Session Border Controller Network Interface Type Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current IMS network interfaces lack the ability to identify and process the type of network interface during call setup signaling, leading to inadequate handling of SIP headers, accounting, and media routing, which can result in operational failures and inefficient contractual relationships between networks.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an indication of the network interface type in SIP INVITE requests and processing messages using session border controllers and interconnection border control functions to select SIP headers, allocate transition gateways, offer transcoding, apply optimized media routing, and decide on call acceptance based on the identified interface type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network interface type indication is not included in call setup signaling, then the signaling protocol remains simple and compatible, but the network cannot properly handle SIP headers, accounting, and media routing for different interface types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different network interface typesVSAvoidsignaling message structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network interface type indication is nested within the existing call setup signaling messages (SIP INVITE, 200 OK) as an information element. This allows the indication to be carried within the existing protocol structure without requiring separate signaling messages or fundamental protocol changes, thus adding adaptability while minimizing complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The network interface type indication is included in the call setup signaling messages (SIP INVITE, 200 OK) before the actual call establishment and media routing decisions are made. This preliminary provision of interface type information enables downstream network elements to properly configure SIP header handling, accounting, and media routing in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If differentiated handling is applied for different network interface types, then operational failures are reduced and contractual relationships are optimized, but the network processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall setup reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork element processing logic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different network elements (ingress IBCF, egress IBCF, Session Border Controllers) apply specific processing rules localized to their function and the detected network interface type. For example, the ingress IBCF removes specific SIP headers based on the interface type indication, while the egress IBCF applies accounting treatments specific to the interface type. This localized quality approach reduces overall complexity by distributing specialized processing to where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The network interface type indication acts as an intermediary information element that mediates between different network domains (home network, visited network, inter-IMS). This single piece of information enables multiple network elements to make appropriate decisions without requiring complex bilateral negotiations or extensive processing logic at each node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If network interface type indication is transmitted in SIP signaling messages, then proper accounting and charging can be implemented, but additional information processing and storage requirements are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork interface type informationVSAvoidinformation processing and storage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network interface type indication is extracted as a distinct information element within the SIP signaling messages. This extracted information is then utilized by specific network functions (accounting, charging, media routing) without requiring the entire SIP message to be reprocessed or stored in full. The indication can be extracted and used independently while the rest of the signaling message continues its normal processing flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9509725B2Method and apparatus for indicating a type of a network interface

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

The invention relates to a session border controller, method and computer program for receiving in a first network, from a second network, an indication indicating a type of a network interface between the first network and the second network, wherein the indication is received during establishment of a communication session through the first network and the second network, and processing the communication session based on the type of the network interface.