Group Call Setup Using Geographically Nearest Bridge Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for setting up group calls, especially for mobile users, are complex and costly, particularly when participants are located in different networks or continents.
Innovation Solution
A system where the software-implemented call handling tool in the originating device makes an initial call to a geographically nearest bridge node over the public land mobile network, allowing independent voice connection signaling, and each device selects a bridge node based on its location to minimize costs, with alert signals and acknowledge messages facilitating efficient call setup and connection establishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing group call solutions are implemented, then group calls can be established, but the system complexity and implementation difficulty increase significantly for mobile subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that manages group call setup and coordination. The server handles the complex signaling and routing logic, while mobile devices only need to interact with the server through simplified interfaces. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by centralizing complexity in the server infrastructure rather than requiring complex implementations in each mobile device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If group calls are set up using traditional methods, then calls can be established, but the cost increases significantly when participants are located in different countries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables local quality by allowing each mobile device to connect to a geographically nearby bridge node rather than requiring all participants to connect through a centralized remote server. This local connection approach reduces international routing costs while maintaining global group call functionality. Each device optimizes its connection locally, and the server coordinates these local connections to form the global group call.
3Ease of operation
If centralized server control is used for group calls, then call management is simplified, but the call setup latency increases due to network signaling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having mobile devices perform local bridge node selection and establish local connections before the server completes the full group call setup. The server sends a setup request that triggers immediate local actions at each device, rather than waiting for centralized coordination of all signaling. This parallel execution of local preparations reduces overall setup latency while the server maintains management control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A group call is setup between one originating device (A) and at least two terminating devices (B, C), which each has access to a public land mobile network (131, 132, 133) and a mobile data network (121, 122, 123). The originating and terminating devices (A, B, C) include a respective software-implemented call handling tool (SWA, SWB, SWC) configured to assist a user in placing and receiving group calls. Bridge nodes (141, 142, 143) are connected to the mobile data network (121, 122, 123), the public land mobile network (131, 132, 133) and a server node (110), which, in turn, also is connected to the mobile data network (121, 122, 123). In response to a call-setup command from a user of the originating device (A), the software-implemented call handling tool (SWA), on one hand, sends a call-setup request (1) to the server node (110); and on the other hand, makes a first call (2) to a first bridge node (141) over the public land mobile network (131) using a first telephone number (#1) stored in the originating device (A). The call-setup request (1) indicates an identity of the terminating devices (B, C). Based on the call-setup request (1) and the first call (2), the server node (110) sets up a call between the originating and terminating devices (A, B, C) over a conference bridge (146) in the first bridge node (141), plus possibly other bridge nodes (147, 148) depending on where the devices (A, B, C) are located relative to one another.