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`
`US 20070168466A1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2007/0168466 A1
`(43) Pub. Date: Jul. 19, 2007
`
`Tooley et at.
`
`(54)
`
`MANAGED QUALITY OF SERVICE USING A
`WEB SERVER SMART AGENT
`
`Continuation of application No. PC'J'IUSUSM'IZ'KS.
`filed on Dec. 23, 2005.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Matthew 'I'noley. Chicago. 11. (US):
`Joshua Marshak. Chicago. it. (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`L EYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
`TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900
`180 NORTH S'I'E'I'SON AVENUE
`CHICAGO, IL 60601-6731 (US)
`
`(73 ..,_.
`
`Assignce:
`
`(AN
`(IMX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
`ISRAEL CORPORATION). Jerusatem
`(11.)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`117677.373
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 21, 2007
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation-in-parl ol‘ appiication No. 117’027545.
`filed on Dec. 30. 2004.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. (Tl.
`6061’
`[52} U.S. CI.
`
`(2006.01)
`15/16
`............................................................ 7091918
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Systems and methods are described for effectively managing
`the quality of service provided to subscribers in a shared
`network on a per-application. per-user basis. A system Q08
`proxy, sitting on a subscriber‘s computing device or on a
`web content server. captures network calls made by an
`application for a subscriber and uses locally stored quality
`profiles to determine if a request for high—quality commu—
`nications should be made. {fat}. the QoS proxy requests QoS
`from a central application manager. which dedicates a
`high-quality communications session to the subscriber‘s
`application. and causes the subscriber to be billed appropri-
`ately.
`
` I
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`Apngr
`2608
`
`.0
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`O
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`O
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` MSO Server
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`
`
`Indexhtml
`3604
`
`
`
`Page2.}sp
`260
`
`releaserS.jsp
`2612
`
`2602
`
`Subscriber Computer
`
`Microsoft
`
`Ex. 1025 - Page 1
`
`Microsoft
`Ex. 1025 - Page 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 26
`
`US 2007/0168466 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 19 of 26
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`US 2007/0168466 A1
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 21
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`Microsoft
`Ex. 1025 - Page 21
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2007/0168466 A1
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 22
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 22
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 23
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 23
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 24
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 24
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 24 of 26
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 25
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 25
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 26
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 26
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 27
`
`Microsoft
`Ex. 1025 - Page 27
`
`

`

`US 2007K} 168466 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 200'?
`
`MANAGED QUALITY OF SERVICE USING A ‘VEB
`SERVER SMART AGENT
`
`R1 ELA'I‘IEI.) APPUCNI‘IONS
`
`[0001] This patent application is a continuation of Intern
`national Patent Application No. PCTJ'USZOOSEOWZTS. filed
`Dec. 23. 2005. which designates the United States. This
`patent application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 112027.545, lilcd Dec. 30, 2004.
`
`FIELD OF THE iNVliN'l‘lON
`
`[0002] This invention pertains generally to the field of
`computer networks and more particularly to the area of
`requesting and managing high-quality communications for
`applications over shared networks.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] Over the past several years. an increasing number
`of computer users in the United States have subscribed to
`high-speed (“Broadband") Internet. As a result. network
`providers of these Broadband services are beginning to
`deploy advanced httemet services such as Voice over litter—
`net Protocol (VoIP), Internet—based video—on—demand. on—
`line computer games. and businCSS services. Because of the
`netwark demands from these services. there is a recognized
`potential for congestion resulting from oversubscription.
`thereby leading to chum and lost revenues.
`
`[0004] This problem can be alleviated by managing the
`Internet traflic so that each subscriber obtains the quality of
`service (Q08) necessary to ensure these new services per—
`form well. The Broadband cable industry has recognized the
`importance of maintaining subscriber satisfaction and. via
`its standards body. Cablel.abs. has specified a policy-based
`technology platform for guaranteeing Q08 over the hybrid
`fiber-coax (HFC) network. This specification, called Pack-
`etCable Multimedia (P(..‘MM), is intended to empower se -
`vice providers to difleretitiate data flow to individual sub—
`scribers, thereby enabling a whole new class of “network
`aware“ services.
