SIP Session Refresh Using Reduced Header Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
In VoIP networks, SIP message refresh mechanisms are inefficient due to bulky messages that consume significant network bandwidth and processing resources, especially when messages need to traverse multiple SIP devices, leading to hanging sessions.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced refresh method is introduced where a reduced header and no message body are used in refresh messages, with a negotiation between refresher and refreshee to determine support for the enhanced method, allowing for lightweight refresh messages that only include mandatory fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional SIP refresh messages (INVITE, UPDATE, RE-INVITE) are used to refresh sessions, then session activity can be verified, but network bandwidth consumption and processing overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for session refresh (Call-ID, From, To headers) and removes all unnecessary components (SDP bodies, complete message headers, method-specific fields). This creates a minimal refresh message that retains the ability to verify session activity while eliminating bandwidth-wasting elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter set of refresh messages from complete SIP messages (with full headers and SDP bodies) to a minimal format containing only essential identifying headers. This parameter reduction maintains session verification capability while dramatically reducing message size and bandwidth consumption.
2Loss of information
If traditional SIP refresh messages with full headers and SDP bodies are used, then complete session information is transmitted, but parsing and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical identifying information (Call-ID, From, To headers) needed to verify session activity and removes all extraneous data (SDP bodies, complete header sets). This extraction maintains sufficient information for refresh purposes while eliminating processing-time-consuming elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by sending only the necessary subset of message components required for session refresh rather than complete SIP messages. The minimal header set provides sufficient information for session verification without the overhead of full message processing.
3Reliability
If bulky SIP refresh messages are sent through multiple intermediate SIP devices, then session routing is maintained, but processing resources at each hop are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential routing and identifying headers (Call-ID, From, To) needed for session maintenance and removes all processing-intensive components (SDP bodies, complete header sets). This allows intermediate SIP devices to process and forward refresh messages with minimal resource consumption while maintaining session routing integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for refreshing a session. A session is refreshed using a refresh message that is enhanced for a refresh. For example, the refresh message does not include an SDP or any other message body. The message includes only a reduced header. This reduces time spent building and parsing the refresh message. Also, less bandwidth is used in sending the refresh messages.