Internet Identifier Mapping for Circuit-Switched Telephone Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication networks, the inability to directly use Internet identifiers for establishing connections between terminals in circuit-switching telephone networks and IP networks limits the ability to identify and connect with subscribers, as signaling protocols typically only allow addressing using numbers and limited letters, making it difficult to transmit Internet identifiers across these networks.

Innovation Solution

Assigning a telephone number to an Internet identifier within the address book of a terminal, allowing the Internet identifier to be used for setting up communication links by converting it through an address database, enabling the use of Internet identifiers in circuit-switching telephone networks for identifying and connecting with subscribers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Internet identifiers are used for addressing in IP networks, then the ability to identify and connect with subscribers is improved, but the compatibility with circuit-switching telephone networks is worsened due to signaling protocol limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentifier usabilityVSAvoidnetwork compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an address database as an intermediary component that stores the mapping relationship between Internet identifiers and telephone numbers. When a communication request is made, the gateway device queries this database to translate the Internet identifier into a telephone number that can be processed by the circuit-switching network, thus enabling interoperability between the two network types without modifying their core protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the Internet identifier system within the telephone network context by maintaining a mapped representation (telephone number) that corresponds to the original Internet identifier. This allows the telephone network to handle Internet identifier-based communications through its native numbering system while preserving the identity information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If MSISDN is assigned to IP network subscribers for connection setup, then connection establishment is improved, but the ability to transmit Internet identifiers to communication partners is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection setup efficiencyVSAvoididentifier transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the mapping relationship between Internet identifiers and telephone numbers in the address database before communication occurs. This allows the system to quickly retrieve and use the appropriate telephone number for connection setup while preserving the original Internet identifier for subsequent transmission to the communication partner

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the addressing function into two distinct parts: the telephone number component used for actual connection establishment in the circuit-switching network, and the Internet identifier component that is preserved and transmitted to the communication partner for identification purposes. This segmentation allows both functions to operate optimally in their respective domains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2026539B1Method for making an internet identifier in a telephone network useable
Publication Date: 2015.12.09 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP2026539B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for establishing a communication connection from a first terminal device (10) of a first subscriber connected to a circuit-switched telephone network (13) to a second terminal device (11) of a second subscriber connected to an IP network (12), wherein the second terminal device (11) is identifiable within the IP network (12) by means of an Internet identifier of the second subscriber.The procedure provides that: - a telephone number is assigned to the internet identifier, which can be used to establish a communication connection from the first terminal (10) to the second terminal (11), and - the assignment between the internet identifier and the telephone number is transmitted from the IP network to the first terminal (10) and stored in an address book of the first terminal (10), whereby - based on a selection of the internet identifier within the address book, the first terminal (10) can send a request to establish the communication connection to the second terminal (11) using the telephone number via the telephone network (13) to the IP network (11).