SIP Anchor Point for Post-Establishment Session Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current SIP communication systems lack effective methods to ensure media services on a per-party basis, allow applications to become aware of and control communication sessions after establishment, and share media resources across multiple applications, particularly in distributed networks, and do not provide real-time centralized communication logs or updates to non-involved participants.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a SIP anchor point, which serves as a monitoring and control point within a user's communication sequence, enabling applications to become aware of and control existing sessions, manage media resources efficiently, and share resources across multiple applications, while also providing real-time communication log updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If applications are inserted into communication sessions during establishment stage, then applications can insert themselves into signaling and media path, but applications cannot become aware of or control sessions after establishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication control capabilityVSAvoidsession establishment delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application interaction model into two distinct phases: session establishment phase where applications are sequenced into the call, and post-establishment phase where applications can dynamically join and control sessions through anchor points. This segmentation allows applications to control sessions after establishment without interfering with the original session setup process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces anchor points as intermediary elements that remain in the communication session after establishment. These anchor points serve as mediators that allow applications to join, monitor, and control communication sessions dynamically without requiring applications to be present during session establishment, thus enabling post-establishment control while maintaining session integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional application sequencing is used during session establishment, then applications can be included in signaling path, but there is no way to ensure media services on per-party basis regardless of call topology

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia service availabilityVSAvoidcall topology management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning anchor points in the communication session during establishment. These anchor points are placed in strategic locations within the signaling and media paths, creating predetermined control points that guarantee media service availability for any application that later joins through the anchor point, regardless of the complex call topology that develops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor point serves multiple functions: it acts as a signaling intermediary, a media path anchor, a control point for applications, and a topology-independent service guarantee. This multi-functionality allows a single anchor point structure to provide reliable media services across diverse call topologies without requiring separate mechanisms for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If applications join communication sessions during establishment, then applications can control sessions, but applications cannot leave sessions without delaying control signaling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication session managementVSAvoidcontrol signaling speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session control functionality from the application lifecycle. Applications can join and leave sessions independently of the control signaling path because anchor points maintain the session structure. When applications leave, they simply disconnect from the anchor point without requiring signaling that would affect other participants, thus maintaining control signaling speed while enabling easy session management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of information

If no anchor points are used, then session establishment is straightforward, but there is no real-time centralized communication log or updates to non-involved participants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication log availabilityVSAvoidsession monitoring infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor point implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor session state and propagate communication log information in real-time to all participants including non-involved parties. The anchor point receives session events from the communication flow and actively pushes updates to subscribed applications and endpoints, ensuring information availability without requiring complex distributed monitoring infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8886789B2SIP monitoring and control anchor points

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 ARLINGTON TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The concept of anchor points is introduced. Anchor points, and specifically Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) anchor points, serve as a media and call control point that is established on a per-user basis which can then be shared by any application. The use of an anchor point allows for applications to become aware of and control a communication late or cease monitoring and controlling a communication session early without disrupting the session or introducing a significant amount of control or media delay.