SDP Extensions for Media Feature Invocation in SIP Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Unified communication systems lack the ability to efficiently invoke and manage media-specific features, such as music-on-hold, across different communication channels within the system, limiting the functionality and user experience in multi-modal communication environments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a media-specific feature invocation mechanism using Session Description Protocol (SDP) extensions, allowing clients to indicate and apply features like music-on-hold to specific media channels, enabling seamless integration and user notification through SIP user agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional communication protocols are used without media-specific feature invocation mechanisms, then system simplicity is maintained, but functionality and adaptability across different media channels are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia-specific feature invocation capabilityVSAvoidprotocol structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication protocol by introducing a dedicated media-specific feature invocation mechanism that operates independently within the Session Description Protocol framework. This allows feature invocation to be handled separately from general communication signaling, enabling targeted control over media channels without complicating the entire protocol structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of extended SDP attributes that act as mediators between the signaling layer and media-specific features. These attributes serve as a bridge, allowing SIP user agents to invoke media-specific features like music-on-hold without requiring direct integration with each individual feature's control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If media-specific features are invoked without precise channel identification, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and control accuracy over specific media channels deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia channel identification accuracyVSAvoidfeature invocation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling media-specific feature invocation to be precisely targeted at individual media channels through dedicated SDP attributes. Each media channel can be independently identified and controlled with specific feature invocations, allowing different quality levels and feature sets to be applied locally to different channels rather than uniformly across all media.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes within the SDP attribute structure to encode media channel identification information and feature invocation parameters. By modifying and extending existing SDP parameters, the system achieves precise channel identification while maintaining the familiar SDP syntax and structure, thus balancing precision with ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If enhanced data exchange protocols are employed to support complex functionalities, then functionality and feature richness are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-modal communication capabilityVSAvoidprotocol implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by extending the Session Description Protocol to handle multiple media-specific features through a unified attribute structure. The extended SDP framework provides a universal mechanism that can invoke different media-specific features (music-on-hold, application-specific features, etc.) across different media channels using the same protocol extension, rather than requiring separate protocols for each feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by enabling runtime invocation and control of media-specific features through the extended SDP attributes. The system can dynamically add, modify, or remove feature invocations during communication sessions based on user needs and system conditions, allowing the protocol to adapt flexibly to changing requirements without rigid preconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8284918B2Media specific feature invocation signaling in enhanced communication systems

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Subscribers of an enhanced communication system are enabled to indicate invocation or clearing of media specific features such as music-on-hold or video-on-hold. The invocation or clearing is transmitted to participating end points as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) re-INVITE message with Session Description Protocol (SDP) attribute descriptions identifying the feature, applicable media channels and whether the message is for invocation or clearing of the feature.