Cloud Connectivity Service Endpoint Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unified Communication (UC) systems face challenges in managing communication traffic due to devices being unaware of network attributes, requiring dynamic and fluid techniques to accommodate changing connection scenarios, and existing solutions do not effectively improve packet quality across routing paths.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based connectivity service maintains network path information and determines configuration settings for endpoint devices based on packet quality, enabling them to optimize media quality by adjusting codecs, error correction, and jitter buffers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UC systems are implemented via software on mobile devices to provide flexibility in communications, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in communicationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A connectivity service acts as an intermediary between endpoint devices and networks, maintaining network path information and providing configuration information to endpoint devices. This mediator handles the complexity of network management centrally, allowing endpoint devices to remain simple while still achieving adaptive communication capabilities across different networks and scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If devices are made unaware of network attributes to simplify device design, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of network conditions worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidnetwork attribute awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connectivity service serves as an intermediary that maintains network path information and provides configuration information to endpoint devices. This allows the system to have precise network awareness at the service level while keeping endpoint devices simple and unaware of complex network attributes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the connectivity service receives information about communication sessions and network conditions, processes this information, and provides configuration information back to endpoint devices. This feedback loop enables precise network measurement and adaptation without requiring endpoint devices to perform complex measurements themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If existing solutions are used for managing UC communication traffic, then implementation is straightforward, but packet quality across routing paths does not improve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidpacket quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connectivity service acts as a mediator that maintains network path information and provides configuration information to optimize packet quality. This intermediary approach enables improved packet quality through centralized network awareness without requiring complex changes at endpoint devices, balancing ease of implementation with reliability improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes parameters such as routing path selection and endpoint device configuration based on network conditions and packet quality requirements. By adjusting these parameters centrally through the connectivity service, the system improves packet quality while maintaining ease of implementation at the endpoint level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3613176B1Endpoint configuration for a communication session
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3613176B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3613176B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3613176B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for endpoint configuration for a communication session are described. According to various implementations, a cloud-based connectivity service maintains network path information that identifies routing paths for routing communication sessions across different networks. The connectivity service is also able to determine configuration information for configuring endpoint devices to participate in a communication session. According to various implementations, configuration information is determined based on a packet quality of a routing path. Thus, an endpoint device can apply the configuration information to attempt to increase packet quality across a routing path, and thus increase media quality for a communication session at the endpoint device.