SIP Entity Status Distribution via Shared Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SIP and IMS networks lack a mechanism for distributing operational status information among SIP entities, leading to resource wastage and delays in call establishment due to repeated attempts to contact unavailable call session control functions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for distributing application or higher layer communications network signaling entity operational status information among SIP entities, where a SIP/IMS network node maintains a list of peer nodes and updates their status, allowing other nodes to utilize this information to avoid costly timeouts and delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each SIP originating server individually tests the operational status of each terminating SIP server, then operational status information can be obtained, but SIP node resources and network bandwidth are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple SIP servers share a common database to store and access operational status information of terminating SIP servers and application entities. Instead of each server independently testing status, they consolidate their status checking efforts by querying the shared database, thereby reducing redundant network traffic and computational resources while maintaining accurate status information across the network
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary status checking by having SIP servers query the shared database for operational status information before initiating actual communication attempts. This advance verification allows servers to avoid contacting unavailable entities, preventing wasted resources on failed communication attempts and enabling more efficient call routing decisions
2Reliability
If an originating call session control function waits for a timeout period before attempting to contact an alternate call session control function, then protocol compliance is maintained, but call establishment is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of the shared database to determine the operational status of terminating call session control functions before initiating call setup attempts. By obtaining status information in advance, originating CSCFs can immediately route calls to known-available alternatives without waiting for timeout periods, thereby maintaining SIP protocol compliance while significantly reducing call establishment delays
3Device complexity
If operational status information is not stored by SIP entities, then system complexity is reduced, but repeated contact attempts to failed entities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shared database as an intermediary component that stores operational status information for all SIP servers and application entities. This external storage mechanism allows SIP entities to maintain low individual complexity while collectively achieving high productivity through the centralized information repository, which prevents repeated contact attempts to failed entities across the network
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products for distributing application or higher layer communications network signaling entity operational status information among SIP entities are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes determining operational status information for an application or higher layer communications network signaling entity. Further, the method includes identifying at least one second SIP entity to receive the operational status information. The method also includes distributing the operational status information to the at least one second SIP entity. The first SIP entity, the at least one second SIP entity, and the application or higher layer communications network signaling entity are associated with network nodes separate from subscriber communication terminals.