Common Architecture for Real-Time Communications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current access networking technologies and call control protocols are often incompatible, making it difficult to achieve interoperability and scalability in multi-protocol and multi-vendor environments for providing real-time communications services like voice, audio, and video.

Innovation Solution

A common architecture utilizing a single protocol, such as SIP, with border elements and call control elements that facilitate communication across different access networking technologies and protocols, enabling a single common infrastructure for real-time communications services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple access networking technologies and call control protocols are used, then service diversity and adaptability are improved, but interoperability and system complexity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice diversityVSAvoidinteroperability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a common architecture with border elements and call control elements as intermediaries between different access networking technologies. These intermediaries translate and adapt protocols, enabling seamless communication between heterogeneous networks while maintaining service diversity. The border elements act as protocol translators that mediate between legacy access networks and the core network, resolving interoperability issues without sacrificing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the network architecture into distinct functional layers: access networks with legacy protocols, border elements for protocol translation, and a common core network. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with its own protocols while ensuring overall system interoperability through the standardized interface at the border elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple access networking technologies and call control protocols are used, then service diversity and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and scalability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice diversityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal common architecture that can handle multiple access networking technologies and call control protocols through a single standardized interface. The border elements and call control elements are designed to be multi-functional, supporting various legacy protocols while presenting a unified interface to the core network, thereby reducing system complexity despite service diversity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediary border elements absorb the complexity of handling multiple legacy protocols, shielding the core network from this complexity. This mediator approach allows the core network to remain simple and scalable while still supporting diverse access technologies through the standardized border element interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If protocol translation and interoperability mechanisms are added, then interoperability is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring border elements with translation rules and protocols for multiple access networks. This preparation allows rapid protocol translation during call setup without requiring complex real-time analysis, thereby minimizing processing time while ensuring interoperability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The call control elements utilize feedback mechanisms to optimize protocol translation processes. By monitoring translation success rates and processing times, the system can dynamically adjust translation parameters and select optimal translation paths, reducing overall processing time while maintaining high interoperability rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7797459B1Access independent common architecture for real-time communications services for networking environments

Publication Date: 2010.09.14 AT&T CORP

AI summary

An access architecture for real-time communications is described. The architecture includes an inter-architecture network utilizing a single protocol, a plurality of border elements in communication with the inter-architecture network and with an external network, and one or more call control elements in communication with said inter-architecture network. The external network utilizes any of a variety of known networking technologies and protocols. The inter-architecture network utilizes a single protocol such as SIP. The present architecture provides a single common infrastructure for offering real-time communications services independent of call control protocols and networking technologies.