Backup SIP Server IP Link Failure Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enterprise telecommunication networks using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) face challenges in maintaining telephony services when the IP link to the main SIP server is down, as existing solutions are costly and inefficient, failing to provide services to remote sites effectively.

Innovation Solution

A backup SIP server system that detects IP link failures and establishes a SIP signaling link through a public telephone network, allowing selective service provision by altering SIP signaling messages to accommodate compatible services over a low-bandwidth backup link, ensuring continuity of telephony services at remote sites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fully backed up infrastructure with global IP routing through PSTN is implemented, then service availability is improved, but deployment cost and bandwidth cost become very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup infrastructure is segmented into two parts: a lightweight backup SIP server at the remote site and the main SIP server at the central site. The backup server handles local service provision while the main server provides centralized services, avoiding the need for complete infrastructure duplication at remote sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The backup SIP server is pre-configured with local service capabilities and can immediately take over service provision when the IP link fails, without requiring complex real-time failover mechanisms or full infrastructure backup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a fully backed up infrastructure with global IP routing through PSTN is implemented, then service availability is improved, but bandwidth cost becomes very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Services are segmented into local services handled by the backup SIP server and centralized services handled by the main SIP server. This segmentation allows bandwidth-intensive services to be handled locally when the IP link is down, avoiding high bandwidth costs for all services over the PSTN backup link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The backup SIP server provides local service capabilities at the remote site, enabling services to be delivered locally without requiring high-bandwidth connections over the PSTN. This local quality approach reduces bandwidth costs while maintaining service availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If local proxy servers offer specific services when the IP link is down, then local service capability is improved, but service information exchange with the main SIP server is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal service capabilityVSAvoidservice information exchange

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The backup SIP server acts as an intermediary that maintains service information locally while also communicating with the main SIP server through the backup signaling link. This intermediary role allows service information to be preserved locally for immediate service provision while maintaining connection to the central server for information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If all services are provided through the backup link when the IP link is down, then service continuity is improved, but the backup link bandwidth requirements become unaffordable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidbackup link bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Services are segmented into two categories: services that can be provided locally by the backup SIP server and services that require the main SIP server. This segmentation allows service continuity for essential services while minimizing bandwidth usage on the backup link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing all services through the backup link, the system provides partial service through the backup SIP server locally and partial service through the main SIP server via the backup link. This partial action approach makes the backup link bandwidth requirements affordable while maintaining essential service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9201743B2Backup SIP server for the survivability of an enterprise network using SIP

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 WSOU INVESTMENTS LLC

AI summary

This backup SIP server (BSS) comprises:means (LMM) for detecting whether an Internet protocol link is not working, and enabling the use of a backup SIP signaling link to the main site via a SIP gateway and a public telephone network when the Internet protocol link is not working;means for transferring SIP signaling information on this backup link;means for, when receiving a registration request from a terminal of the remote site while the Internet protocol link is not working, registering this terminal locally and forwarding the registration request to the main site via the backup link;means (PQM) for storing policies defining what services, supplied by the main SIP server, are compatible with said backup SIP signaling link, and for altering the content of at least one field in each SIP signaling message addressed to the main SIP server before transferring this SIP signaling message on the backup link, this content being altered according to said policies.