Communications Appliance Path Replacement for PBX Session Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require specific software applications to establish communications sessions from computing devices, limiting the ability to initiate calls from any application, and do not efficiently manage communication sessions through private branch exchanges.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow a communications appliance to issue path replacement and release commands to a private branch exchange (PBX) to establish and manage communication sessions between endpoints, using commands like ISDN release and SIP invite, enabling communication sessions across different networks and media paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a specific software application is required to establish communications sessions, then the system can maintain control over the communication process, but the ability to initiate calls from any application is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to initiate calls from any applicationVSAvoidsystem control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communications appliance as an intermediary component that sits between the PBX and the endpoint devices. This appliance handles the complex PBX interaction and protocol management, allowing any application to initiate calls without requiring direct integration with the PBX. The appliance acts as a mediator that translates diverse application needs into standardized PBX commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the communications appliance remains in the media path, then it can manage communication sessions, but it increases the complexity of the communication path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession management capabilityVSAvoidmedia path structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session management functionality from the media path by implementing path replacement. The communications appliance issues path replacement commands to the PBX to remove itself from the media path while maintaining signaling control. This allows the appliance to manage sessions through signaling rather than being embedded in the media flow, reducing media path complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional layers: signaling path (for session management) and media path (for actual communication). By separating these functions and using path replacement, the system can manage sessions through signaling while maintaining a simpler media path structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the appliance issues path replacement commands to release itself from the media path, then the media path is simplified, but the appliance must coordinate with multiple end-points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia path structureVSAvoidcoordination with end-points

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the communications appliance issue path replacement commands before actually releasing from the media path. This allows the appliance to prepare the path replacement sequence, ensuring proper coordination with multiple end-points by establishing the replacement path first before completing the release process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9137377B2Systems and methods for at least partially releasing an appliance from a private branch exchange

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 GOTO GRP INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for partially releasing an appliance from a private branch exchange are shown and described. The method can include issuing a path replacement command to the private branch exchange, receiving a facility message from the private branch exchange destined for one end-point of a communications session, and transmitting the received facility message to another end-point of the communications session.