Telephone Relay Agent Concealing Network Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telephone relay systems cannot associate multiple telephone numbers associated with a terminal, preventing seamless call origination and reception across different telephone networks, leading to recognition issues and network switching disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A computer-based agent device manages call connections by obtaining the current telephone number, establishing terminal-side and counterpart-side connections, and relaying calls using a common telephone number, allowing the primary terminal to be recognized as a single telephone number by the counterpart terminal, regardless of the active network, and enabling seamless network switching without call interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal connects to multiple telephone networks with different telephone numbers, then the terminal can communicate across different networks, but the terminal cannot be recognized as a single telephone number by counterpart devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidtelephone number identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a relay server as an intermediary between the multi-network terminal and counterpart terminals. The relay server obtains the terminal's current telephone number from the active network, establishes connections through this intermediary node, and relays calls while preserving the terminal's single telephone number identity. This mediator approach allows the terminal to maintain single-number recognition while accessing multiple networks through the relay server's coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the terminal switches between different telephone networks, then the terminal can use optimal network for each call, but the call connection is interrupted during network switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall establishment efficiencyVSAvoidcall continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The relay server performs preliminary actions by obtaining and storing the terminal's current telephone number before call establishment. When network switching is needed, the relay server has already prepared the new telephone number information, allowing seamless connection establishment without call interruption. The relay server proactively manages the telephone number information in advance, enabling smooth network transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay server maintains continuous call connection by managing the terminal's telephone number information throughout the call duration. Even when the terminal switches networks, the relay server ensures the call connection continues uninterrupted by coordinating the network switch while maintaining the call flow through the intermediary node, thus preserving call continuity throughout the network transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses multiple telephone numbers for a single terminal, then network flexibility is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork switching capabilityVSAvoidtelephone number management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the complexity of multi-number management from the terminal itself and relocates it to the relay server. The terminal only needs to interact with its single telephone number, while the relay server handles obtaining, storing, and managing multiple telephone numbers associated with the terminal. This extraction approach simplifies the terminal's functionality while centralizing the complex number management in the relay server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8630254B2Telephone line switching apparatus, telephone line switching system, telephone relay system, telephone relay method, telephone relay program

Publication Date: 2014.01.14 NEC CORP

AI summary

A telephone relay system enabling a terminal having multiple telephone numbers to originate and receive calls same as a terminal having only one telephone number is provided. When a connection management unit of an agent device receives a call request from a terminal device, it activates a terminal calling unit while designating a current telephone number and also activates a counterpart calling unit to establish a terminal-side connection between the current telephone number of the terminal device and the agent device and a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal. When an incoming call from the counterpart terminal arrives, the connection management unit establishes a counterpart-side connection corresponding to the incoming call, and activates the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number to establish a terminal-side connection. A communication relay unit relays the call by using the two connections established by the connection management unit.