SPUD Recommendation Message Control via Operator Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

The SPUD protocol in telecommunications networks lacks effective control over recommendation messages, leading to the transmission of non-certified information and inappropriate recommendations that can cause network congestion and equipment failure, as it does not account for operator information on network conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to control recommendation messages by obtaining and calculating new messages based on approved operator information and network conditions, intercepting and aggregating recommendations to ensure authenticity and relevance, and sending these new messages to network entities, thereby filtering out untrusted sources and reducing network load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If recommendation messages are transmitted without operator control in the SPUD protocol, then network entities can exchange information freely, but non-certified information and inappropriate recommendations are transmitted causing network congestion and equipment failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation message accuracyVSAvoidmessage control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an operator-controlled intermediary mechanism that sits between recommendation message sources and network entities. This intermediary validates and filters recommendations before transmission, ensuring only certified information reaches network entities. The operator acts as a mediator that prevents harmful recommendations while maintaining legitimate information flow, thus improving reliability without requiring complex changes at each network entity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback loops where network entities report their state to operators, who then adjust recommendation messages accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that recommendations are continuously aligned with actual network conditions, preventing inappropriate recommendations that could cause congestion or failures while maintaining system reliability through adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If all recommendation messages are transmitted to all network entities, then comprehensive information is available, but network load increases and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation information completenessVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring recommendation messages to specific network entities based on their roles, locations, and current states. Instead of uniform broadcast to all entities, recommendations are customized and targeted to relevant entities only. This selective approach maintains information completeness for each entity while significantly reducing overall network load and improving performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by transmitting only the necessary subset of recommendation information to each network entity rather than all possible recommendations. The operator determines which recommendations are relevant and transmits only those, avoiding information overload while ensuring each entity receives sufficient information to function properly, thus balancing information completeness with network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3357204B1Method for controlling recommendation messages in a communications network
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 ORANGE SA
  • EP3357204B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3357204B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method for controlling, in a communications network (1), recommendation messages exchanged during a session between a first endpoint (100a-b), referred to as source entity, and a second endpoint (200a-c), referred to as receiving entity, said messages being exchanged via a tube (10, 20, 30) grouping data packets of a communication protocol with no guarantee of the delivery of said data packets, which method comprises the steps of:obtaining (P1) recommendations contained in said recommendation messages via a control entity (400) located on a network path of said tube, said control entity being authorised by an operator of said communications network; calculating (E16) a new recommendation message, on the basis of the recommendations obtained and of at least one information item relating to conditions of the network provided by said control entity; and sending said new recommendation message to at least one network entity located at one end of said tube.