Network Associates (NAI) has been awarded a patent for technology that uses the filtering of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for network optimisation and troubleshooting.

The technology, covered by US Patent 6,604,139 and entitled Voice Protocol Filtering System and Method, is designed to allow users to select particular voice protocols and monitor network parameters specific to VoIP calls.

NAI said that by looking at these protocols and parameters, users could receive more accurate information. And collected data requires less storage, it added.

The filtering technology covered by the patent has been incorporated into NAI's Sniffer Voice offering, which, it said, can improve VoIP call quality by building a picture of network voice traffic.