SIP Join Header Policy for Selective Multimedia Stream Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multimedia conference systems do not allow for restrictive mixing of communication streams when a third-party entity joins an existing communication between two other entities, limiting the ability to control the flow of multimedia data such as video or audio between the new participant and the existing participants.
Innovation Solution
A method where a third-party communicating entity sends a message with specific parameters to the host entity, allowing for a restrictive communication stream mixing policy, enabling partial participation by the third-party entity, such as receiving or sending only specific streams, using SIP protocol messages like INVITE with a 'Join' header.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a third-party terminal joins a multimedia communication using the SIP protocol with a Join header, then the terminal can access the communication, but the host terminal cannot mix multimedia streams in a restrictive manner and the third-party terminal cannot partially join the communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by associating specific mixing policies with individual participating entities identified by unique identifiers. Each entity can have its own restrictive policy (e.g., recvonly, sendonly, inactive) applied selectively, allowing the third-party terminal to join with restricted capabilities toward specific participants while maintaining full functionality with others. This resolves the contradiction by enabling partial joining without requiring complex global reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication flow mixing control into entity-specific policy associations. Instead of applying a single global mixing policy to all participants, the system divides the control into individual policy-identifier pairs for each participating entity. This segmentation allows the third-party terminal to have different access levels with different participants, enabling partial joining while keeping the control mechanism manageable through modular policy assignments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a host terminal locally mixes all multimedia communication streams, then a conference is created with a new address, but the third-party terminal receives all streams without restriction and cannot have selective access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different mixing policies to different entity pairs. The host terminal can transmit full streams to some participants while applying restrictive policies (recvonly, sendonly, inactive) to specific third-party terminals. This allows selective stream access where the same stream can be fully transmitted to one participant and restricted to another, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stream quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the stream mixing policy adjustable and configurable per entity through the mixingPolicy parameter. The system can dynamically change the level of stream transmission based on the associated identifier and policy type, allowing the host to adaptively control which streams are transmitted to which participants. This dynamic control enables selective access while optimizing the quantity of streams transmitted based on actual needs.
3Reliability
If no restrictive mixing policy is applied, then the communication is simple to establish, but privacy cannot be protected and communication flows cannot be managed between specific entities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by applying local quality through entity-specific mixing policies. Instead of requiring complex global privacy management, the system associates simple policy identifiers (recvonly, sendonly, inactive) with specific participating entities. This localized approach protects privacy for specific entity pairs while maintaining simple overall system structure, as each policy association is independent and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the mixing policy association between the third-party terminal and participating entities before the actual multimedia stream transmission begins. The host terminal determines and applies the restrictive policy in advance during the joining process, ensuring privacy protection is built-in from the start rather than requiring complex ongoing management. This preliminary configuration simplifies subsequent flow management.
Data Source
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AI summary
To access a communication managed by a host communicating entity between participating communicating entities, which include the host communicating entity, via a packet network (RP), a third party communicating entity transmits a message (M1) to the host communicating entity, the message comprising at least one parameter (PM) associated with an identifier of at least one participating communicating entity. Access by the third party entity to a point-to-point communication set up between the host entity and a participating entity can create a conference between these three entities. Access by the third party entity to a communication of conference type can create an extra participant in the existing conference. The host communicating entity applies a restrictive policy of mixing communication streams exchanged between the communicating entities as a function of the parameter and of the participating communicating entity's identifier associated with the parameter.