Call Control Element Delay Mechanism for Conference Bridge Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
High call setup rates in conferencing applications of telephony networks, particularly VoIP networks, lead to increased processing demands on Call Control Elements (CCE), resulting in higher capital costs due to the need for additional processing capacity to handle simultaneous call setups and terminations.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a configurable delay in processing call setup and termination signaling messages to distribute the processing load over a longer period, reducing the required processing capacity on the CCE by allowing participants to join a conference bridge over a set period, such as 90 seconds instead of 30 seconds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If call setup processing is performed immediately without delay, then call setup rate is high and service responsiveness is good, but processing load on CCE increases significantly requiring additional processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by introducing a delay mechanism that spaces out call setup processing at regular intervals. The CCE processes signaling messages not immediately upon receipt but after a configured delay period, thereby distributing the processing load over time. This periodic processing approach reduces peak processing requirements while still handling the same total volume of calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring delay parameters and establishing a delay mechanism before the call setup surge occurs. The system proactively sets up the delay architecture in advance, allowing it to smoothly handle incoming call setup messages by distributing them over time rather than processing them all simultaneously when the surge occurs.
2Productivity
If additional CCE processing capacity is deployed to handle high call setup rates, then processing capacity requirement is met, but capital costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the time parameter of call setup processing. Instead of changing the hardware capacity parameter, the system changes the temporal parameter by introducing configurable delays. This allows the same physical CCE resources to handle the same volume of calls by spreading processing over a longer time period, thereby avoiding the need for additional capital investment in processing capacity.
3Loss of time
If call setup messages are processed immediately, then processing time is short and service quality is high, but processing load concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a delay mechanism that processes call setup messages at regular intervals rather than all at once. This periodic processing distributes the processing load over time, preventing concentration of processing demands while maintaining manageable processing times through configurable delay periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing a capability for placing a slight delay in processing call setup and termination signaling messages in conferencing applications so that the call processing rate requirement on a Call Control Element (CCE) is lowered. For example, allowing conferencing participants of a conference call to join a conference bridge over a 90 second period will significantly improve the processing load on the CCE than allowing them to join in over a 30 second period. In one embodiment, the present invention introduces a configurable delay in the processing of signaling messages for call setups and terminations for high volume calls onto conference bridges.