Media Stream Release from Hardware Processor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hosted communications providers face limitations in call volume and high costs due to the expensive maintenance and capacity constraints of specialized hardware media processors used for VoIP services, such as call recording and playback.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that transfers media streams from a telephony server with hardware media processors to a release server when certain conditions are met, such as no need for playback, recording, or transcoding, allowing the hardware resources to be freed up and used for additional calls, thereby increasing system capacity and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized hardware media processors are used for VoIP services, then media processing capability is improved, but system cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media stream from the hardware media processor when certain conditions are met (such as when no playback, recording, or transcoding is needed). This allows the hardware resource to be freed and reassigned, reducing the need for continuous hardware resource allocation and lowering overall system costs while maintaining processing capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a software-based release server that replaces the need for continuous hardware media processing. When media streams no longer require specialized processing, they are released to the software server which handles them with standard processing, effectively replacing expensive hardware with cheaper software-based solutions for routine tasks.
2Reliability
If specialized hardware media processors are deployed, then media processing function is provided, but system capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where media streams are dynamically transferred between hardware processors and software server based on real-time conditions. When hardware processing is not needed, streams are released to the software server, allowing hardware resources to be dynamically reallocated to other calls, thereby increasing system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The release server acts as an intermediary between the hardware media processor and the communication devices. It receives media streams from the hardware processor and forwards them to appropriate destinations, enabling the hardware processor to focus only on streams requiring specialized processing while the software server handles routine processing, thus increasing overall system capacity.
3Reliability
If hardware media processors are used continuously, then media processing is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanism to discard media streams from the hardware media processor when they no longer require specialized processing capabilities. The released streams are recovered by the software server which continues to forward them to communication devices, thereby recovering hardware resources for more demanding tasks and improving overall resource utilization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A first call leg is established between a first communication device and a communication server having a telephony controller for controlling a hardware media processor. A second call leg is established between a second communication device and the communication server. The first and second call legs carry a media stream between the first and second communication devices, and the media stream is initially intended for processing by the hardware media processor. A suitable condition is needed to transfer the media stream to a release server. When the suitable condition is not detected, the media stream is processed with the hardware media processor. When the suitable condition is detected, the media stream is transferred to the release server. The release server lacks a hardware media processor.