Playback Server Protocol Translation for Group Chat Interoperability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems lack the ability to seamlessly output prerecorded communications across different group communication services operating on various protocols, limiting their interoperability and usability in applications like training simulations and chat system load testing.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an agent server and a central server with a playback module and database that retrieves and translates prerecorded events from a source communication service into a native protocol of a target group communication service, enabling playback across different communication protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a communication system uses a single native protocol for a specific group communication service, then the system achieves simplicity in implementation, but it loses the ability to interoperate with other group communication services using different protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol interoperabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a playback server as an intermediary component that sits between the data source and target group communication services. This server receives playback requests, retrieves prerecorded data, and translates/forwards it to the appropriate protocol. The intermediary handles protocol conversion and coordination logic centrally, allowing individual components to remain simple while achieving overall system versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The playback server is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple communication protocols simultaneously. It can interface with different group communication services (IRC, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc.) through a unified architecture, making the system adaptable to various protocols without requiring separate specialized systems for each protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the system stores and retrieves detailed timing characteristics for each event, then the playback accuracy is improved, but the database storage requirements and retrieval complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback timing accuracyVSAvoiddatabase storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential timing characteristics needed for playback accuracy into a standardized event data format. Rather than storing complete raw communication data, the system extracts key temporal parameters (event timestamps, duration, sequence information) into a compact representation that maintains playback accuracy while reducing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms raw communication data into a parameterized event format where timing characteristics are represented as discrete, standardized parameters. This parameterization allows efficient storage and retrieval of timing information while maintaining the precision needed for accurate playback reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the playback module translates events into native communication protocols of target services, then the system achieves broad compatibility with different group communication services, but the translation process increases processing time and computational resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication service compatibilityVSAvoidevent translation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and standardizing event data during the recording phase. Events are captured and normalized into a common format with embedded timing characteristics beforehand, so that during playback, the translation process only requires format conversion rather than complete data processing, significantly improving translation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The playback server creates standardized copies of event data in a universal format that can be efficiently translated to multiple target protocols. Rather than maintaining separate data representations for each protocol, the system uses a single standardized event format that serves as a template for generating protocol-specific outputs, reducing computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8438296B2Playback communications using a unified communications protocol

Publication Date: 2013.05.07 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

According to particular embodiments, a system for outputting prerecorded communications includes a central server that receives playback instructions, retrieves event data from a database according to the playback instructions, and outputs events from the event data to an agent server according to the timing characteristics associated with the events, and the agent server that deploys playback agents into the target group communication service to submit events to the target group communication service.