Communications Platform Fallback to Non-Secure Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication sessions often fail when one endpoint requests secure media and the other endpoint does not support it, leading to failed connections and user disappointment, as the call may not fail until the user answers, resulting in an error tone.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow endpoints to establish a communication session using non-secure media when one endpoint supports only secure media and the other only non-secure media, by receiving registrations indicating media capabilities and sending identification information, and alerting the user that the session is using non-secure media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an endpoint requests a communication session using secure media, then security is improved, but the connection may fail when the other endpoint does not support secure media

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection success rateVSAvoidmedia compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having endpoints register their media capabilities (secure and non-secure support) with the communications platform before establishing a session. The platform stores this capability information and uses it during session establishment to determine the appropriate media type, preventing connection failures due to incompatible media expectations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communications platform acts as an intermediary between endpoints with different media capabilities. It receives session requests, checks the capabilities of both endpoints, and determines the appropriate media type (secure or non-secure) based on mutual compatibility. This mediation resolves the contradiction by enabling connections between endpoints with different secure media support while maintaining security when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system establishes a session using secure media, then security is improved, but the session establishment time increases due to capability negotiation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsession establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the capability negotiation in advance during the registration phase, not during session establishment. Endpoints register their supported media types with the communications platform beforehand, so when a session is requested, the platform already has the capability information needed to quickly determine the appropriate media type, reducing establishment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the media type selection based on the capabilities of the specific endpoints involved in each session. The communications platform evaluates the registered capabilities of both endpoints and selects the most appropriate media type (secure if both support it, otherwise non-secure), optimizing both security and establishment efficiency for each session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If the system alerts the user that the session is using non-secure media, then transparency is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to potential confusion or disappointment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transparencyVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the user about the security status of the established session by alerting them when non-secure media is being used. This transparency allows users to make informed decisions about their communication while the system automatically handles the complexity of capability matching in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The alert mechanism uses a simple, lightweight notification approach rather than complex authentication or verification procedures. The alert provides essential information transparency without requiring additional user actions or complicating the user experience, accepting a minor degradation in user experience to maintain information transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS8139566B2System and method for establishing a communication session between two endpoints that do not both support secure media

Publication Date: 2012.03.20 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A method for establishing a communication session between two endpoints that do not both support secure media includes receiving a registration from a first endpoint. The registration indicating the first endpoint supports secure media and non-secure media. The method also includes receiving a registration from a second endpoint. The registration indicating the second endpoint supports non-secure media. The method also includes receiving a request to establish a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint using secure media. The method further includes establishing the communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint via the communications platform using non-secure media.