`
`[0005] The recent PC MM specification opens the door for
`multiple system operators (MSOs) such as cable companies
`to increase the overall value of their high-speed cable
`networks. Subscribers are now able to enjoy richer multi-
`media content
`in the home or ollice and benefit
`from
`packet-switched toclmologies such as Voll’ and video tele-
`phone. By differentiating data flow to these subscribers
`on-deniand. service providers can potentially maximize rev-
`enue from the content riding on their networks. PCMM
`further enables service providers to tap into the market for
`small and medium business telephone and data communi—
`cation services. Until recently. this market was served only
`by dedicated lilies capable ofol'fering the service guarantees
`that can now be ofl'ered by Broadband cable.
`
`[0006] This technology can be best exploited by making
`applications “network aware.“ meaning that individual ser-
`vices and applications can dynamically signal
`their QoS
`requirements to the cable modem termination system
`(CMTS). Historically.
`there have been only two major
`approaches by which applications were made “network
`aware.” namely integrating “network awareness" into appli-
`cation software. and deep packet inspection hardware. The
`
`network infrastructure of broadband cable has not been
`capable of discriminating data flows based upon each appli-
`cation or content‘s QoS requirements. thus preventing appli—
`cations from becoming truly "network aware". Further. no
`dynamic processes have existed for managing QoS. thus
`network resources could not be re-al located when the data
`
`flow requirements were no longer required by an applica-
`tion. and therefore the value of the network's data capacity
`was not maximized. Previous software vendors have tried
`
`unsuccessfully to capture policywbased Q08 into their appli-
`cations by cmbcdding network traffic management; howover
`these efforts failed due to a lack of suppon by the network
`intrastructure.
`
`[0007] One unsuccessfiil medtod is an integrated applica-
`tion-oriented approach. This method requires every appli-
`cation developer to make their software “network aware" by
`including (203 features within their application software
`either on the subscriber‘s computer or the Web content
`server. as described.
`for example.
`in “Microsoft 2000
`Server: The Microsoft 008 Components". by Microsoft
`Corp. [November 1999). Thus. the traflic management soft-
`ware vendor and the M30 need to partner with ntuuerous
`application developers and Web content providers. Web
`content providers or subscribers must upgrade the applica-
`tion software on their servers or computers. respectively. to
`enable “network awareness." It is no surprise. therefore. that
`application developers have resisted integrating QoS into
`their applications. The wide range of applications and frag-
`mentation in several segments of the soflware market (e.g..
`computer games) inhibit the deployment of a comprehensive
`service offering. Additionally, two or more similar applica-
`tions in the same home or ofiice LAN cannot be reliably
`identified separately. and thus not enough data flow is
`supplied to satisfy each user.
`
`[0008] Another unsuccessful method uses deep packet
`inspection hardware to inspect every one of the billions of
`Internet packets traveling past it for a source and destination
`IP address. port number. and application type. such as that
`described by Narad. el al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6.157.955. The
`packet inspection hardware is generally located regionally at
`the M80. In order to determine the application type. and
`consequently its QoS requirements. the circuits needs to
`evaluate an entire stream of data between each subscriber
`
`and the destination Web content provider. The major advan-
`tage of deep packet inspection is that it manages network
`trallic automatically. and with maximum transparency to
`both subscribers and content providers. Unfortunately. the
`packet inspector is highly intrusive in the network and sits
`directly in the data path making it a possible single point of
`failure. The unit mtlst be deployed regionally and is subject
`to local power and space constraints. Hardware upgrades
`may be difficult and costly. Some applications may be
`dill'icult to decipher and the computation requirements may
`exceed currently available integrated circuit
`technology.
`Since the packet inspector must look at every packet as it
`traverses a decision tree.
