Remote VoIP Device Reboot System with Staggered Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

VoIP telephone systems in large enterprises face challenges with remote rebooting, as it often requires manual intervention, can overwhelm the network, and lacks efficient scheduling and monitoring capabilities, leading to logistical and maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A processor-based system that allows remote selection, rebooting, and monitoring of VoIP communication devices over a packet-switching network, enabling scheduled reboots and condition evaluation before and after the process, with features like staggered reboot operations to prevent network overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually reboot VoIP devices periodically, then devices can be maintained, but users may forget or delay the task, resulting in operational problems and requiring technician intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice operational reliabilityVSAvoiduser burden for manual reboot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing VoIP devices to automatically reboot themselves based on scheduled commands received from the remote management system, eliminating the need for user intervention while maintaining device reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by scheduling and executing reboots in advance based on predicted needs or maintenance schedules, preventing operational problems before they occur rather than reacting to user forgetfulness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple devices are rebooted simultaneously at the end of the work day, then maintenance can be performed efficiently, but the network becomes overwhelmed with re-registration traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereboot operation efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork overload

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the reboot operation into individual device-level actions executed at different times, distributing the re-registration traffic across the network over time rather than creating a simultaneous traffic spike that would overwhelm the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by staggering reboot commands to be sent at different time intervals to different devices, maintaining maintenance efficiency while preventing network overload through time-distributed execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If technicians manually reboot devices at each site, then reliable device maintenance is ensured, but logistical costs and time requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice maintenance reliabilityVSAvoidtechnician time and travel time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical system of physical technician intervention with an automated electronic control system that remotely sends reboot commands over the network, eliminating the need for technician travel and manual device access while maintaining maintenance reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing devices to be remotely rebooted through automated commands, eliminating the need for technician intervention entirely and reducing both time and logistical costs while ensuring consistent maintenance across all sites

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If VoIP devices are rebooted without monitoring, then the reboot process is simple and quick, but problems during or after reboot cannot be detected or addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereboot process complexityVSAvoidreboot operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically monitoring device status before, during, and after the reboot process, detecting any anomalies or failures, and providing information for corrective action while maintaining a relatively simple overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9503283B2Apparatus for remotely rebooting VoIP communication devices and an associated method and computer program product

Publication Date: 2016.11.22 DATASPHERE LLC

AI summary

An apparatus is provided for remotely rebooting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication devices. In general, the apparatus remotely selects VoIP communication devices connected to a network, reboots the selected devices, and evaluates the status of each device. A processor allows a user to select VoIP communication devices connected to the network and receives inputs pertaining to the reboot operation, including a time input and search criteria. The processor communicates with the designated VoIP communication devices over a packet-switching network to instruct the devices to reboot and monitors each device. In this way, multiple VoIP communication devices may be rebooted from a remote location, and problems or issues that arise during the reboot process may be identified and addressed. An associated method and computer program product are also provided for remotely rebooting VoIP communication devices.