Call Manager Intermediary for IP Telephony Routing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing call processing systems in IP video telephony environments, relying on gatekeepers, lack advanced functionality such as call permission routing, time of day routing, and bandwidth control, making them difficult to manage and administer.
Innovation Solution
Configuring gatekeepers to forward all dialed phone numbers to a call manager, which sets up calls between endpoints without call media flowing through it, allowing the call manager to perform advanced call processing functions like call permission routing, time of day routing, and bandwidth control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gatekeepers are used for call processing in IP video telephony environments, then call setup and routing can be performed, but advanced call processing functionality such as call permission routing, time of day routing, and bandwidth control is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a call manager as an intermediary component between endpoints and gatekeepers. The call manager handles advanced call processing functions including call permission routing, time of day routing, and bandwidth control, while gatekeepers continue to provide basic call setup and IP address translation. This intermediary architecture enables enhanced functionality without replacing existing gatekeeper infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments call processing functionality into two distinct layers: basic call setup and routing handled by gatekeepers, and advanced call processing functions handled by call managers. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific functions, with gatekeepers managing IP address translation and call routing, while call managers manage call permissions, time-based routing, and bandwidth control.
2Ease of operation
If gatekeepers handle all call processing directly, then call setup can be performed, but control over call routing and endpoint interactions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The call manager serves as an intermediary that provides enhanced control over call routing and endpoint interactions. It implements call permission routing to control which endpoints can communicate, time of day routing to manage calls based on temporal constraints, and bandwidth control to regulate network resource allocation. This intermediary layer maintains simplicity for basic operations while providing sophisticated control mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional gatekeeper systems are used, then basic call routing is possible, but network administration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The call manager intermediary simplifies network administration by centralizing advanced call processing functions. It provides a unified interface for configuring call permissions, time-based routing policies, and bandwidth constraints, making network administration more manageable while gatekeepers continue to handle basic IP address translation and call routing.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
AI summary
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of processing calls includes configuring a gatekeeper (22) to forward all dialed phone numbers to a call manager (16). The method also includes receiving a signal at the gatekeeper from a first endpoint (12) requesting an IP address of a second endpoint (14) corresponding to a particular dialed phone number. In response, the gatekeeper transmits to the first endpoint an IP address of the call manager rather than the IP address of the second endpoint. The call manager is operable to set up a call between the first and second endpoints wherein call media associated with the call does not travel through the call manager.