IVR System Flow-Around Media Path for SBC Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems face limitations in managing simultaneous calls and monitoring media communications due to high processing loads and encryption restrictions, which restrict the types of services that can be provided after the initial connection is established.

Innovation Solution

The system establishes a flow-around media path between the originating and terminating gateways while maintaining a media path between the IVR system and the originating gateway, allowing for audio prompts and telephony event notifications to be communicated effectively, even in secure environments, by using SIP messages to negotiate and manage media paths and event notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flow-through systems are used to enable SBC monitoring of media traffic, then the SBC can monitor communications between endpoints, but the processing load on the SBC increases significantly and the number of simultaneous calls decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSBC monitoring capabilityVSAvoidnumber of simultaneous calls

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media path into two separate paths: a flow-around path for voice traffic between endpoints and a flow-through path for IVR interactions with the SBC. This segmentation allows the SBC to monitor only relevant IVR traffic rather than all media traffic, reducing processing load while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the SBC establishes a separate media path with the originating gateway for IVR interactions, while allowing the main voice traffic to flow around the SBC. This intermediary path enables selective monitoring without burdening the SBC with complete media processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If flow-around systems are used to reduce SBC processing load, then the number of simultaneous calls increases, but the SBC can no longer monitor audio and media communications from the originating endpoint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of simultaneous callsVSAvoidSBC monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments media communication into two distinct paths: a flow-around path for voice traffic that bypasses the SBC to reduce processing load, and a separate flow-through path for IVR interactions that maintains SBC monitoring capability for relevant traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If SRTP encryption is used to secure media communications, then security is improved, but the SBC is unable to monitor communications from the originating endpoint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia communication securityVSAvoidSBC monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media communication into encrypted flow-around paths for voice traffic and unencrypted flow-through paths for IVR interactions with the SBC. This allows SRTP encryption to protect voice communications while maintaining SBC monitoring capability for IVR traffic that does not require encryption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different security qualities to different media paths: encryption is applied locally to the flow-around voice traffic paths while the flow-through IVR paths remain unencrypted to enable SBC monitoring. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between security and monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the SBC processes each incoming packet in flow-through systems, then media monitoring is enabled, but media switching delay is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia monitoring capabilityVSAvoidmedia switching delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments media traffic into flow-around paths that bypass the SBC for voice communications, eliminating packet processing delays for the majority of traffic. Only IVR interaction traffic flows through the SBC, significantly reducing media switching delay while maintaining monitoring capability for relevant communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8355323B2Interactive voice response and secure media system integration

Publication Date: 2013.01.15 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method is provided, including: initiating an interactive voice response (IVR) session between a first endpoint and an IVR system over an IP network; establishing a first media path between the first endpoint and a second endpoint; establishing a second media path between the first endpoint and the IVR system; and receiving at the IVR system a notice of a telephony event from the first endpoint. In another embodiment, a method is provided, including: initiating an interactive voice response (IVR) session between a first endpoint and an IVR system over an IP network; establishing a secure media path between the first endpoint and a second endpoint; and receiving an unsecured notice of a telephony event from the first endpoint.