Group Communication Resource Allocation via Phased SIP Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for establishing group communication sessions, such as Push to Talk (PTT) services, face challenges in meeting performance requirements like mouth-to-ear delay due to time-consuming SIP session establishment procedures, especially with large groups of users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for efficient resource allocation in a network, where a server node and core network node manage separate requests for network resources, allocating only those needed for transmission control initially and media transmission upon the start of a group call, allowing pre-establishment of SIP sessions without wasting resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SIP session establishment is performed for group communication with many users, then complete communication session is established, but call setup time increases and mouth-to-ear delay KPIs cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resource allocation process into two distinct phases: (1) SIP session establishment phase where only control plane resources are allocated, and (2) media transmission phase where user plane resources are allocated separately when needed. This segmentation allows the session to be established quickly without waiting for full resource allocation, thus reducing call setup time while maintaining reliable communication when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing the SIP session and allocating control plane resources in advance, before actual media transmission begins. The control plane resources (for signaling, floor control, etc.) are reserved during session establishment, while media resources are allocated on-demand. This preliminary setup reduces the time required for full session establishment while ensuring resources are available when needed.
2Reliability
If network resources are allocated for all users joining a group, then complete resource availability is ensured, but network resource waste increases when not all resources are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the amount and type of network resources allocated to each user depends on their current activity state. Control plane resources are allocated when users join the group session, but user plane media resources are dynamically allocated only when users actually transmit or receive media. This dynamic approach ensures resource availability when needed while minimizing waste during periods of inactivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the allocation parameters based on the operational phase: during session establishment, control plane parameters (signaling resources, floor control resources) are allocated; during active media transmission, user plane parameters (media bandwidth, QoS parameters) are allocated or adjusted. This parameter-based allocation ensures appropriate resource levels are maintained without excessive provisioning.
3Productivity
If separate resource allocation requests are made for transmission control and media transmission, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate resource allocation requests into a coordinated two-phase process that is integrated into the existing SIP session establishment flow. The control plane resource allocation is performed as part of session establishment, and the user plane resource allocation is triggered by media transmission events, both managed by the same server node. This merging reduces signaling overhead compared to completely separate processes while maintaining the efficiency benefits of phased resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided mechanisms for resource allocation for group communication in a network. A method is performed by a server node of the group communication. The method comprises receiving a first request from a client node for the client node to affiliate with a group of client nodes in order for the client node to join a group communication session of the group communication system. The method comprises requesting, from a core network node and in response to the first request, a first allocation of network resources to be used by the client node for transmission control of the group communication session. The method comprises receiving a second request for a group call from the client node. The method comprises requesting, from the core network node and upon reception of the second request, a second allocation of network resources to be used by the client node for media transmission in the group call.