Call Control Instance Changeover for Seamless Updates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current voice communication systems face challenges in updating call control service (CCS) software without disconnecting ongoing calls, requiring scheduled maintenance windows that can be difficult to manage, especially in 24/7 operations and for long-duration calls.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple call control service instances for each media server, where newly received calls are routed to a standby instance during the update of an active instance, allowing updates to occur without disconnecting live calls by modifying the dial plan to temporarily reroute new calls and updating the active instance only after all calls have ended.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CCS instance is taken offline to perform software updates, then the CCS software can be updated, but any call currently being managed by the instance will be disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the CCS functionality into multiple separate instances (first CCS instance and second CCS instance). Each instance can operate independently, allowing one instance to handle updates while another continues managing calls. This segmentation enables maintenance without service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by setting up a standby CCS instance before the update process begins. The standby instance is prepared in advance and can immediately take over call management when the active instance needs updating, preventing call disconnections.
2Ease of manufacture
If maintenance windows are scheduled to update CCS software, then software updates can be performed, but customer service is disrupted and calls must be rescheduled
Solution Approach 1:
The standby CCS instance acts as an intermediary that takes over call management during the update of the active instance. This mediator ensures continuous service availability, eliminating the need for maintenance windows that disrupt customer service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily discards the active CCS instance for updates while the standby instance handles calls. After the update completes successfully, the roles are recovered and swapped, allowing the updated instance to become the new active instance while the previous standby continues serving.
3Ease of operation
If a single CCS instance manages all calls, then the system is simple to operate, but the instance must be taken offline for updates causing service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments CCS functionality into multiple instances that can operate in parallel. While this increases structural complexity, it maintains operational simplicity through automated failover and load balancing mechanisms, ensuring service availability during updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple CCS instances into a unified call management architecture where instances work together. The media server coordinates between instances, providing a simple interface for call management while enabling seamless updates without service interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
In an example embodiment, a solution is provided that provides multiple call control service instances for each media server instance. When one of the call control service instances needs to be updated, the media server is instructed to direct newly received voice calls to another of the call control instances. The call control service instance to be updated remains operating normally until all voice calls handled by that call control service instance have ended naturally, but any new calls received during that time are directed to one of the other call control service instances. Only once all the voice calls handled by the call control service instance to be updated have ended is that call control service instance actually updated, without having had to disconnect a live call.