SIP Data Sharing Server for Conference Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SIP conferencing systems lack a defined mechanism for data sharing among conference participants, which is essential for collaborative applications and efficient data management in bandwidth-limited environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Data Sharing Server (DSS) within the SIP Conference Server, utilizing the Conference Policy Control Protocol (CPCP) to manage access and distribution of shared data, allowing users to upload and manipulate documents, and provide controlled access through non-SIP protocols like HTTP and WebDav.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data is transferred through SIP signaling channel, then data sharing among conference participants is enabled, but network latency increases and bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data transfer from signaling by introducing a separate data channel (HTTP/FTP) for content transmission, while SIP signaling only carries indirect references (URIs) to the data. This separation allows signaling to remain lightweight and fast, while data transfer occurs through optimized data channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where SIP messages contain indirect references (URIs) that point to data stored on external servers. The receiving party uses these references to retrieve data through separate data transfer channels, eliminating the need for direct data embedding in SIP messages.
2Quantity of substance
If large data content is embedded in SIP messages, then complete data transfer is achieved, but intermediate signaling proxies are overwhelmed and network efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts large data content from SIP messages and stores it externally on data servers. SIP messages only contain lightweight indirect references (URIs) pointing to the external data locations. This extraction eliminates the burden of processing large data payloads through signaling proxies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses indirect references (URIs) as copies or pointers to the actual data content. Instead of transferring the full data content through SIP, the system transfers lightweight reference information that can be used to access the original data through separate channels.
3Speed
If direct data transfer channel is used, then data sharing speed is improved, but mechanism complexity for integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal data transfer protocols (HTTP, FTP, LDAP) that are already widely supported and understood. These standard protocols can be integrated with existing SIP infrastructure without requiring custom proprietary solutions, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining high transfer speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed to share data amongst conference participants in a SIP conference. The method includes, in response to a request of a user agent (UA) conference participant to create a data sharing element, informing the UA in a SIP message of an address of a storage location associated with a data sharing server (DSS) of a conferencing server where the UA may store shared data for use by other conference participants; storing the data in the address of the storage location and establishing at least one policy that controls at least one of access to and distribution of the shared data with respect to the other conference participants. Also disclosed, as part of a SIP Conference Server (10), is a Data Sharing Server (14) that provides storage for, and controlled access to and distribution of the shared data stored by one or more of SIP conference participants.