Relay Server Mediating Voice Call Status for Inter-App Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems require costly modifications to circuit switching equipment to provide voice call status notifications, which is impractical and inefficient for implementing application-to-application communications during voice calls.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that uses a relay server to mediate communications between terminals, where each terminal transmits voice call status changes to the relay server, allowing it to identify and relay communication data between applications without needing direct notification from circuit switching equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If circuit switching equipment is modified to provide voice call status notifications, then application-to-application communication during voice calls can be enabled, but system cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-to-application communication capabilityVSAvoidcircuit switching equipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message relay server as an intermediary component that mediates between terminals and provides voice call status notifications. The server receives status information from terminals and relays it to applications, eliminating the need to modify circuit switching equipment. This resolves the contradiction by enabling application-to-application communication while keeping the circuit switching infrastructure unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the voice call status notification function from the circuit switching equipment and relocates it to a separate message relay server. This separation allows the circuit switching equipment to remain simple and unchanged, while the notification functionality is implemented independently by the server that manages application communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If circuit switching equipment is modified to provide voice call status notifications, then inter-application communication can be achieved, but operational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-application communication capabilityVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The message relay server acts as an intermediary that handles notification routing and application management. By centralizing these functions in a software-based server rather than modifying hardware switching equipment, the system achieves inter-application communication at lower operational costs through more efficient resource utilization and avoided hardware modification expenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-based notification mechanisms running on standard server infrastructure rather than expensive, specialized hardware modifications. The notification system is implemented as a flexible software service that can be deployed and modified without costly hardware changes, reducing operational expenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If circuit switching equipment is furnished with voice call status notification function, then communication linkage is enabled, but implementation becomes impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice call status notification capabilityVSAvoidsystem implementation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The message relay server serves as an intermediary that implements the notification function in software, making the system practical to deploy. Instead of physically modifying circuit switching equipment across numerous locations, the server-based approach allows straightforward installation and configuration of the notification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The message relay server provides multiple functions including notification routing, application management, and communication coordination through a single unified platform. This multi-functional server replaces the need for specialized modifications to circuit switching equipment, simplifying implementation while achieving the same communication linkage goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9432795B2Communication system, terminal, communication method and communication program for terminals while communicating with each other to identify the opposite party

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 NEC CORP

AI summary

There is provided a relay server 20 relaying communications between terminals using an application. Each terminal 10 includes a voice call means 11 which performs a voice call process, and a voice call information transmission means 12 which, when the voice call process is performed by the voice call means 11, transmits to the relay server 20 a voice call status change notice inclusive of information for identifying the terminal 10 and indicative of voice call status having been changed, the transmission being performed by communication using the application. Upon receipt of communication data through communication using the application from a communication source terminal 10, the relay server 20 identifies a communication destination terminal based on the voice call status change notice and transmits the communication data to the identified communication destination terminal.