Softswitch Branch Reconnect Prioritization via SIP OPTIONS
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Simultaneous connectivity recovery of multiple branches to a softswitch in telecommunications networks often leads to overloads, causing system communications to slow or become non-existent due to the flood of simultaneous subscription and registration requests.
Innovation Solution
The method involves prioritizing reconnect requests by selectively acknowledging SIP OPTIONS messages based on proxy state, branch priority, and the number of users, allowing the softswitch to manage recovery efficiently by processing messages strategically, such as prioritizing branches in normal mode or with higher user counts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple branches simultaneously recover connectivity to the softswitch, then connectivity restoration is achieved, but the softswitch experiences overload due to flood of simultaneous subscription and registration requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having branches send SIP OPTIONS messages before actual connectivity recovery to announce their presence and allow the softswitch to prepare for their reconnection. This staged approach prevents sudden floods of registration requests by enabling the softswitch to manage reconnections progressively rather than all at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the use of SIP OPTIONS messages that are sent at intervals to probe connectivity status. This periodic probing allows the softswitch to gradually accommodate returning branches in a controlled rhythm, preventing overload while ensuring reliable connectivity restoration for all branches.
2Reliability
If all branches simultaneously send subscription and registration requests upon connectivity recovery, then complete service restoration is achieved, but network performance degrades due to softswitch overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by implementing a two-phase reconnection process: first, branches send SIP OPTIONS messages to announce their return; second, the softswitch processes actual subscription and registration requests. This separation ensures that service restoration is complete while preventing network performance degradation from simultaneous requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The SIP OPTIONS message acts as an intermediary mechanism between branch reconnection and full service restoration. It serves as a preliminary announcement that allows the softswitch to prepare and manage the subsequent processing of subscription and registration requests, thereby maintaining network performance while achieving complete service restoration.
3Reliability
If the softswitch processes all reconnection requests simultaneously, then complete connectivity restoration is achieved, but system communications slow or become non-existent during overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using interval-based SIP OPTIONS messaging to manage reconnection requests. Instead of processing all requests simultaneously, the softswitch handles them in periodic batches as they arrive, ensuring complete connectivity restoration while minimizing communication delays and preventing system paralysis during overload conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital telecommunications system, a method of reconnecting branches to a softswitch in a communications network and a program product for reconnecting branches to a softswitch in a communications network. A softswitch manages communications between devices at network endpoints, e.g., session initiation protocol (SIP) devices. When a branch is disconnected from the softswitch, the softswitch manages reconnects, prioritizing reconnects when multiple branches request reconnecting.