SIP Phone Call Handover via Central Unit Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
SIP telephones require additional user actions to hand over calls, unlike analogue telephones, making it difficult for non-technical users to seamlessly transfer calls between SIP devices assigned to the same subscriber, leading to potential user confusion and perceived malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A method where digital or data-packet-based telephones, including SIP phones, notify a central unit of user activities, which evaluates these notifications and interconnects the phones in parallel with other devices of the same subscriber if an existing connection exists, using SIP protocol-compliant messages like NOTIFY, without the need for additional hardware, primarily through software modules in PBX exchanges and minimal changes in SIP phone software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SIP telephones are used with standard SIP protocol specifications, then the system follows protocol standards and maintains proper signaling control, but additional user actions are required for call handover making it difficult for non-technical users to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central unit as an intermediary between SIP telephones. This central unit receives notifications from SIP phones about user activities (like off-hook events), evaluates these notifications, and automatically establishes parallel interconnections. The central unit mediates the complex protocol interactions, allowing users to simply perform basic actions like off-hooking while the system handles the complex call handover procedures automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where SIP telephones notify the central unit about user activities through SIP NOTIFY messages. The central unit evaluates these notifications and automatically responds by establishing appropriate interconnections. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to user actions automatically without requiring users to understand complex signaling procedures.
2Reliability
If additional user actions like pressing button sequences are required for call handover, then protocol control is maintained, but user confusion increases and the system appears to malfunction to non-technical users
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the central unit automatically performs call handover procedures based on notifications from SIP telephones. When a user performs a simple action like off-hooking a telephone, the central unit automatically evaluates the notification and establishes the necessary parallel interconnections without requiring the user to press additional buttons or understand signaling procedures. The system serves itself by automatically handling the complex protocol interactions.
3Reliability
If SIP telephones are configured to require enter button presses for number transmission and interconnection establishment, then protocol specifications are followed, but the operation becomes complex compared to simple analogue telephone off-hooking
Solution Approach 1:
The central unit acts as an intermediary that handles the complex protocol requirements. Instead of requiring SIP telephones to directly manage complex button sequences and protocol handshakes, the central unit receives simple notifications from the telephones and automatically performs the necessary protocol operations to establish parallel interconnections, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining protocol adherence.
4Ease of operation
If analogue telephones are connected in parallel with simple off-hooking, then ease of operation is maximized, but the system lacks the capabilities of digital communication telephones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system that combines the operational simplicity of analogue telephones with the capabilities of digital SIP telephones. The central unit enables SIP telephones to behave like parallel-connected analogue telephones (allowing simple off-hook operation) while maintaining full digital communication capabilities. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide both ease of operation and digital features simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for providing features to the user of a telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) that is connected to a central unit (CU) whereby, if said telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) is currently not interconnected via the central unit (CU), said telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) notifies the central unit (CU) at least about certain kinds of user activities, in case of such notification the central unit (CU) checks whether it is currently interconnected to another telephone assigned to the same subscriber as said notifying telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) and in case of the existence of such interconnection, the notifying telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) is interconnected in parallel to this interconnection, and if said notifying telephone (HSA1, . . . HSAn, HSS1, . . . HSSm) is not a telephone for digital communication, the other telephone is a telephone for digital communication.