Chat Server WebRTC Transition for Anonymity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chat applications struggle to seamlessly transition from text-based communication to more sophisticated modes like voice calls or video conferencing while maintaining user anonymity, as users may require real-time services that are not easily supported by existing communication technologies.

Innovation Solution

A method and system utilizing a chat server to determine if terminal devices support Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC) services, allowing for the initiation of voice calls or video conferencing sessions within the chat environment without revealing user identities, by exchanging cookie information and using a control layer for invitation transmission and network link provision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If chat application is used for communication, then user anonymity is maintained, but sophisticated communication capabilities (voice call, video conferencing) are not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiduser anonymity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is designed to support multiple communication modes (chat, voice call, video conferencing) within a single unified platform. The server device can dynamically switch between different communication technologies based on user needs, allowing the same system to provide both simple text chat and sophisticated real-time communication capabilities without requiring separate applications for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server device acts as an intermediary that manages communication between users while protecting their identities. It establishes communication channels between terminal devices without revealing user identity information to each other. The server mediates the connection setup, authentication, and channel management, allowing users to communicate through voice or video while maintaining anonymity through the server's intermediary role.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If WebRTC service is implemented for real-time communication, then communication quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex WebRTC implementation details and real-time communication protocols are extracted from the terminal devices and centralized on the server device. The server handles the computationally intensive tasks of establishing WebRTC connections, managing signaling, and coordinating communication channels, while terminal devices only need to provide basic communication capabilities. This extraction reduces the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining high communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The server device performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and preparing WebRTC connections before actual user interaction. It conducts capability detection, authentication, and channel setup in advance, so that when users initiate real-time communication, the complex setup processes have already been completed, reducing the perceived complexity and improving response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple communication technologies are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device compatibility issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnology supportVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server device dynamically adjusts communication parameters based on the capabilities of the terminal devices involved. It detects whether devices support WebRTC, audio codecs, video formats, and other parameters, then configures the communication channel accordingly. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high adaptability across different devices while ensuring compatibility by selecting appropriate parameters for each specific device combination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3672164B1Communication solution
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 TELIASONERA AB
  • EP3672164B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3672164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for establishing a communication session. The method comprises: establishing a chat session (210) between a first terminal device (110) and a second terminal device (120), determining (220) if both the first terminal device (110) and the second terminal device (120) support a specific communication technology, forwarding an invitation (230) to initiate communication over the specific communication technology, in response to a detection that the invitation (240) is accepted requesting (250) from a communication server (140) an initiation of a communication channel implemented with the specific communication technology, and in response to an establishment of the communication channel implemented with the specific communication technology establishing the communication session for communicating (260) at least over the specific communication technology. The invention also relates to a chat server (130), a computer program product and a system.