Bypass Module for IP Media Fallback to PSTN
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Solution Overview
Problem
IP telephony networks often struggle to maintain call quality due to bandwidth limitations and congestion, leading to packet loss or delay, which degrades voice calls, while PSTN networks provide reliable speech but lack advanced features.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows falling back to a PSTN network for media transmission while maintaining IP network call control, using a call manager with a media monitoring module, bypass module, and GUI module to detect quality degradation and switch between networks dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If IP network is used for telephony, then cost is reduced and advanced features are provided, but call quality and reliability deteriorate due to packet loss and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the telephony function into two independent parts: call control (signaling) and media transmission (voice packets). Call control continues over the IP network to maintain advanced features, while media transmission can be routed over PSTN when quality degrades. This segmentation allows each part to use the most appropriate network for its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches the media transmission path between IP network and PSTN based on real-time quality monitoring. When IP network quality falls below thresholds (packet loss, jitter, or bandwidth limitations), the system automatically redirects media over PSTN, and can switch back when quality improves, providing adaptive reliability maintenance.
2Reliability
If IP network bandwidth is increased to avoid packet loss, then call quality improves, but network cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces PSTN as an intermediary media transmission path that bridges the gap when IP network quality is insufficient. Instead of continuously over-provisioning IP network bandwidth, the PSTN acts as a fallback mediator that activates only when needed, reducing overall network infrastructure requirements while maintaining call quality.
3Reliability
If complete fallback to PSTN is implemented when IP network fails, then call reliability is maintained, but advanced IP telephony features are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the telephony function into two independent parts: call control (signaling) and media transmission (voice packets). Call control continues over the IP network to maintain advanced features, while media transmission can be routed over PSTN when quality degrades. This segmentation allows each part to use the most appropriate network for its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the advantages of both IP network and PSTN into a unified telephony solution. The IP network provides call control with advanced features (transfer, conference, directory listing, GUI), while PSTN provides reliable media transmission when needed. This combination allows the system to maintain advanced features while ensuring call reliability through selective use of PSTN for media.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a call manager has a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the GUI module presents an interface to the user that allows selection of the secondary network or the primary IP network for continuation of the call. If the user selected the secondary network, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network.