Distributed Controller State Management for Teleconference Session Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional teleconference systems face inefficiencies in controlling sessions between communication terminals due to the inability of multiple controllers to determine the communicable state of terminals, leading to increased processing loads and reduced control efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising multiple controllers with state management units, first and second updating units, and changed state information receivers, which manage and update state information for communication terminals and coordinate with other controllers to ensure accurate session control based on terminal connection states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a plurality of controllers is provided to control sessions between communication terminals, then the processing load on each controller is reduced, but each controller becomes incapable of determining whether a communication terminal selected as a destination is in a communicable state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing loadVSAvoidconnection state information
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the state management functions of multiple controllers into a unified state management system. Each controller maintains local state information about terminals in its jurisdiction, and controllers exchange state information through standardized interfaces. This allows each controller to have access to connection state information of terminals managed by other controllers, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining the distributed architecture that reduces processing load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a state information exchange mechanism that acts as an intermediary between controllers. When a controller needs connection state information about a terminal managed by another controller, it queries the other controller through a standardized interface. This intermediary communication mechanism enables controllers to obtain necessary state information without directly managing all terminals, thus reducing individual processing load while maintaining information availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single teleconference management system manages all teleconference terminals, then session control is centralized and simple, but a large processing load is imposed on the management system when the number of terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system structureVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized management system into multiple distributed controllers, each responsible for managing a subset of communication terminals. This segmentation divides the processing load across multiple controllers while maintaining standardized interfaces for session control. The segmentation approach reduces the processing burden on each individual controller compared to a single centralized system managing all terminals, while preserving the simplicity of centralized control through standardized protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Power

If multiple controllers are used to manage communication terminals, then processing load is distributed, but controllers cannot efficiently control sessions because they lack information about terminal connection states managed by other controllers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing load distributionVSAvoidsession control efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where controllers continuously exchange state information about managed terminals. When a terminal's connection state changes, the managing controller notifies other controllers through standardized interfaces. This feedback loop ensures that all controllers have up-to-date information about terminal availability, enabling efficient session control decisions while maintaining distributed load management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables controllers to preliminarily obtain state information about terminals managed by other controllers before initiating session control operations. By proactively querying or receiving advance notifications about terminal connection states, controllers can make informed decisions about session establishment, avoiding inefficient trial-and-error approaches and improving overall session control productivity while maintaining distributed architecture benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3072053B1Control system, communication system, computer program, controlling method, and computer program product
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3072053B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072053B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072053B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system includes a plurality of controllers that control a session between communication terminals. Each of the controllers includes a state management unit, a first updating unit, a changed state information receiver, and a second updating unit. When the state of connection between a first communication terminal and the controller is changed, the first updating unit updates state information of the first communication terminal managed by the state management unit. When the state of connection between a second communication terminal and another controller is changed, the changed state information receiver receives, from the other controller, changed state information of the second communication terminal. The second updating unit updates the state information of the second communication terminal managed by the state management unit based on the changed state information. The controller controls the session between the communication terminals based on the state information managed by the state management unit.