SIP Alert Server for Content Syndication Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current content syndication technologies, such as RSS, face issues with high network load, lack of personal mobility support, and incompatibility with SIP networks, leading to inefficient alert mechanisms that do not respect the dynamic nature of content updates and do not provide seamless notifications across different terminals.

Innovation Solution

A method using a session initiation and notification protocol to transmit subscription and notification messages between a user's terminal and an alert server, allowing for alerting users of content modifications while supporting personal mobility and presence, and adapting notifications to terminal capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If periodic HTTP requests are used in polling mode, then content updates can be detected, but network load increases and server update rates are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent update detectionVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces continuous periodic polling with event-driven periodic action. The SIP subscription mechanism establishes a persistent connection where the server only transmits notifications when content actually changes, eliminating unnecessary periodic requests while maintaining reliable update detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The implementation incorporates feedback mechanisms where the SIP server acknowledges subscriptions and sends notifications only when content modification is detected. This feedback loop ensures reliable update detection while optimizing network resource usage by avoiding unnecessary transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If polling mode is used, then content updates can be retrieved, but personal mobility is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent update retrievalVSAvoidpersonal mobility support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The SIP-based solution provides universal notification capability across multiple terminals and communication contexts. The subscription is tied to the user rather than a specific terminal, enabling seamless notification delivery whether the user is on mobile, desktop, or other devices, thus supporting personal mobility while maintaining reliable update retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If XML-RPC or SOAP push mode is used, then network load is reduced, but compatibility with firewalls and NATs is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork loadVSAvoidfirewall and NAT compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The SIP server acts as an intermediary that handles firewall and NAT traversal issues. By using SIP's established presence and notification infrastructure, the system maintains low network load through event-driven notifications while gaining compatibility with firewalls and NATs through SIP's built-in mechanisms for traversing network boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Speed

If XML-RPC or SOAP push mode is used, then immediate update notification is achieved, but personal mobility support is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate notification speedVSAvoidpersonal mobility support
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The SIP-based notification system provides universal support across multiple terminals and user contexts while maintaining immediate notification capability. The subscription model is terminal-agnostic, allowing users to receive real-time alerts on any registered device, thus achieving both fast notification delivery and personal mobility support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1872552B1Warning method during content modification and system therefor
Publication Date: 2012.12.05 ORANGE SA
  • EP1872552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1872552B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention concerns a method for warning a user (17) equipped with a terminal (4, 5, 6, 67) during modification of a content in accordance with a content syndication technology in a communication system supporting a session initiation protocol and including a warning server (1) and a content server (2). The method is characterized in that it consists in: transmitting, from a terminal (4) of the user (17) to the warning server (1), a subscription message (9, 18) of said protocol identifying a content in conformity with said content syndication technology stored on the content server (2); receiving at the warning server (1), from the content server (2), an indication concerning a modification of said content; and transmitting a notifying message (11, 10, 23) of said protocol to said user (17), from the warning server (1), when an indication concerning a modification of said content has been received.