Conferencing Gateway Protocol Translation for Heterogeneous Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inefficient meeting scheduling and participation due to incompatibility of communication mediums and frequent changes in meeting agendas, leading to unproductive conferences, especially when participants use disparate protocols and devices.

Innovation Solution

A conferencing system that enables conference unaware devices to participate in multi-party communications through a conferencing component aware of various protocols, such as SIP, allowing devices with disparate protocols to interact by initiating a dial-out process and translating data exchange, thus facilitating participation of devices that do not support conferencing protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conference unaware devices are invited to participate in conferences, then device compatibility and participation are improved, but system complexity increases due to protocol translation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a gateway device as an intermediary between conference-aware devices and conference-unaware devices. The gateway translates messaging protocol indicators into telephony protocol indicators, enabling devices with disparate protocols to participate in the same conference without direct communication between them. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by adding translation capability rather than requiring all devices to support all protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway device performs multiple functions: it acts as a message router, protocol translator, and conference participant coordinator. By consolidating these functions in a single multi-functional component, the system achieves broad device compatibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If substantial preparation time is spent for meeting administration, then meeting organization is improved, but productivity is reduced due to time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeeting organizationVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service meeting administration by allowing conference participants to automatically invite conference-unaware devices through the gateway without manual intervention. The gateway autonomously handles protocol translation and invitation routing, eliminating the need for organizers to manually coordinate each device type, thus reducing preparation time while maintaining organization quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway pre-configures translation rules and protocol mappings before conferences begin. By establishing the translation framework in advance, the system eliminates the need for real-time protocol negotiation during meetings, reducing preparation overhead while ensuring reliable meeting organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent changes are made to meeting agendas, then meeting relevance is improved, but scheduling efficiency deteriorates due to coordination complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeeting relevanceVSAvoidscheduling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway dynamically adapts to agenda changes by automatically updating translation rules and re-routing invitations as needed. When meeting agendas change frequently, the gateway adjusts its protocol translation behavior in real-time without requiring manual reconfiguration, maintaining meeting relevance while preserving scheduling efficiency through automated adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If remote participants are included in conferences, then collaboration coverage is improved, but information accessibility worsens due to communication medium incompatibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration coverageVSAvoidinformation accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway serves as an information intermediary that ensures complete information accessibility for remote participants. It translates and forwards all conference information (messaging protocol indicators) to telephony protocol participants, ensuring that remote participants using different communication mediums receive the same information as local participants, eliminating information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8073906B2Inviting a conferencing unaware endpoint to a conference

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods that enable conference unaware clients to participate in the conference. A conferencing component is aware of what protocol to employ, and enables devices and/or end points that employ disparate or heterogeneous protocols to participate in the same conference initiated therebetween. A call flow (e.g., in form of a dial out) can be initiated, wherein the conferencing component invites conference unaware devices to participate in the conference.