Automatic Software Provisioning for Packet Telephony Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual provisioning of software updates for packet telephony devices is costly and inefficient due to the variety of vendors and tight integration with proprietary hardware platforms, leading to increased total cost of ownership.
Innovation Solution
A communications system with a provisioning server that includes a provisioning database and client provisioning module, capable of automatically retrieving and sending software update packages to packet telephony devices based on device configuration information, reducing the need for manual operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual provisioning is used to update software on packet telephony devices, then software can be updated to match hardware integrations, but the total cost of ownership increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service provisioning where the provisioning server automatically receives device configuration information, identifies the appropriate software update package, and delivers it to the packet telephony device without requiring manual human intervention. This automation maintains software-hardware compatibility while eliminating the costly manual provisioning process.
Solution Approach 2:
A provisioning server acts as an intermediary between the software update source and the packet telephony devices. It receives device configuration information, matches devices with appropriate software update packages, and automatically provisions the updates. This intermediary automates the matching process while ensuring compatibility with proprietary hardware platforms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual manual provisioning is performed for each packet telephony device, then software can be tailored to specific device configurations, but the provisioning process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning server implements a universal system that handles multiple packet telephony devices from different vendors simultaneously. It processes device configuration information, identifies appropriate software updates, and provisions them automatically, making the system adaptable to various device types while maintaining high provisioning throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring software update packages and organizing them by device type and configuration. When a device requests provisioning, the server already has the appropriate software ready to deploy, eliminating the need for manual configuration and acceleration the provisioning process.
3Reliability
If tight integration between IP telephony solution and end point device is maintained, then proprietary hardware platforms can be supported, but software updates require manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from device configuration information to automatically determine which software update package is appropriate for each packet telephony device. The provisioning server receives feedback about the device's hardware platform and software version, then automatically selects and provisions the correct update, maintaining hardware-software integration while enabling automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by automatically adjusting software version parameters based on device configuration parameters. The provisioning server compares device hardware and software parameters against available update packages, selecting the appropriate update that maintains compatibility with the proprietary hardware platform while updating the software.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to perform automatic software provisioning are described. An apparatus may comprise a provisioning database, a client provisioning module and a network interface. The provisioning server may be operative to store software update packages for different packet telephony devices. The client provisioning module may be operative to automatically provision packet telephony devices in response to provisioning requests from the packet telephony devices. For example, the client provisioning module may receive device configuration information for a packet telephony device, and retrieve a software update package from the provisioning database based on the device configuration information. The network interface may send the software update package to the packet telephony device on behalf of the client provisioning module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.