Proxy Server Handling Multiple Incoming Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems are resource-intensive and unable to effectively manage multiple simultaneous incoming calls, causing users to be unaware of urgent or important calls while establishing a communication session, as they are locked into addressing the first call and require extensive additional resources for call handling.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus where a proxy server receives invitations for multiple incoming calls, suspends transmission to determine availability, and sends SDP-free call initiation messages to the called communication device, allowing users to select preferred calls without extensive resource usage, using out-of-band signaling to manage simultaneous calls and alert the user of incoming calls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the existing SIP stack is modified to handle multiple incoming calls simultaneously, then the user can be made aware of multiple incoming calls, but the system becomes resource intensive as each modified SIP INVITE request includes a Session Description Payload (SDP)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle multiple incoming callsVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the SDP from the call initiation message, sending it separately in a subsequent invitation message. This allows the initial call notification to be resource-efficient while still enabling full session establishment later, thus reducing the resource burden of handling multiple simultaneous calls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent sends a preliminary call initiation message without SDP to notify the user of incoming calls before establishing the full session. This preliminary action allows users to select which call to answer, avoiding the need to process complete SDP payloads for all simultaneous calls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple telephone extensions are provided in a single communication device to handle multiple incoming calls, then each incoming call can be sent to a different extension, but this requires additional telephony numbering resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to route multiple calls to different extensionsVSAvoidtelephony numbering resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the call handling process into two distinct phases: first sending a call initiation message without SDP to notify the user, then separately transmitting the SDP in a subsequent invitation message. This segmentation allows efficient resource usage while maintaining full call routing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary call initiation message that acts as a mediator between the incoming call invitation and the full session establishment. This intermediary message allows the system to notify users of multiple calls without committing full telephony resources until the user selects which call to answer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a session is being established with a first calling communication device, then the communication session can be established according to SIP INVITE request and response, but the called communication device will not be able to process a second request and is locked into addressing the first call

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession establishment reliabilityVSAvoidability to process multiple simultaneous requests

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains continuous call initiation messages for multiple incoming calls simultaneously, keeping all call notifications active until the user selects which call to answer. This allows the system to continuously notify users of multiple calls without locking into a single session establishment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically manages multiple SIP sessions by maintaining call initiation messages for all incoming calls and only completing session establishment for the selected call. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to user choices while reliably establishing sessions for multiple simultaneous callers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2649784B1Method and apparatus for processing multiple incoming calls in a single device

Publication Date: 2016.04.06 SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

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AI summary

A method is disclosed for processing multiple, simultaneous incoming calls directed to a single communication device. The method includes receiving (210), by a proxy server associated with a called communication device, an invitation for each incoming call directed to the called communication device. The method also includes determining (220), by the proxy server upon receipt of each invitation, the availability of the called communication device by suspending transmission of each invitation and by sending to the called communication device an associated call initiation message for each invitation. The associated call initiation message is free of a Session Description Payload (SDP). The method further includes receiving (240), by the proxy server, at least one answer message from the called communication device, each answer message being associated with a selected incoming call.