`it
`is
`less eflicient
`than other
`sofiware solutions located closer to the user.
`
`[0009] Other previously existing methods. such as those
`described by Jackowski. et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,686.
`merely serve to collect and aggregate application tralfic data
`for retrieval and QoS management by a central policy server.
`but do not
`include mechanisms by which user-specific.
`application-specific customized QoS profiles can be stored
`
`Microsoft
`
`Ex. 1025 - Page 28
`
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`Ex. 1025 - Page 28
`
`

`

`US 200750 168466 Al
`
`Jul. 19, 200'?
`
`and updated on a client machine. Thus, heavy loads are
`placed on the central policy server, which must process all
`QoS requests for all client machines. regardless of whether
`those QoS requests are legitimate. Further. such other pre-
`viously existing methods are concerned with bandwidth. but
`not other quality metriCs such as jitter or latency. Scheduling
`QoS for particular applications and users can therefore be
`problematic with such other methods.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In an embodiment of the invention. methods and
`[0010]
`systems are provided that embed “network awareness" into
`a smart agent on a web server which dynamically signals the
`quality of service (including bandwidth. latency and jitter]
`necessary to ensure that networked applications run well
`over a shared network, such as a hybrid fiber~coax (HFC)
`network operated by a cable company. A solution can be
`rapidly deployed for almost any application or service, and
`at a lower cost than comparable approaches. It is versatile
`enough to manage the l'raflic on almost any network and for
`any application. since it embeds the core trafiic management
`close to the user and computing device on which the
`applications are running. This more accurately relays the
`data flows necessary for each application. and also reduces
`the computing burden on the central office. Application-
`specific data flows are restricted exclusively to the applica«
`tion and its associated computing device. For example. one
`user on the home computing device network can participate
`in a managed, high-quality videoconference while another
`can transfer a music file using standard-quality “best-efl'ort”.
`The solution can be extended to the home in support of
`CableI.abs’ (Tablellome l.l Specification (TIl-SP-CIIIJ-
`106041216. December 2004. which is hereby incorporated
`by reference for all that it teaches without exclusion of any
`part thereof. The entire process is achieved with relative
`transparency to the user. so that the traffic management
`occurs automatically without the subscriber‘s interaction.
`The subscriber’s only real awareness of this technology may
`be when the premium service tier is billed. 'l‘ransparency is
`a benefit because it makes the system easy to use. and it
`forces applications to use the premium service.
`
`In an embodiment of the invention. a method is
`[0011]
`provided for establishing a hi gh-quality network connection
`coninnutications session between a software application
`running on a subscriber computer and a network service
`provider. the method comprising, receiving from the soft—
`ware application on the subscriber computer a request for a
`web page. responding to the request with a web page from
`a content server, the content server associated with software
`applications ofthe type running on the subscriber computer.
`capturing from the web page a request for a high-quality
`network communications session. the capturing occurring
`during the presentment of the web page. obtaining a network
`quality profile corresponding to the software application;
`and causing to be transmitted to the network service pro-
`vider a request for a high-quality network coimcction com-
`munications session on behalf of the software application
`running on the subscriber computing device, according to
`the quality profile. whereby, after the network service pro-
`vider has processed the request, communications between
`the software application and the network service provider
`are of a quality satisfying the requirements of the quality
`profile.
`
`[0012] Another embodiment of the invention provides a
`computer-readable medium including computer-executable
`instructions
`including computer—executable
`instructions
`facilitating establishing a high-quality network connection
`communications session between a software application
`running on a subscriber computer and a network service
`provider. the computer-executable instructions performing
`the steps of receiving a first request for a web page for the
`software application on the subscriber computer. presenting
`a web page from a content server to the subscriber computer
`in response to the request, identifying, during the presenting.
