P2P IP Telephone System Automatic Configuration via Master Coordinator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small enterprise P2P IP telephone systems require flexible expansion and minimal manual configuration, but existing systems lack efficient methods for maintaining system-wide configuration data without a central controller, making it difficult to ensure all terminals have the latest configuration.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer IP telephone system that uses an IP network for communication and coordination among terminals, employing a method where each terminal discovers and announces its presence, shares resources, and automatically updates system-wide configuration data through a Master Coordinator, ensuring all terminals have the latest configuration without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a peer-to-peer architecture is used without a central controller, then system expandability and flexibility are improved, but configuration data management becomes complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration server as an intermediary component that mediates between terminals and configuration data. The server stores master copies of configuration data and provides automated distribution to terminals, simplifying configuration management in the peer-to-peer system while maintaining expandability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where terminals report their configuration status and receive updates from the configuration server. This automated feedback loop ensures all terminals have current configuration data without manual intervention, reducing management complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration is required for each terminal, then configuration accuracy is improved, but installation and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server maintains a master copy of configuration data and automatically distributes copies to all terminals. This copying mechanism ensures configuration accuracy is maintained across all terminals while eliminating the time-consuming process of manual configuration at each terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
Terminals automatically retrieve and update their configuration data from the configuration server without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains configuration accuracy while significantly reducing installation and maintenance time.
3Ease of manufacture
If specialized wiring is minimized for ease of installation, then system deployment simplicity is improved, but system coordination and configuration distribution become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses standard IP network infrastructure for multiple purposes: voice communication, data transmission, and configuration distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized wiring while the configuration server coordinates system-wide updates over the existing network infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the invention provide a Peer-to-Peer (P2P, Internet Protocol (IP) telephone system. The telephone system includes a plurality of terminals coupled together via an IP network. The terminals cooperate with one another to provide telephony features without a dedicated central controller such as a PBX and/or a KSU controller. The terminals further cooperate with one another to maintain system-wide configuration data for the telephone system.