Session Control Entity Codec List Modification for Media Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, the user plane is often forced to traverse unnecessary gateways due to the insertion of intermediate nodes like Session Border Controllers (SBCs), leading to suboptimal routing and potential call failures when these nodes do not support Optimized Media Routing (OMR) or have insufficient knowledge about transcoding requirements.
Innovation Solution
A session control entity modifies the codec lists in Session Description Protocol (SDP) messages to control the routing of user plane traffic by adding or removing gateways based on supported codecs and internal configurations, ensuring optimal media routing and avoiding unsupported codecs that could cause call failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user plane traffic traverses intermediate gateways like SBCs for network protection and control, then network security and call control are improved, but routing efficiency deteriorates and unnecessary signal processing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network control function by separating the SBC (session border controller) from the user plane media path. The SBC remains in the signaling path for control and security, while media traffic is routed directly between endpoints through optimized paths, eliminating unnecessary traversal through intermediate gateways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a media path optimization function that acts as an intermediary to analyze codec lists and determine whether user plane gateways can be removed. This intermediary evaluates transcoding requirements and makes intelligent routing decisions to bypass unnecessary gateways while maintaining network security through the SBC.
2Adaptability or versatility
If codec lists include all possible codecs for maximum compatibility, then adaptability is improved, but signaling message size increases and processing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the codec list parameters based on network conditions, gateway capabilities, and transcoding requirements. The SBC modifies the codec list to include only necessary codecs for the specific call scenario, removing unnecessary entries while maintaining compatibility with all required endpoints and gateways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by including only the necessary subset of codecs rather than all possible codecs. The codec list is tailored to include exactly what is needed for the current call scenario, avoiding the overhead of listing every possible codec while maintaining full compatibility with required endpoints.
3Productivity
If user plane gateways are removed for optimized routing, then routing efficiency is improved, but call reliability deteriorates when gateways provide necessary transcoding functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the SBC monitors gateway capabilities, codec compatibility, and call establishment success. Based on this feedback, the SBC intelligently decides whether to remove or retain user plane gateways, adjusting the codec list and routing decisions to ensure call reliability while optimizing the media path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of codec lists and gateway capabilities during call setup before finalizing the user plane path. The SBC evaluates whether transcoding is needed and pre-determines the optimal routing configuration, ensuring that necessary gateways are retained for transcoding while unnecessary ones are removed for optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a session control entity, method and a computer program product for receiving a request for a session, deciding on removal of a user plane gateway from a user plane of the session, extracting, when the user plane gateway is to be removed, a first codec list in the second encoding and removing the first codec list from the request for the session. Further, removing a second codec list in the first encoding from the request for the session, deriving a third codec list, when the user plane gateway is to be removed, from the first codec list, or, when the user plane gateway is not to be removed, from the second codec list, including in the request for the session, a third codec list in the first encoding, and transmitting the request for the session.