IMS Application Server Unified Service Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy networks require separate applications for each access channel, leading to replicated service logic, complex service creation, and inefficient customer care services, which hinder the ability to provide unified and efficient customer contact experiences across different communication channels.

Innovation Solution

An IMS application server that provides a unified service creation and execution environment, decoupling service logic from call and media control, allowing services to be accessible over multiple access channels, including phone, TV, and Internet, with a graphical development environment for non-technical users to design and deploy services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate applications are used for each access channel in legacy networks, then each access channel can be managed independently, but service logic is replicated across multiple channels and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess channel independenceVSAvoidservice logic replication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal service execution environment that can handle multiple access channels (TDM, IPTV, Web, mobile) through a single platform. The service execution layer is designed to be channel-agnostic, allowing the same service logic to serve multiple access channels without replication, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts service logic from access channel-specific applications and places it in a centralized service execution environment. By separating service logic from channel-specific implementation details, the system eliminates the need to replicate service logic across multiple channels while preserving the ability to independently manage each channel through the unified framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate applications are deployed for each access channel, then channel-specific requirements can be met, but service creation becomes complicated and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel-specific service supportVSAvoidservice creation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments service creation into distinct layers: service design (independent of channel), service execution (channel-agnostic), and channel adaptation (handled by the access layer). This segmentation allows service creators to focus on business logic without worrying about channel-specific implementation details, significantly improving service creation efficiency while maintaining the ability to support channel-specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The service execution environment acts as an intermediary between service creators and access channels. It provides a standardized interface that translates channel-specific requests into universal service logic, allowing service creators to work with abstract service definitions while the intermediary handles the complexity of channel-specific adaptations automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If service logic is replicated on each access channel, then each channel can operate autonomously, but the same service must be maintained on multiple systems increasing operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel autonomyVSAvoidmulti-system maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges service logic into a single centralized service execution environment that serves all access channels. This consolidation maintains channel autonomy through the service execution layer's ability to handle channel-specific protocols and adaptations, while eliminating the need to maintain separate service logic copies across multiple systems, thereby reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If legacy network architecture is used with vertical technological silos, then each system can be optimized independently, but service access requires multiple access systems increasing user complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem optimizationVSAvoidservice access complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal service execution environment that provides a single access point for services regardless of the underlying access channel. Users interact with a unified service interface while the system handles channel-specific optimizations in the background, eliminating the need for users to understand or manage multiple access systems while preserving system optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9276966B2IMS application for multi-channel services

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD

AI summary

An Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) application executes services, such as (Internet Protocol) IP contact center services, accessible over different access channels. An IMS application server includes a service creation layer operable to provide components for creating a hosted service, testing the hosted service and deploying the hosted service into a service execution layer. The service execution layer includes service logic components operable to execute the hosted service, and communication components operable to connect to an external service involved in executing the hosted service.