Automatic Call Routing for Video Conference Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Setting up videoconferences is complex due to the need to consider various resources, bandwidth settings, protocols, and gateway functionality, often resulting in inefficient use of resources and time lag, especially when multi-point Control Units (MCUs) are manually configured.
Innovation Solution
An automatic routing method that determines the best route between conference network devices in a video conference network, using a user interface to select devices, which collects registration data, generates possible routes based on cost functions, and selects the route with the lowest total cost, automatically deciding on direct IP or ISDN calls and gateway involvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration of videoconferences is performed, then users can control resource allocation and gateway usage, but the setup process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic call routing and conference setup without requiring manual user configuration. The routing solution automatically determines the best route, selects appropriate gateways, and configures network parameters based on real-time network conditions and resource availability, eliminating the need for users to manually consider resources, bandwidth settings, protocols, and gateway functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gateways are manually configured for videoconferences, then gateway functionality can be utilized, but the complexity of setup increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The routing solution acts as an intermediary between the user and the complex gateway configuration process. It automatically determines when gateway functionality is needed, selects appropriate gateways, and handles all configuration details including ISDN dial rules, IP dial rules, and protocol settings, allowing users to benefit from gateway functionality without dealing with the associated complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If conferences are distributed over multiple MCUs, then resource utilization increases, but time lag increases and resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing solution dynamically determines the optimal conference distribution strategy by evaluating real-time network conditions, resource availability, and participant locations. It can adaptively decide whether to concentrate the conference on fewer MCUs to reduce time lag or distribute it across multiple MCUs to optimize resource utilization, rather than following a fixed distribution approach.
4Ease of operation
If automatic routing is implemented, then setup complexity is reduced, but the system must automatically determine optimal routes considering multiple parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The routing solution performs preliminary analysis and evaluation of multiple routing options before establishing the conference connection. It pre-calculates the costs and quality metrics for different routes considering ISDN costs, bandwidth resources, gateway availability, and network conditions, then selects the optimal route before the actual conference setup, making the automatic decision process more efficient and accurate.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to conferencing network systems, and more specifically to a method and a device for establishing a route between a first and a second conference network device in a conference network.