MSC Protocol Conversion for Narrowband Announcement Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional narrowband service announcement playback technologies using independent IP fail to meet the networking requirements of full-IP environments, necessitating a solution for both broadband and narrowband environments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a mobile switching center (MSC) with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) interface to convert ETC messages into SIP request messages, enabling broadband media servers to play back narrowband announcements over an IP network, thereby eliminating the need for independent IP announcement playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an independent IP is used for narrowband service announcement playback, then the announcement playback function is achieved, but the system cannot satisfy full-IP networking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the narrowband announcement playback function with the broadband media server by introducing a protocol conversion mechanism. The MSC converts ETC messages to SIP messages, allowing the broadband media server to handle both broadband and narrowband announcement playback through a unified IP network infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate independent IP hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the MSC (Mobile Switching Center) as an intermediary device that performs protocol conversion between ETC (narrowband protocol) and SIP (broadband protocol). This intermediary enables seamless integration between legacy narrowband services and modern IP-based broadband infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between maintaining narrowband functionality and achieving full-IP networking.
2Ease of operation
If an independent IP is used for narrowband service announcement playback, then the announcement can be played back, but the hardware connection through E1 lines is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical E1 line hardware connection with an software-based protocol conversion mechanism. By converting ETC messages to SIP messages at the MSC, the system eliminates the need for physical E1 line connections while maintaining narrowband announcement playback functionality, thereby simplifying hardware requirements and improving ease of IP network operation.
3Device complexity
If a broadband media server is used to play back narrowband announcements, then the system complexity is reduced, but protocol conversion is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the broadband media server universal by enabling it to handle both broadband and narrowband announcement playback through protocol conversion. The MSC's ability to convert ETC messages to SIP messages allows a single media server infrastructure to serve multiple protocol requirements, reducing overall system complexity despite the added protocol conversion layer.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a method, apparatus and system for narrowband service announcement playback over an IP network and a storage medium, which belong to the field of communication technology. The method includes that a mobile switching center (MSC) transparently transmits a narrowband call request to the narrowband service module of a service control point (SCP) through a signaling interface unit (SIU); the MSC receives and analyzes an ETC message of an announcement playback auxiliary route returned by the SCP; in response to the ETC message carrying information indicating that the narrowband announcement playback over the IP network is required, the MSC converts the ETC message into a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request message; and the MSC sends the SIP request message to the broadband service module of the SCP, the broadband service module establishes an association with the narrowband service module of the SCP according to the SIP request message, and the broadband service module controls, through the broadband protocol adaptation module of the SCP, a media server to play back an announcement.