appropriate (e.g., when the priority level 402 indicates that it has a higher priority), the analyzed packet is Abis immediately. Can be sent over the interface. Router 220 and its components / logical blocks (e.g., memory 410, priority analyzer 415, data bus 420, packet transmitter 425, control signal / line 430, etc.) Understand that it does not have to be a separate hardware unit. They may alternatively be, for example, a combination of one or more software modules operating in connection with a processing unit (eg, digital signal processor, general purpose microprocessor, etc.). Moreover, the memory 410 need not be present in the router 220, and the memory 410 may be shared with the processing / storage entity and / or other functionality of the BTS 110.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method for transmitting a received packet in accordance with the priority level of the received packet according to the present invention is shown in flow chart form 500. Flowchart 500 begins when one or more packets are received (block 505). The priority indicator of the packet is analyzed (decision block 510). If the packet has a higher priority level (eg, interactive voice), the packet is sent to the next step (block 515). The next step may be, for example, an Abis interface 230 for transmitting to the wireless network if the analyzed priority is the highest possible priority level (eg, interactive voice in one embodiment). On the other hand, if the analyzed priority is not the highest possible priority, the next step involves additional priority analysis to stratify multiple packets according to their respective priority levels.

In one embodiment, interactive voice may be considered as communication between two people in real time while non-interactive voice may not be considered as verbal communication between two people in real time. Data communication can be at various priority levels (e.g., higher than interactive voice (e.g., for premium charge from a customer), equivalent to non-interactive voice, lower than non-interactive voice, etc.) Can be assigned. If the packet has a lower priority level (e.g., non-conversational voice) (at decision block 510), the packet will (optionally) undergo additional priority processing (e.g., a more precise priority level). Layer the packets accordingly) (block 520). This lower priority packet is delayed (block 525) at least with respect to the higher priority packet sent to the next step (at block 515).

Referring now to FIG. 6A, typical handling of MS-to-MS calls with a TFO in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 600. TFOs are described in "Inband Tandem Free Operation (TFO) of Speech Codecs; Service Description; Stage 3"; Technical Specification, Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+); Draft TS 04.53 V.1.3.0 (1998-07), July 1998; GSM; page 1-32, which is incorporated herein by reference. In order to identify the call as interactive voice or non-interactive voice, for example, the TFO protocol can be used in a typical embodiment. Some additional advantages of the present invention are derived from it. For example, since unordered speech coding is avoided when using a TFO, speech quality does not degrade when subjected to additional encoding / decoding. As a result, the voice can be stored directly in the voice mail without additional voice encoding. Moreover, comfort noise as well as damaged frames through the air interface need not be stored, which additionally reduces memory storage conditions.

With continued reference to FIG. 6A, MS A 605 is communicating with MS B 655 in an environment in which a TFO procedure may be used. MS A 605 is in communication with BTS A 610. The BTS A 610 and the transcoder and speed adapter unit (TRAU A) 620 are associated with the BSC A 615. TRAU A 620 includes a TFO_protocol portion 622, an uplink_TFO (UL_TFO) portion 624, and a decoder 626. TRAU A 620 is connected to digital network 630, which is also connected to TRAU B 640. TRAU B 640 and BTS B 650 are associated with BSC B 635. TRAU B 640 includes a TFO_protocol portion 642, a downlink_TFO (DL_TFO) portion 644, and an encoder 646. The BTS B 650 is in wireless communication with the MS B 655.

If not a TFO, the signal is encoded at MS A 605, transmitted over the air interface to BTS A 610, decoded by decoder 626 at TRAU A 620, and then digital network 630. Is transmitted over the link. When the signal arrives at TRAU B 640, it is encoded by encoder 646 and sent by BTS B 650 to the MS B 655 over the air interface, where the signal is decoded. On the other hand, at the time of TFO, the TFO_protocol portion 622 bypasses the decoding process at the decoder 626 of the TRAU A 620 by causing the encoding signal received at the BTS A 610 to be routed through the UL_TFO portion 624. Pass it. After being transmitted over the digital network 630, the (still) encoded signal is routed through the DL_TFO portion 644 by the TFO_protocol portion 642 to avoid the encoding process of the encoder 646. The (still) encoded signal can then be sent by the BTS B 650 to the MS B 655 via the air interface, where the signal is decoded. The signal from MS B 655 to MS A 605 may also be transmitted in the reverse direction using the TFO. Usefully, the entire decoding and encoding process pair is eliminated. When using TFO signaling, indicating the priority level of the transmission (eg, identifying a non-interactive voice call) can be accomplished using an IS_system_identification_block.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, a typical TFO request message is shown generally at 660. The TFO request message 660 is composed of the following blocks: header block 662, request block 644, IS_system_identification_block 655, TFO request extension block 668, and codec list extension block 669. It includes. Although the IS_system_identification_block 655 is shown to include GSM identification, other systems and / or standards may alternatively be identified. A specific bit pattern of only 20 bits identifies the GSM standard in this typical request message.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, a typical TFO confirm message is shown generally at 670. TFO acknowledgment message 670 includes the following blocks: header block 662, acknowledgment block 674, IS_system_identification_block 655, TFO acknowledgment extension block, and codec list extension block 669. . Although the IS_system_identification_block 655 is shown to include GSM identification, other systems and / or standards may alternatively be identified.

Referring now to FIG. 6D, a typical TFO request message with a priority level indication in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 680. In TFO request message 680, IS_system_identification_block 655 is replaced with priority level indication 685. The priority level indication block 685 may include bit patterns corresponding to various priority levels such as, for example, interactive voices and non-interactive voices.

