Signaling Tunnel Aggregation for Secure VoIP Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet-based voice communication networks, such as VoIP, lag behind traditional PSTNs in providing robust billing and security functionalities due to their packet-switching nature, which complicates efficient and secure billing processes and increases vulnerability to security threats like theft of service and IP address spoofing.
Innovation Solution
A digital communication network with a network endpoint and a signaling server that uses signaling tunnels to direct signaling related to telephone calls based on the identity of the telephonic device, enabling secure and efficient billing by aggregating signaling for each customer over dedicated tunnels, thereby protecting against security threats and facilitating accurate billing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packet-switching is used for voice communication over the Internet, then cost efficiency and network flexibility are improved, but billing accuracy and security are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments voice communication into packets that can be independently routed through the network. Each packet is identified and tracked, allowing the billing system to accurately account for usage despite the distributed nature of packet switching. This segmentation enables both cost efficiency through flexible routing and billing accuracy through packet-level tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary billing system that acts as a mediator between the packet-switched network and the customer. This intermediary collects, processes, and validates packet information to generate accurate bills, resolving the contradiction between the flexibility of packet switching and the need for reliable billing accountability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet-switching is used for voice communication, then network flexibility is improved, but security against theft of service and IP spoofing is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication and identification of packets before they are routed through the network. By pre-validating packet sources and destinations, the system maintains network flexibility for legitimate traffic while blocking malicious packets before they can exploit the flexible routing for theft of service or IP spoofing attacks.
3Reliability
If circuit-switching is used in PSTN, then billing and security are improved, but network flexibility and modern communication capabilities are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reliability of circuit-switched billing mechanisms with the flexibility of packet-switched networks. By combining elements of both switching paradigms, the system achieves robust billing accountability while maintaining the network flexibility and modern communication capabilities of packet switching, effectively resolving the contradiction between traditional and modern approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system is provided which includes a digital communication network having a network endpoint and a signaling server. The network endpoint is coupled with the signaling server via signaling tunnels through the digital communication network. Also included is a telephonic device coupled with the network endpoint and configured to engage in a telephone call via the network endpoint over the digital communication network. The network endpoint is configured to generate signaling related to the telephone call, and to direct the signaling through the digital communication network to the signaling server over a selected one of the signaling tunnels, wherein the selected signaling tunnel is selected based on an identity of the telephonic device.