Conference Bridge Number Selection by Country Code
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional conference systems often use a default bridge number for dialing out to attendees, which can result in international long-distance calls, increased costs, and potential issues with DTMF signaling when crossing multiple carriers, and may cause discomfort due to unfamiliar call origins.
Innovation Solution
A conference system that provisions multiple bridge telephone numbers with different country codes, allowing it to select the most local number for dialing out based on the target telephone number's country code, thereby reducing costs and improving call quality by minimizing carrier hops and ensuring local call formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a default bridge number is used for dialing out to attendees, then the system operation is simplified, but international long-distance call costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge number resource is segmented into multiple country-specific bridge numbers instead of using a single default number. Each bridge number is associated with a specific country code, allowing the system to select the most appropriate local number for each attendee's location, thereby reducing international long-distance call costs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of bridge number selection from a fixed default value to a dynamic value that varies based on the attendee's country code. By provisioning multiple bridge numbers with different country codes and automatically selecting the matching one, the system reduces call costs without requiring manual intervention from users.
2Device complexity
If a default bridge number is used for dialing out, then device complexity is reduced, but DTMF signaling reliability deteriorates when crossing multiple carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge number infrastructure is segmented into multiple country-specific numbers, each optimized for local carrier networks. By selecting a bridge number that matches the attendee's country code, the dial-out call remains within the same country's carrier network, avoiding international carrier transitions that cause DTMF signaling problems, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The country-matched bridge number acts as an intermediary that enables direct local dialing between the conference system and the attendee. This intermediary approach avoids the need for international call routing through multiple carriers, eliminating the DTMF signaling issues that arise from carrier transitions while maintaining system simplicity.
3Device complexity
If a default bridge number from one country is used, then system configuration is simplified, but user comfort deteriorates due to unfamiliar call origins
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge number resource is divided into multiple country-specific segments, each recognizable to users in that country. The system automatically selects the appropriate local bridge number based on the attendee's country code, so users receive calls from familiar local numbers rather than unfamiliar international numbers, improving user comfort while keeping configuration simple through automated selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge number parameter is changed from a static default value to a dynamic value that adapts to the attendee's location. By provisioning multiple bridge numbers with different country codes and automatically selecting the matching one, the system presents familiar local call origins to users without requiring manual configuration or user awareness of the underlying mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conference system is provided that includes a processor configured to provision a plurality of bridge telephone numbers having a plurality of different country codes, and receive a dial-out request for one of a plurality of attendees of a conference meeting for connecting to the conference meeting. The dial-out request includes a target telephone number associated with a communication device of the one of the plurality of attendees. The processor is further configured to select one of the provisioned plurality of bridge telephone numbers based on a result of a match between at least a country code of the selected bridge telephone number and the target telephone number, and cause dial-out to the target telephone number from the selected bridge telephone number.