PSTN IP Address Exchange for Decentralized Point-to-Point Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IP communication systems rely on centralized directories, which become costly and complex as the user base scales, and are less familiar to traditional telephone users who prefer dialing numbers over logging into computers.
Innovation Solution
An IP communication system that uses the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to transmit public IP addresses between devices, allowing point-to-point communication over the Internet without a centralized directory, with methods for establishing connections even when devices are in private networks without public IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centralized directory is used to establish IP connections, then connection establishment is simplified, but system cost and complexity increase significantly as user base scales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the centralized directory function from the IP communication system and replaces it with PSTN telephone network infrastructure. IP devices use their existing telephone numbers to initiate calls, and the PSTN naturally routes the call while IP devices exchange IP addresses during the call setup, eliminating the need for a centralized IP directory server
Solution Approach 2:
The PSTN call setup process serves as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates IP address exchange between devices. The telephone network acts as a trusted mediator that establishes a temporary communication channel, allowing devices to share IP addresses without requiring a centralized directory to store and manage them
2Loss of information
If a centralized directory is implemented, then user identification and location tracking are improved, but operational cost increases with scaling
Solution Approach 1:
IP devices self-manage their own IP address information by including it in the call setup signaling exchanged over PSTN. Each device provides its own IP address to the other party during telephone call establishment, eliminating the need for a centralized directory to store, update, and retrieve user location information
Solution Approach 2:
When devices have dynamic IP addresses, they periodically re-establish PSTN calls to exchange updated IP address information. This periodic re-synchronization ensures that location information remains current without requiring continuous monitoring by a centralized directory server
3Loss of information
If traditional telephone dialing is replaced with computer login, then IP address management is improved, but user familiarity and ease of use decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines both telephone dialing and IP communication functionalities into a single unified process. Users can initiate IP communications by simply dialing a telephone number, and the system automatically handles the transition to IP-based communication, making the interface familiar to traditional telephone users while enabling modern IP communication capabilities
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A first device (204) uses a PSTN (210) to send its public IP address to a second device (206) to setup point-to-point communication over the Internet (108). The first device calls the second device over the PSTN. In one embodiment, the second device answers the call and the first device transmits its public IP address over the connected call to the second device. In another embodiment, the second device does not answer and the PSTN transmits the public IP address as signals in several intervals between telephone rings to the second device. The second device then sends a connection request to the first device over the Internet using the IP address. Once the connection over the Internet has been established, the first and the second devices point-to-point exchange data packets carrying text, voice, video, or data communications between their users.