Claims:WE CLAIM
1. A method for selecting a new media server to optimize a communication network, the method comprising:
monitoring, via a processor, at least one of a user characteristic, a session characteristic, and a network condition during an ongoing communication session involving an existing media server;
determining, via the processor, a need for selection of a new media server based on at least one of the user characteristic, the session characteristic, and the network condition; and
dynamically selecting, via the processor, the new media server to optimize the communication network in response to the need, wherein dynamically selecting comprises determining a plurality of overall network path lengths between each of a plurality of selectable media servers and a plurality of user equipments involved in the ongoing communication session.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising provisioning
a network topology,
a plurality of policies related to the ongoing communication sessions and to the selection of the new media server, and
a threshold value for the network condition triggering the selection of the new media server.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring one or more components of the communication network based on the provisioning.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises comparing the at least one of the user characteristic, the session characteristic, and the network condition against corresponding pre-configured criteria or thresholds.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically selecting further comprises:
adjusting each of the plurality of overall network path lengths based on at least one of a resource usage level of the corresponding media server and a network segment congestion level in which the corresponding media server is located; and
selecting an optimal media server from the plurality of selectable media servers based on adjusted overall network path lengths for the plurality of selectable media servers.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising identifying the plurality of selectable media servers based on at least one of a plurality of policies related to each of the one or more ongoing communication sessions and to the selection of each of a plurality of media servers, the resource usage level of each of the plurality of media servers, and the network segment congestion level in which the media server is located for each of the plurality of media servers.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing media server handover from the existing media server to the new media server.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein performing media server handover comprises replacing the existing media server with the new media server in the ongoing communication session by transmitting at least a part of media packets from the existing media server to at least one of the new media server and a user equipment involved in the ongoing communication session.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user characteristic comprises at least one of an identification of a user participating in the ongoing communication session, a policy with respect to the user, a location of the user, a mobility of the user, a speed of movement of the user, and a past behavior of the user.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the session characteristic comprises a type of the session, a codec employed in the session, a policy with respect to the session, a duration elapsed since a previous selection of a media server for the session, a minimum remaining duration of the session, an addition of a new user to the session, an exit of a user from the session, and a number of user participating in the session.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network condition comprises at least one of a load on each of the plurality of media servers, a policy with respect to selection of the media server, and a congestion in the network segment in which each of the plurality of media servers is located.
12. A system for selecting a new media server to optimize a communication network, the system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
monitoring at least one of a user characteristic, a session characteristic, and a network condition during an ongoing communication session involving an existing media server;
determining a need for selection of a new media server based on at least one of the user characteristic, the session characteristic, and the network condition; and
dynamically selecting the new media server to optimize the communication network in response to the need, wherein dynamically selecting comprises determining a plurality of overall network path lengths between each of a plurality of selectable media servers and a plurality of user equipments involved in the ongoing communication session.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:
provisioning a network topology, a plurality of policies related to the ongoing communication sessions and to the selection of the new media server, and a threshold value for the network condition triggering the selection of the new media server; and
configuring one or more components of the communication network based on the provisioning.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein determining comprises the at least one of the user characteristic, the session characteristic, and the network condition against corresponding pre-configured criteria or thresholds.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein dynamically selecting further comprises:
adjusting each of the plurality of overall network path lengths based on at least one of a resource usage level of the corresponding media server and a network segment congestion level in which the corresponding media server is located; and
selecting an optimal media server from the plurality of selectable media servers based on adjusted overall network path lengths for the plurality of selectable media servers.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein dynamically selecting further comprises identifying the plurality of selectable media servers based on at least one of a plurality of policies related to each of the one or more ongoing communication sessions and to the selection of each of a plurality of media servers, the resource usage level of each of the plurality of media servers, and the network segment congestion level in which the media server is located for each of the plurality of media servers.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise performing media server handover from the existing media server to the new media server.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein performing media server handover comprises replacing the existing media server with the new media server in the ongoing communication session by transmitting at least a part of media packets from the existing media server to at least one of the new media server and a user equipment involved in the ongoing communication session.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:
monitoring at least one of a user characteristic, a session characteristic, and a network condition during an ongoing communication session involving an existing media server;
determining a need for selection of a new media server based on at least one of the user characteristic, the session characteristic, and the network condition; and
dynamically selecting the new media server to optimize the communication network in response to the need, wherein dynamically selecting comprises determining a plurality of overall network path lengths between each of a plurality of selectable media servers and a plurality of user equipments involved in the ongoing communication session.

Dated this 8th day of September, 2015
Swetha S.N
Of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to communication network, and more particularly to a system and method for dynamic selection of media server in a communication network.