Dynamic Media Server Relocation for Conference Call Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current conference calling systems experience unnecessary latency due to geographically dispersed participants, leading to audio delays, echo, and talk-over issues, as media servers continue to service calls even after participants from the initial region disconnect, causing voice media to be transmitted over longer distances.

Innovation Solution

A conference call coordinator determines whether to relocate the conference call to a media server geographically closer to the majority of participants by evaluating RTP IP addresses and subnet regions, using SIP target refresh messages to transfer media streams to an available server within the optimal region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a media server continues to service a conference call after participants from the initial region disconnect, then the conference call remains stable, but audio latency increases due to longer transmission distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconference call stabilityVSAvoidaudio latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the media server selection dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors participant locations and automatically relocates the conference call to different media servers based on current geographic distribution. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain stability through automated reconfiguration while minimizing latency by selecting optimal server locations in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring participant disconnections and geographic locations, then using this information to determine when and where to relocate the conference call. The feedback loop detects changes in participant composition and triggers appropriate media server selection changes, resolving the contradiction between maintaining call stability and optimizing for low latency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If media servers are geographically dispersed to serve different regions, then latency is reduced for regional participants, but bandwidth consumption across the private network increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio latencyVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different media servers to different geographic regions based on participant locations. Each region has optimized media routing that prioritizes local participants, reducing their latency. The system intelligently routes calls through appropriate regional servers rather than forcing all traffic through a single centralized server, thereby reducing overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining low latency for local participants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes routing parameters dynamically based on participant geographic distribution. When participants are concentrated in certain regions, the system adjusts media server selection and routing parameters to optimize for those regions, reducing both latency and unnecessary bandwidth consumption across the private network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If the conference call is relocated to a different media server based on participant location, then audio latency is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio latencyVSAvoidmedia server relocation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by implementing automated media server selection and relocation logic that operates without manual intervention. The conference call coordinator automatically monitors participant locations, determines optimal media server selections, and executes relocations when beneficial. This automation reduces system complexity by eliminating the need for manual media server management while achieving low latency through intelligent, self-managed optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10454978B2Systems and methods for dynamic latency reduction for conferencing

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 INCONTACT INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for reducing latency during conference calls are provided. The method and system can involve a conference call coordinator that evaluates the regions of participants in the call each time a call is added or dropped and transfers the conference call to a media server in the appropriate region.