Home Wireless Router VoIP Call Management via Cellular Hold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) face challenges in supporting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications due to insufficient wireless capacity and service gaps, particularly when roaming, which violate the low-latency requirements of voice communications.

Innovation Solution

A home wireless router is designed to manage VoIP calls by temporarily placing a cellular call on hold, allowing it to terminate a WLAN VoIP call by misleading the cellular network into thinking another cellular call is incoming, thereby reserving bandwidth and ensuring stable VoIP service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If WLAN is used to service VoIP calls, then wireless connectivity is provided, but low-latency requirements are violated due to insufficient wireless capacity and channel access rules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connectivityVSAvoidlow-latency requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cellular network as an intermediary to bridge the gap between WLAN and PSTN for VoIP calls. The WLAN phones use the cellular network as a mediator to establish VoIP calls through the PSTN, thereby avoiding the latency issues of direct WLAN-to-PSTN routing while maintaining wireless connectivity benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions the VoIP call path from a two-dimensional WLAN-only approach to a three-dimensional approach involving WLAN-cellular-PSTN integration. By adding the cellular network dimension, the system can route VoIP calls through a path that guarantees low latency while preserving the wireless access advantage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If WLAN services both VoIP calls and data communications, then device versatility is improved, but wireless capacity becomes insufficient for VoIP requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice versatilityVSAvoidwireless capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network infrastructure by introducing separate cellular network infrastructure to handle VoIP traffic. This segmentation allows the WLAN to focus on data communications while the cellular network dedicatedly handles VoIP calls, ensuring sufficient capacity for voice requirements without compromising WLAN data service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cellular network serves multiple functions: it provides backup wireless capacity for data communications, establishes dedicated VoIP call paths through PSTN, and acts as a mediator for WLAN phones. This multi-functionality resolves the capacity conflict by making the cellular network a universal service provider for both data and voice.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If roaming within WLAN is allowed, then mobility is improved, but service gaps are introduced that violate low-latency requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemobilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cellular network acts as a stable intermediary that maintains consistent service parameters during mobility. When a WLAN phone roams, the cellular network provides a continuous call path through the PSTN, preventing service gaps that would occur with direct WLAN roaming while preserving mobility benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares for roaming issues by establishing cellular network backup paths before WLAN roaming problems occur. The cellular infrastructure provides a pre-established low-latency route that cushions against potential WLAN service gaps during mobility transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS7424008B2Cellular network/WLAN VoIP service interaction by home wireless router

Publication Date: 2008.09.09 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, the plurality of wireless terminals including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a request to terminate a WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal. The home wireless router determines that the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing a cellular call via a cellular network. The home wireless router causes the cellular network to be misled into concluding that another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal, the cellular network places the cellular call on hold in the incorrect conclusion that it will service the another cellular call, and the WLAN VoIP call is terminated to the VoIP wireless terminal.