Cloud Customer Management for VoIP Call Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing VoIP systems require VoIP capable devices to be directly and permanently registered on the IMS system, limiting flexibility in call management and transfer, especially in scenarios where non-VoIP capable devices need to initiate or influence ongoing calls.

Innovation Solution

A method using a cloud-based customer management system registered on the IMS system, allowing VoIP calls to be managed without permanent device registration, enabling call transfers from non-VoIP capable devices and smart home appliances to trigger actions during VoIP calls, such as audio announcements, by utilizing cloud-based customer management and IMS system integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If VoIP capable devices are directly and permanently registered on the IMS system, then call management is simplified and reliable, but device flexibility and ability to use non-VoIP devices for call transfer is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall management reliabilityVSAvoiddevice flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cloud-based customer management system as an intermediary between the IMS system and user devices. This mediator handles call management functions including call transfer initiation, allowing non-VoIP capable devices to participate in call control without being permanently registered on the IMS system. The intermediary maintains reliability by managing calls through the IMS infrastructure while enabling flexibility by allowing any device to trigger call transfers via cloud-based APIs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If devices are permanently registered on the IMS system, then VoIP session establishment is straightforward, but the ability to use non-VoIP capable devices for call control is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVoIP session establishmentVSAvoidnon-VoIP device utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the call management functionality into two parts: VoIP session establishment remains handled by the IMS system for reliability, while call control functions (including call transfer initiation) are separated and made available through a cloud-based customer management system. This allows non-VoIP capable devices to initiate call transfers by interacting with the cloud system, which then coordinates with the IMS system to execute the transfer, enabling smart home appliances and other non-VoIP devices to control calls without requiring VoIP capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If call transfer is only allowed from devices included in the ongoing call, then call security is maintained, but the ability to trigger automatic call transfer from external devices is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall securityVSAvoidexternal device call transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud-based customer management system acts as a trusted intermediary that verifies and authorizes call transfer requests. When a device (including non-VoIP capable devices) wants to initiate a call transfer, the request is sent to the cloud system which validates the request against the ongoing call context. The cloud system then coordinates with the IMS system to execute the transfer, ensuring security through centralized authorization while enabling external devices to trigger transfers. This maintains call security by preventing unauthorized transfers while allowing legitimate external initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4462753A1Method for managing at least one VOIP call and a communictaion system
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4462753A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4462753A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4462753A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is proposed for managing at least one VoIP call using a communication system (100; 100') that comprises an IP multimedia subsystem (30) and a cloud-based customer management system (60) registered on the IP multimedia subsystem (30), the method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a VoIP session between a first device (70) and another VoIP party (20), wherein signaling is performed via the cloud-based customer management system (60), b) sending, by the cloud-based customer management system (60), a call notification message for notifying about the established VoIP session to at least one second device (80, 90), c) sending an event notification message to the cloud-based customer management system (60) from one of the second devices or from at least one third device, d) in response to receiving the event notification message, performing, by the cloud-based customer management system (60), an action related to the ongoing call between the first device (70) and the other VoIP party (20). Further, a cloud-based customer management system (60) and a communication system (100; 100') for performing the method are proposed.