Instant Messaging Gateway for Telephone Conference Initiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telephone conference systems are cumbersome for initiating impulse-type conferences, particularly when trying to connect multiple recipients, due to complexity in establishing secure and authenticated communications channels across network hops, firewalls, and network address translation devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using desktop application software that establishes a secure, asynchronous, and authenticated communications channel by transmitting instant messages formatted in XML using SOAP over SIP, allowing traversal of network hops and firewalls, and utilizing a gateway application to interface with a conference bridge for managing telephone conferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure asynchronous communication channel is established between desktop application and conference bridge across network hops and firewalls, then communication security and reliability are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of implementation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an instant messaging server as an intermediary component that mediates communication between the desktop application and the conference bridge. The server handles the complex tasks of establishing secure asynchronous communication channels, managing authentication, and navigating network infrastructure (firewalls, NAT devices, proxy servers), thereby isolating the complexity from the end-user application while maintaining security and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If web- or telephone-based interface is used for initiating telephone conference, then conference management capability is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complexity and time-consuming setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the desktop application to self-initiate conference calls by automatically generating and transmitting instant messages to the conference bridge through the messaging server. The system retrieves participant information from existing electronic mail messages and automatically formats and sends conference initiation requests, eliminating the need for manual interface navigation and configuration that characterizes traditional web- or telephone-based interfaces.
3Reliability
If authentication and logging are implemented for all communications between desktop application and conference bridge, then security and auditability are improved, but communication overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements authentication mechanisms that establish security credentials and communication channels in advance, before actual conference initiation transactions occur. The instant messaging server pre-configures secure communication paths and authentication tokens, so that when conference requests are transmitted, the authentication and logging processes occur efficiently with minimal additional overhead, as the framework is already in place.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for providing an improved communications channel for telephone conference initiation and management are provided. Messages for initiating and managing a telephone conference are exchanged between a client computer and a gateway computer utilizing XML formatted messages transmitted over an instant messaging compatible protocol. The gateway computer converts the messages to web services requests and communicates with telephone conference network hardware utilizing the web services-based request. Status indicators from the telephone conference equipment is converted from web services requests to XML by the gateway and transmitted back to the client computer via the instant messaging protocol.