`a second request embedded in the web page that a high-
`quality network cormection should be established on behalf
`of the subscriber computer, and processing the second
`request. the processing comprising authenticating the second
`request, and granting a high-quality network connection
`communications session to the subscriber computer for
`communications with the application.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OI" 'I‘I-Il'i DRAWINGS
`
`[0013] While the appended claims set forth the features of
`the present invention with particularity, the invention and its
`advantages are best understood from the following detailed
`description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings. of which:
`
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary shared network architecture
`[0014]
`in which quality communications can be managed. in accor-
`dance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 2 is an exemplary shared network architwture
`[0015]
`in which quality communications can be managed with a
`server—side Q08 proxy, in accordance with an embodiment
`of the invention;
`
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a computing
`[0016]
`device including a QoS proxy for requesting quality com-
`munications.
`in accordance with an embodiment of the
`invention:
`
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`[0017]
`requesting quality communications. in accordance with an
`embodiment of the invention:
`
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram ofa content server
`[0018]
`computing device including a Q03 proxy for requesting
`quality communications on behalf of a subscriber. in accor-
`dance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`[0019]
`requesting quality communications on behalf of a sub—
`scriber. in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 7 is an exemplary environment in which an
`[0020]
`application manager can manage quality communications
`for subscriber computing devices and applications, in accor-
`dance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`[0021]
`granting quality commimications for a subscriber. in accor-
`dance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 9 illustrate exemplary cases in which quality
`[0022]
`communications can be managed.
`in accordance with an
`embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 10 is an exemplary hierarchical diagram illus—
`[0023]
`[rating quality profiles and policies. in accordance with an
`embodiment of the invention;
`
`Microsoft
`
`Ex. 1025 - Page 29
`
`Microsoft
`Ex. 1025 - Page 29
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`

`

`US 200751) 168466 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 200'?
`
`FIGS. 11-19 are screenshots illustrating exemplary
`[0024]
`user interfaces for managing quality profiles and policies. in
`accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 20 is a screenshot illustrating an exemplary
`[0025]
`user interface witlt which a subscriber can view and man-
`aging quality communication sessions. in accordance with
`an embodintent of the invention;
`
`FIG. 21 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`[0026]
`granting quality communications for a subscriber using a
`URI. rather than a static IP address. in accordance with an
`embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a protocol for
`[0027]
`initiating. establishing and ending a quality communications
`session. in accordance with an embodiment of the invention:
`
`FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a protocol for
`[0028]
`initiating a QoS proxy and receiving configuration param-
`eters. in accordance with an embodiment of the invention:
`
`FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a protocol for
`[0029]
`establishing and ending a quality cormnunications session.
`in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a protocol for
`[0030]
`managing errors in establishing a quality connnunications
`session. itt accordance with art embodiment of the invention:
`and
`
`FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a web server
`[0031]
`smart agent for processing QoS requests. in accordance with
`an embodiment of the invention.
`
`I.)I-i'I‘AII.IEI) IJI'iSCRIP'l‘ION OF T] lIi
`INVENTION
`
`[0032] The problem of managing quality of service (QoS)
`in shared networks is a growing problem facing the broad-
`band industry. For example. in existing cable networks. there
`is a bottleneck for providing necessary QoS for Vol? in the
`upstream direction. Cable networks use a time—divisiom
`multiplexing (TDM) based protocol to assign transmission
`opportunities (known as mini-slots in cable modem tenni-
`nology) to the cable modems. To ensure that (208 (jitter.
`latency. and bandwidth) meets the V’oIP requirements for the
`duration of the call. the cable modem temtination system
`[(TM'I‘S) {e.g.. centrally located cable router] reserves the
`resources (mini—slots in the upstream and bandwidth in the
`downstream) for the call when it receives a QoS request
`from a session initiated protocol (SIP)-bascd soliswitch
`(packet switching platform). When the call is fmishecl
`it
`releases the resources.
`
`[0033] Cable networks are usually engineered for 2000
`users to share a --36 Mbps downstream channel and for 500
`users to be sharing a ~6- l 0 Mbps upstream channel. In cable
`networks there are usually 4-6 upstream channels per down-
`stream channel.
