Dynamic Survivability Server Assignment for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems for mobile devices are not easily usable during service outages because users typically do not know the current location and address of survivability servers, which are often static and difficult to access for mobile devices that frequently change location.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that includes a central session management server and survivability servers, where mobile devices send initial messages with account and location information for authentication and assignment to a survivability server, allowing for dynamic reassignment as the device moves, ensuring continuous service even if the central session management server is unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually configure survivability server addresses for mobile devices, then service reliability during outages is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot readily know current location and server addresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuity during outageVSAvoiduser configuration difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically assigning survivability servers to mobile devices based on their current location. The central session management server performs lookups using the device's location information and returns the appropriate survivability server address, eliminating the need for manual user configuration while ensuring service continuity during outages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The central session management server acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and survivability servers. It receives location information from devices, performs lookups to determine the appropriate survivability server, and returns the server address to the device, thereby simplifying the user interface while maintaining reliable service assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If survivability server addresses are made static for fixed locations, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because mobile devices frequently change location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configuration simplicityVSAvoidlocation change responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by making survivability server assignment adaptive to mobile device location changes. When a device moves to a new location, the central session management server performs a new lookup and reassigns the appropriate survivability server, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to location changes while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses preliminary action by pre-configuring survivability servers for different geographic locations before mobile devices need them. When a device reports its location, the central session management server can immediately retrieve the pre-determined survivability server address through lookup, enabling rapid adaptation without complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If users are required to know specific survivability server addresses, then measurement precision of location awareness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because most users cannot readily know such information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation awareness accuracyVSAvoiduser knowledge requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The central session management server serves as an intermediary that handles the complex task of mapping location information to survivability server addresses. Users simply provide their location information, and the intermediary system performs the precise lookup and returns the appropriate server address, eliminating the need for users to have specialized knowledge while maintaining accurate location-based service assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8671206B2Apparatus and mechanism for dynamic assignment of survivability services to mobile devices
Publication Date: 2014.03.11 RINGCENTRAL INC
  • US8671206B2 patent drawing
  • US8671206B2 patent drawing
  • US8671206B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system, a method and a device are each configured for dynamic assignment of survivability services to communication devices (such as, e.g. tablets, smart phones, mobile phones, laptops or other types of mobile communication devices) based on the device's current location and network context. Survivability services provide session and service continuity in case a centralized or cloud based session management service that may be hosted by one or more remote computer devices, such as for example servers, is not reachable due to network failure or service failure.