Remote Transcoding for VOIP Call Capacity and Hardware Cost

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Solution Overview

Problem

VOIP communication systems face challenges in scalability and cost due to the need for expensive hardware upgrades to handle increased call volumes and compatibility with various codecs, leading to underutilization and rapid obsolescence.

Innovation Solution

Separating data transcoding from local communication equipment and handling it remotely through a cloud-based transcoder service, allowing for scalable, cost-effective, and efficient media transcoding that supports multiple codecs and devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If VOIP system hardware is upgraded to handle higher call volume, then call capacity increases, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall capacityVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the VOIP system into separate functional components: signaling functions remain on local VOIP equipment while media transcoding is extracted and performed remotely on separate servers. This segmentation allows call capacity to be increased by adding remote transcoding resources without requiring expensive upgrades to local hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces remote transcoding servers as intermediary components that handle media transcoding between endpoints. These servers act as mediators that enable compatibility between different codecs without requiring the local VOIP equipment to support all possible codec combinations, thus reducing hardware costs while maintaining call capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If feature-rich VOIP equipment is used, then system functionality improves, but equipment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the media transcoding function from local VOIP equipment and moves it to remote servers. This extraction allows the use of simpler, less expensive local equipment while maintaining full transcoding functionality through remote processing, thus improving the cost-functionality ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote transcoding servers provide universal support for multiple codecs and transcoding scenarios, enabling a single remote server to serve multiple VOIP systems with different functionality requirements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for each local system to have dedicated hardware for every possible transcoding scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If VOIP system is upgraded to handle higher call volume, then system capacity increases, but equipment replacement is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall volume capacityVSAvoidequipment lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting transcoding functions from local equipment to remote servers, the patent allows local VOIP equipment to maintain its original capacity while call volume capacity is increased through additional remote transcoding resources. This extends the useful life of local equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic scalability to the VOIP system through remote transcoding servers that can be added or removed based on call volume requirements. This dynamic approach allows capacity to be adjusted without replacing fixed local hardware infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If local transcoding is performed, then call compatibility is ensured, but hardware complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall compatibilityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses remote transcoding servers as intermediaries that handle all media transcoding operations. This ensures call compatibility between different endpoints while keeping local VOIP equipment simple, as the compatibility function is performed remotely rather than requiring complex local hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9961116B2Method and system for providing remote transcoding of media data on a VOIP system

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 EDGEWATER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

Techniques for providing remote transcoding of call media data on a communications network are disclosed. The techniques include a communication module receiving a call request from a first communication device, transmitting a call invite to a second communication device, receiving a response from the second communication device, determining a first media encoding requirement for media transmitted to the first communication device and a second media encoding requirement for media transmitted to the second communication device, and transmitting information regarding the first communication device, the second communication device, the first media encoding requirement, and the second media encoding requirement to a transcoding module operating on a computer server. The techniques include the transcoding module receiving first call media data from the first communication device, transcoding the first call media data, and transmitting the transcoded first call media data to the second communication device.