`
`[0034] The first problem in deploying Q08 for VoIP is
`managing the QoS. The industry‘s recent standard. Packet-
`C‘able Multimedia (PC MM J. specifies the protocol
`for
`requesting and granting the QoS but does not specify how to
`manage the QoS. The PCMM standard is defined in Cable—
`Labs‘
`“ acketCable Multimedia Specification FKT—SP-
`MINA-102040930”. September 2004. and “PacketCable Mul-
`timedia Architecture Framework Technical Report PK'T—TR-
`
`MM-ARCl-I-VOl-OSOGZT“. June 2003. which are hereby
`incorporated by reference for all that they teach without
`exclusion of any part thereof. Managing QoS requires more
`than just granting QoS bwausc the QoS in the network is a
`finite resource. As QoS is granted for VoIP services. the
`best-effort data services will be affected. Therefore QOS
`management systems take this into account when making a
`decision on whether to grant the request or not. This is
`commonly referred to as “admission control.“
`
`[0035] The rules for when to grant QoS are biliary when
`there is only one QoS service is at issue: either there is Q08
`(e.g.. for VoIP). or there is “best—eifort” data (no QoS). In the
`multiple QoS service scenario. the decision becomes how to
`best divide up the network resources available for QoS-
`based services. Each 008 service generally has its own
`unique QoS requirements (bandwidth. jitter. and latency)
`and value to the M50. The valuo to the M50 is a function
`of the revenue stream less the costs to provide the service.
`The cost of the QoS is a function ofthe bandwidth. jitter. and
`latency required in each direction. The revenue stream is a
`function of the premitim the M80 can charge for the service
`and the customer satisfaction.
`
`[0036] Embodiments of the present invention eflectively
`manage the Q05 in a shared network on a per-application.
`per-user basis. This allows an M80 to apply business rules
`that take into account the value and cost of the QoS for each
`application and the subscriber requesting to use the service.
`
`[0037] An exemplary architecture for managing commu-
`nications quality on a per user. per application basis is shown
`in 1" IG. 1. in accordance with an embodiment of the inven-
`tion. A shared network 102 connects various locations. such
`as homes 104. 106. 108 and businesses 110 to a network
`services provider. or “Multiple System Operator“ (MSO)
`112. The shared network 102 is preferably a hybrid fiber
`coax (IIFC). preferably operating according to the DOCSIS
`protocol and PacketCable MultiMedia (PCMM) specifica-
`tion. Alternatively. the shared network 102 operates accord-
`ing to the DOCSIS protocol over satellite or WIMAX. The
`shared network 102 connects to the M80 112 via a cable
`
`modem termination system (CMTS) 114. and the MSG 112
`in turn connects to the Intemet 116. Although only a single
`(TMTS 114 is shown in FIG. 1. the M80 112 preferably
`comtects to the shared network 102 through a plurality of
`CMTSes. with each CMTS serving several thousand users.
`Cormnunications between the M80 112 and the lntemet 116
`
`are generally performed on a “best—efi'ort" basis, where
`packets are not given priority over one another and are
`processed in a first-come. first-served basis. The M30 112
`hosts a server 118 that rttns an application manager program
`120. The application manager 120 receives requests for
`high-quality communications sessions with applications
`rimming on computing devices of subscribers. For example.
`at the home 104, art application 121 rttnning on one of the
`home‘s 104 locally networked computing devices 122
`causes a request
`for high-quality communications. The
`request is forwarded tlnough the home‘s 104 cable modem!
`router 123. over the shared network 102. and received by the
`application manager [20 running on the M30 server 118.
`The application manager 120 processes the request using a
`subscriber database 124 and a policy server 126. The sttb—
`scriber database 124 preferably contains information regard—
`ing the person responsible for the home’s 104 subscription
`to the cable modem service, and is used for autho