Distributed Auto-Attendant VoIP End Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network telephone systems require separate hardware servers for centralized auto-attendant services, leading to increased system cost and complexity, as well as a lack of redundancy, resulting in potential service disruptions if the server fails or becomes overwhelmed.
Innovation Solution
Distributing auto-attendant functions to user endpoints within the network telephone system, eliminating the need for a separate server by running instances of auto-attendant applications on VoIP end units and utilizing call distributors and routing algorithms to manage call routing and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate centralized server is used for auto-attendant services, then the system can provide auto-attendant functionality, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the auto-attendant functionality from the centralized server and distributes it to individual end units. Each end unit runs a local auto-attendant application, eliminating the need for a separate server and reducing system complexity while maintaining service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the auto-attendant service into multiple independent instances, with each end unit hosting its own auto-attendant application. This segmentation allows the service to be distributed across the network rather than concentrated on a single server, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If a separate centralized server is used for auto-attendant services, then the system can provide auto-attendant functionality, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the centralized server component from the system architecture and extracts auto-attendant functionality to be embedded within end units. This eliminates hardware costs associated with separate servers while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes end units multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their primary communication function and the auto-attendant service function. This eliminates the need for dedicated server hardware, reducing system cost while maintaining service capability.
3Device complexity
If a single centralized server handles all auto-attendant calls, then the system structure is simple, but redundancy is lost and service disruption can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the auto-attendant service into multiple distributed instances across different end units. This segmentation provides redundancy, as calls can be routed to any available end unit with the auto-attendant application, eliminating single points of failure while maintaining manageable system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a call distributor as an intermediary that manages call routing to multiple end units. This intermediary enables the system to distribute calls across multiple servers, providing redundancy and fault tolerance while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide techniques and apparatus that may be used to distribute services in a telephone system. Utilizing these techniques, functions conventionally centralized and requiring a separate server may be distributed to end units, for example, as instances of such applications running on network telephones. Examples of such functions include, but are not limited to, auto attendant functions, distributed voice mail functions, and operator functions.