Session Border Controller for VoIP Failure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communications in IP-based voice networks, such as VoIP, are susceptible to failure during power outages, leading to inconvenience and costly reinitiation of conversations, with existing solutions like UPS battery backup systems being expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine the context of a communication and proactively notify participants of failures, allowing for the resumption of communications through alternate paths or transfer to another representative, reducing the need for costly backup power supplies by using a computing device to monitor packet flow rates and contextual information to manage communication failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UPS battery backup systems are implemented to prevent communication failure during power outages, then communication reliability is improved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a session border controller (SBC) as an intermediary component that monitors communication sessions and manages failover logic. The SBC acts as a mediator between endpoint devices and the network, detecting failures and initiating recovery actions without requiring expensive backup power supplies at each endpoint, thus improving reliability while controlling system cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where communication session context and state information are copied and stored on the SBC and network infrastructure. When a failure occurs, the session can be reconstructed using these copies, allowing communication resumption without restarting the entire conversation, thereby improving reliability without requiring costly UPS systems at each device
2Reliability
If communication fails during a detailed conversation, then communication reliability deteriorates, but implementing backup power systems increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-establishing alternative communication paths and pre-storing session context information on the SBC and network servers before failures occur. When a power outage or communication failure happens, these pre-prepared resources enable immediate session restoration without requiring expensive backup power systems, thus maintaining communication continuity while controlling costs
3Loss of information
If communication context is not preserved during failure, then information is lost requiring reinitiation, but preserving context requires additional system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the SBC continuously monitors communication session status, packet flow rates, and error conditions. This feedback enables the system to detect failures in real-time and trigger context preservation and session restoration procedures, minimizing information loss without requiring complex manual intervention systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by implementing automated session management where the SBC and network infrastructure automatically detect failures, preserve context, and restore communications without human intervention. The system autonomously manages context preservation through automated signaling and state synchronization, reducing the need for complex manual context management while minimizing information loss
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for conducting communications. One method includes determining a context associated with a communication between a first participant and a second participant while the communication is occurring, determining a failure of the communication, and resuming the communication based, at least in part, on the context.