Media Gateway Cross-Network Message Forwarding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies, such as call forwarding, are not easily applicable to IP telephony as VOIP connections lack telephone numbers and use SIP addresses, making it difficult to reach subscribers across different communication networks, particularly from mobile radio networks to computer networks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enables forwarding messages, including calls, from a telecommunications network to a computer network, using a media gateway to check and route messages based on user registration data, allowing VOIP subscribers to be reached via GSM/UMTS mobile phones and vice versa, by registering user data and using application servers with interfaces for configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If call forwarding is implemented using traditional telephone numbers, then calls can be forwarded within the telecommunications network, but VOIP subscribers cannot be reached from mobile radio networks because VOIP connections use SIP addresses instead of telephone numbers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-network communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that bridges the telecommunications network and the computer network. The gateway translates SIP addresses to telephone numbers and routes calls between networks, enabling VOIP subscribers to be reached from mobile radio networks without directly integrating the two different network protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle both traditional telephone number routing and SIP address translation. It can forward calls to both telecommunication network terminals and computer network terminals, making the system adaptable to different network types and communication protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If VOIP subscribers use SIP addresses for communication, then IP telephony can be implemented over computer networks, but these subscribers cannot be easily reached using traditional telephone keypads in mobile radio networks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility via telephone keypadVSAvoidaddressing information compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway acts as a mediator that translates SIP addresses into telephone numbers that can be dialed on traditional keypads. When a user dials a telephone number corresponding to a VOIP subscriber, the gateway intercepts the call, translates the number to the appropriate SIP address, and routes the call to the correct VOIP terminal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary translation of SIP addresses to telephone numbers before the call is initiated. This allows VOIP subscribers to be assigned dialable telephone numbers in advance, making them accessible through traditional keypads without requiring users to know or input SIP addresses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a gateway translates SIP addresses to telephone numbers for call routing, then VOIP subscribers can be reached from telecommunications networks, but the system requires additional translation and routing infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteroperability between networksVSAvoidgateway infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway is designed as a universal device that can handle multiple network protocols and routing scenarios. It supports both SIP-to-telephone number translation and traditional telephone number routing, consolidating multiple functions into a single infrastructure component to manage complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2025141B1Method for forwarding a message, computer unit, and communication system
Publication Date: 2019.02.13 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP2025141B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Among other things, a method is described for forwarding a message, in particular a call from a first subscriber to a second subscriber, wherein the second subscriber has at least two connections in different communication networks (11, 12). To make it possible to reach subscribers to a computer network (12) in particular from a telecommunication network (11), the following is provided: a) The message originating from the first subscriber is fed to a computer unit (14) within a telecommunication network (11), in particular a mobile radio network, in which the second subscriber is registered as user; b) The connection of the second subscriber to which the message is to be forwarded is verified in the computer unit (14); c) The message is transmitted to a first terminal (16) of the second subscriber in the telecommunication network (11) based on this verification, and/or a signal is sent by means of a media-gateway (19) that is assigned to the computer unit (14) from the telecommunication network (11) to at least one other connection of the second subscriber in a computer network (12).