Telephone Relay Device for IP Teleconference Audio Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teleconference systems face hindrances due to audio quality reductions during web-based teleconferences, which can occur due to communication delays and losses in IP networks, leading to interrupted conferences.
Innovation Solution
A telephone relay device and a teleconference server system that monitor audio quality and automatically switch to a stable communication channel by relaying audio calls between communication terminals and telephone terminals via a telephone line when audio quality drops below a predetermined level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio communication is performed via IP network in teleconference, then convenience of participation is improved, but audio quality and communication reliability deteriorate due to network delays and losses
Solution Approach 1:
A telephone relay device is introduced as an intermediary between the IP network and the public telephone network. The relay device receives audio data from the teleconference server via IP network, converts it to voice signals, and transmits them through the public telephone network to telephone terminals. This mediator approach allows participants to choose between IP-based communication (for convenience) and telephone-based communication (for reliability), resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and audio quality.
2Reliability
If automatic switching to telephone terminal is implemented when audio quality degrades, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The teleconference server automatically monitors audio quality metrics (packet loss rate, delay time, jitter) and autonomously determines when to switch communication paths. The server sends notifications to the telephone relay device when degradation is detected, triggering automatic switching without requiring manual intervention or complex user-side decision-making logic. This self-service approach improves reliability while keeping the system manageable.
3Device complexity
If manual switching procedure is required when audio quality degrades, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and conference progress deteriorate due to interruption and waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The telephone relay device and teleconference server are pre-configured with communication path switching capabilities. When audio quality degradation is detected, the system has already established the necessary communication channels and can execute the switch immediately. The relay device maintains readiness to receive and forward audio data through the public telephone network, so when switching is triggered, the transition is seamless and instantaneous, preserving conference productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The telephone relay device (30) is communicably connected to a teleconference server that relays an audio call between communication terminals participating in a teleconference via an IP network. The telephone relay device includes: a participation request unit (32) that requests the teleconference server to permit participation in the teleconference in response to receiving, from the teleconference server, an audio quality reduction notification indicating that audio quality of the audio call between the communication terminals becomes less than a predetermined level; a call making unit (33) that makes a call to a telephone terminal associated with the communication terminal in response to being permitted to participate in the teleconference; and a call relay unit (34) that relays an audio call of the teleconference between the telephone terminal and the teleconference server in response to receiving a response to the call from the telephone terminal.