Local Media Streaming for Roaming VoLTE Announcements
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IP-based multimedia telecommunications, particularly in VoLTE communications, playing announcements to roaming subscribers is inefficient due to the need for long-distance media routing and reliance on specific functionality in visited IP networks, leading to administrative complexities and variability in media availability across countries.
Innovation Solution
A device and method where media files are stored locally on the user terminal, allowing for the streaming of announcements during call establishment, active calls, or termination without relying on remote media resources, enabling local playback of announcements regardless of the subscriber's location and reducing the need for long-distance media transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If media files are routed from a server in the home network to the terminal of the served subscriber, then media can be played to the subscriber, but the media must be routed over a large distance which increases transmission time and network complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing media files (such as announcements) in the terminal device's local memory before they are needed during a call. This allows the media to be immediately available when a call occurs, eliminating the need for real-time long-distance routing of media files and reducing transmission time while ensuring reliable playback.
2Loss of time
If geographically distributed MRFs are deployed to reduce average distance, then media transmission distance is reduced, but the IMS operator must invest in, administer and maintain a potentially large number of MRFs spread around the globe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media storage function from centralized MRFs and relocates it to the terminal device itself. By storing media files locally in the terminal's memory, the system eliminates the need for geographically distributed MRFs while still achieving short media transmission distances, thereby reducing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If shared MRFs are deployed to allow other operators to store media files, then media availability is improved, but administrative agreements must be made between respective IMS operators and service logic must adapt for each country
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling each terminal device to independently store and play media files from its own local memory without requiring coordination with shared MRFs or complex administrative agreements between operators. The terminal autonomously manages media playback, eliminating the need for adaptive service logic that varies by country.
4Productivity
If media is routed directly from the calling party's current location to the destination country, then person-to-person communication is optimized, but announcement media cannot be played effectively to roaming subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing announcement media in the terminal device before the call occurs. This allows the terminal to play announcements locally during calls with roaming subscribers without requiring media to be routed from the calling party's current location, thus maintaining communication efficiency while enabling effective announcement playback.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is configured for communications over an IP network. The device comprises a user interface, a memory interface for accessing information media files stored in a memory in the device or associated with the device, and a media file streamer. The device is configured to receive an instruction from the IP network during establishment of a call, during a call, or at termination of a call, the instruction identifying one or more of the media files. The device is configured to access the identified media file from the memory via the memory interface and to stream the identified media file to convey the information in the media file via the user interface.