Relay Device Voice Monitoring via Virtual Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing relaying devices require external hardware and significant effort to record voice signals, imposing a burden on the control unit and complicating the addition of a recording function for voice communication.

Innovation Solution

A relaying device with a communication unit, a communication session processing unit using a mixing table, and a communication monitoring unit that registers a virtual device to acquire and record voice signals, allowing for internal recording without additional hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If external hardware is added to enable voice signal output and recording, then recording capability is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording capabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing function, originally designed for voice signal routing between communication terminals, is made to serve dual purposes: both relaying voice signals and enabling recording. By making the virtual device participate in the communication session through the existing mixing mechanism, the system achieves recording capability without adding dedicated recording hardware, thus applying multi-functionality to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

A virtual communication terminal (virtual device) is introduced as an intermediary element that participates in the communication session through the existing mixing table mechanism. This virtual device acts as a mediator that allows the relaying device to capture and record voice signals without requiring external recording hardware, thereby achieving recording capability while maintaining hardware simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If software recording function is added to the relaying device, then recording capability is achieved, but control unit burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording functionVSAvoidcontrol unit burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing function, originally designed for voice signal routing, is extended to also perform recording by simply directing mixed voice signals to the virtual device. This approach allows the same mixing mechanism to serve both relaying and recording purposes, avoiding the need for separate recording processing logic and reducing the control unit burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The recording function is implemented by leveraging the existing mixing mechanism's own capabilities. The mixing function automatically routes voice signals to the virtual device without requiring additional processing or control logic, allowing the system to record communications through its existing operational framework rather than adding new processing burdens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If recording function is added to the relaying device, then voice communication monitoring is enabled, but time and effort for implementation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice communication monitoringVSAvoidimplementation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing function is extended to simultaneously perform voice signal relaying and recording operations. By making the virtual device participate in the communication session through the existing mixing mechanism, the system enables voice communication monitoring without requiring separate implementation steps for recording, thus reducing implementation time and effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3843371B1Relay device and voice communication monitoring method
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 ICOM INC
  • EP3843371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3843371B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

[Problem] Provided is a relaying device that can track and record a communicated voice of a specific communication terminal using a mixing function of the relaying device. [Solution] When a communication terminal has sent a call packet to call another at least one communication terminal, a communication session in which this communication terminal that has made a call and a communication terminal that has been called are participating terminals is established. In the communication session, voice communication is relayed by transferring a voice signal which is transmitted from the participating terminals to another at least one communication terminal. A virtual device is registered as a participating terminal of the communication session and the voice signal which is transmitted from the communication session to the virtual device is recorded in the relaying device.