Telephone Device Server Integrating POTS and Multimedia Services

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current media communication systems, such as interactive television systems, face challenges in seamlessly integrating and managing multimedia services across various devices, including portable and fixed media devices, to provide comprehensive communication and media processing capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A device server with a web server application that establishes wireless communications with a gateway and media processors, enabling the detection of incoming and outgoing plain old telephone calls, and directing media processors to present caller identifiers, thereby facilitating communication services and multimedia interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a device server with web server application is integrated into a telephone to enable multimedia services and communication capabilities, then the functionality and service capability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultimedia service capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions (POTS telephone, web server application, media processor communication, caller ID presentation) into a single integrated device server system. The device server acts as a central hub that coordinates between traditional telephony and modern IP-based multimedia services, allowing one device to perform what previously required multiple separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device server is designed with universal functionality to handle both traditional POTS calls and modern IP-based multimedia services. It can detect incoming/outgoing calls, present caller identifiers, establish wireless communications with gateways and media processors, and execute software applications - making it adaptable to various communication paradigms without requiring separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device server establishes wireless communications with multiple gateways and media processors to enable comprehensive communication services, then the communication capability is improved, but the network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication service capabilityVSAvoidnetwork structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device server functions as an intermediary between traditional POTS telephony and modern IP-based media processors. It translates and coordinates communications between different network paradigms, managing connections to multiple gateways and media processors while presenting a unified interface to the end user. This mediator role simplifies the overall network architecture by providing a single point of coordination rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer connections between all components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11283933B2Processing messages with a device server operating in a telephone

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium in a telephone having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the telephone. The web server application can be operable to detect an incoming plain old telephone service call, identify a calling party identifier from the incoming plain old telephone service call, and direct one of a plurality of devices detected by web server application to present the calling party identifier. Other embodiments are disclosed.