Referring now to FIG. 6E, a typical TFO confirmation message with a priority level indication in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 690. In TFO confirmation message 690, IS_system_identification_block 655 is replaced with priority level indication 695. The priority level indication block 695 may include bit patterns corresponding to various priority levels such as, for example, interactive voices and non-interactive voices. This priority level indicating the bit pattern may be the same as the priority level of priority level indication block 685 in the preferred embodiment.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the priority analyzer (as part of the TFO_protocol portion, etc.) extracts the priority level block 685/695 (e.g., to read the "system" form) and bit patterns. We analyze this to determine the relative priority levels. By way of example and not limitation, if the first set of packets has a bit pattern corresponding to interactive voice and the second set of packets has a packet corresponding to non-interactive voice, then the first set of packets is transmitted to the next step. The second set of packets is delayed until the first set is sent.

Although preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention have been shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but as described and defined by the following claims. It will be understood that various rearrangements, changes, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (27)

In the method for transmitting the prioritized information unit, Receiving a first information unit comprising a first priority indication having at least one of an interactive speech indication and a non-interactive speech indication; Analyzing the first priority indication; Transmitting the first information unit in response to the first priority indication analyzed in the analyzing step. The method of claim 1, Receiving a second information unit comprising a second priority indication having at least one of the interactive speech indication and the non-interactive speech indication; Analyzing the second priority indication; Delaying transmission of the first information unit with respect to the second information unit when the first priority indication includes the non-interactive speech indication and the second priority indication includes the interactive voice indication. And a priority transmission method of the information unit. The method of claim 1, And said first information unit comprises a packet. The method of claim 1, And said first information unit comprises a voice frame in a communication system. The method of claim 1, The non-interactive voice indication includes voice mail speech, recorded announcement messages, computer-generated menu options, voice recognition samples, e-mail to / from voice, and network-supported voice. A method of priority transmission of an information unit characterized in that it relates to at least one of the dialing inputs being started. The method of claim 1, Analyzing the first priority indication further comprises analyzing a block in a TFO message. The method of claim 6, Parsing the block in the TFO message further comprises parsing the 20-bit block, which may include a system identification indication. The method of claim 1, The step of transmitting the first information unit in response to the first priority indication analyzed in the analyzing step includes sending the first information unit to an output interface when the first priority indication includes the interactive voice indication. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of routing. The method of claim 1, The step of transmitting the first information unit in response to the first priority indication analyzed in the analyzing step outputs the first information unit when the first priority indication includes the non-interactive speech indication. And delaying the first information unit before routing to the router. A router for prioritizing transmission of information units, A memory for receiving a plurality of information units comprising a first information unit having one or more voice priority indicators; A priority analyzer for analyzing the one or more voice priority indicators of the first information unit to generate a control signal; A router for prioritizing transmission of information units having an information unit transmitter for transmitting said first information unit in response to said control signal. The method of claim 10, Wherein said priority analyzer and said information unit transmitter comprise at least partly one or more software modules. The method of claim 10, And said router comprises at least part of a base station transceiver in a wireless network system. The method of claim 12, And the memory is configured to receive the plurality of information units from one or more of the base station transceivers in the wireless network system. The method of claim 10, And said at least one voice priority indicator comprises at least one of an interactive voice and a non-interactive voice. The method of claim 14, The non-interactive voice priority indicator is initiated with a voice mail voice, a recorded announcement message, a computer-generated menu option, a voice recognition sample, an email to / from voice, and a network-supported voice. A router for prioritizing transmission of information units, characterized in that it relates to at least one of the dialing inputs. The method of claim 10, The priority analyzer is operable to extract information from a system identification block of the TFO information unit. The method of claim 10, The control signal generated by the priority analyzer prompts the information unit transmitter to retrieve the first information unit from the memory and route it to an output interface. . The method of claim 17, Wherein said priority analyzer generates said control signal when one or more voice priority indicators relate to interactive voice. The method of claim 10, And said priority analyzer does not generate said control signal when said one or more voice priority indicators relate to non-interactive voice. The method of claim 10, And the memory comprises a plurality of memory queues. An information unit format that is interpretable by a communication network to prioritize routing, A destination block providing a target address, An information block containing voice information, An information unit format comprising a priority indication block for indicating a relative priority of the information unit in response to the form of the voice information. The method of claim 21, And wherein said priority indicator block comprises at least one of an interactive voice indicator and a non-interactive voice indicator in response to said form of said voice information, each comprising an interactive voice and a non-interactive voice. The method of claim 22, The non-interactive voice may be a voice mail voice, a recorded announcement message, a computer-generated menu option, a voice recognition sample, an email to / from voice, and a dialing input initiated by a network-supported voice. An information unit format comprising at least one. The method of claim 22, Wherein said interactive voice comprises a conversation between two or more people in real time and said non-interactive voice comprises at least some form of verbal communication comprising a person in real time. The method of claim 21, And wherein said priority indication block comprises at least a portion of a TFO message. The method of claim 25, Wherein said priority indication block comprises at least a portion of a system identification block of said TFO message. A method of prioritizing and transmitting information units, Receiving a first information unit comprising a first priority indication having at least one of an interactive speech indication and a non-interactive speech indication; Analyzing the first priority indication; Receiving a second information unit comprising a second priority indication having at least one of an interactive speech indication and a non-interactive speech indication; Analyzing the second priority indication; Delaying transmission of the first information unit with respect to the second information unit when the first priority indication includes the non-interactive speech indication and the second priority indication includes the interactive voice indication. Priority transmission method of the information unit.