Hybrid Peer-to-Peer Translation System with Access Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current peer-to-peer networks face security risks due to insecure distribution of endpoint information and can become bottlenecks as all communications must pass through a central server, limiting scalability.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid peer-to-peer system with an access server that stores profile information and routing tables, allowing endpoints to communicate directly while using distributed softswitches for signaling and media traffic, and employing stateless reflectors to traverse NAT devices, enabling secure and scalable communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional peer-to-peer network distributes endpoint information throughout the network on various endpoints, then direct communication between endpoints is enabled, but security risk increases due to insecure storage on endpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an access server as an intermediary component that securely stores endpoint profile information and routing tables. This mediator enables endpoints to communicate directly while the server handles the insecure distribution of endpoint information, thus resolving the contradiction between direct communication capability and security.
2Reliability
If a client/server network localizes storage of credentials and address information on a server, then security is improved, but the server becomes a bottleneck and cannot adequately support the number of clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into access servers and softswitches. Access servers handle authentication and profile storage, while softswitches distributed at endpoints handle signaling and media traffic. This segmentation allows the system to maintain security through centralized credential storage while achieving scalability through distributed softswitches that eliminate the communication bottleneck.
Solution Approach 2:
The access server acts as an intermediary for authentication and profile management, while allowing direct peer-to-peer communication for media traffic. This intermediary approach enables centralized security management without forcing all communications through the server, thus resolving the scalability bottleneck.
3Reliability
If all communications pass through a central server in a client/server network, then security is maintained, but the server becomes a bottleneck limiting system scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides communication paths into signaling traffic (which passes through access servers for security) and media traffic (which flows directly between endpoints). This segmentation allows security control to be maintained for authentication and routing while eliminating the bottleneck for actual media communications.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to send and/or receive audio speech translations to facilitate communications between users who speak different languages.