Relay Server Module for IMS External Server Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture does not account for content provision from external servers to IMS-enabled user equipment, leading to ad hoc and non-standard implementations that lack integration with IMS benefits like security, billing, and management, complicating network administration.
Innovation Solution
Configuring an external server as a peer within the IMS architecture, using a relay server module to facilitate direct communication between the external server and mobile devices, enabling peer-to-peer push methodology and leveraging IMS features for secure, managed content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external server is configured as a peer within the IMS architecture, then content delivery security and management integration are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for relay server modules and protocol translation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay server module as an intermediary component that mediates between external servers and mobile devices. This relay server handles protocol translation, authentication, and data routing, thereby enabling secure and managed content delivery from external servers while maintaining IMS architecture integrity. The intermediary absorbs the complexity of protocol translation and security management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content delivery function by separating the external server from the IMS core network through the relay server module. This segmentation allows external servers to operate as peers while maintaining security and management control within the IMS domain. The relay server acts as a boundary that segments the untrusted external network from the trusted IMS network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ad hoc implementations are used for external server integration, then implementation flexibility is improved, but network administration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal relay server module that can serve multiple external servers and support various content delivery scenarios. This multi-functional relay server handles authentication, protocol translation, data routing, and security management for all external server integrations, thereby reducing network administration complexity while maintaining implementation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the relay server receives authentication and management signals from the IMS core network and forwards them to external servers. This feedback loop enables centralized management and control of external server integrations, reducing administrative complexity while maintaining flexibility in content delivery implementations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is provided for providing content to a plurality of mobile electronic devices, where at least some of the mobile electronic devices have wireless communications capabilities. The system includes a first network for use with a second network. The first network comprises a wireless network system for communicating with at least some of the mobile electronic devices through wireless sessions; a wired to wireless gateway module connected to the wireless network system for interfacing between a wireless portion of the first network and a wired portion of the first network; a session control module interfacing with the wired to wireless gateway module for managing the wireless sessions and wired sessions; and a relay server module interfacing with the session control module and the wired to wireless gateway module, the relay server module for providing relayed content to the mobile electronic devices. The second network comprises an external server for providing content to the mobile electronic devices. The external server communicates directly with either the relay server module or the wired to wireless gateway module.