Transparent Media Channel Setup for New IMS Application Protocols

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional IMS architecture faces challenges in deploying new applications due to limitations in accessing new application protocols, difficulty in interfacing with existing services, and the need for extensive updates and renovations of multiple functional entities, which hinders the deployment of new media applications.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that involves creating a transparent transmission channel between a media control network element and a terminal device, allowing direct data transmission without updating the existing system, and enabling the use of different application protocols through a signalling control network element and media control network element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a new application is deployed by adding a new media line in SDP, then the application functionality is improved, but the system complexity and deployment difficulty increase due to requiring upgrades of multiple functional entities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication deployment capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a media gateway as an intermediary component that handles new application protocols and media lines. This mediator allows new applications to be deployed without requiring upgrades to core functional entities like SBC and TAS, as the media gateway absorbs the complexity of protocol handling and media line management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the IMS architecture by separating the media handling functions into a dedicated media gateway component. This segmentation isolates the complexity of new application deployment to a specific segment (media gateway) rather than requiring system-wide upgrades, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functional entities are upgraded to support new applications, then the application functionality is improved, but the deployment time and operational disruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenew application supportVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning the media gateway as an intermediary, the patent enables new applications to be deployed independently of core network entities. The media gateway handles protocol conversion and media line management, allowing rapid deployment without coordinating upgrades across multiple functional entities, thus significantly reducing deployment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The media gateway is pre-configured with capabilities to handle various application protocols and media lines. This preliminary preparation allows new applications to be deployed quickly by simply configuring the media gateway, rather than performing complex system-wide upgrades at deployment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the existing IMS architecture is used, then system stability is maintained, but the capability to access new application protocols is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidprotocol access capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The media gateway serves as an intermediary that bridges the stable existing IMS architecture and new application protocols. It handles protocol conversion and adaptation, allowing the core system to remain stable while gaining access to new protocols through the media gateway's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The media gateway is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various application protocols and media types. This universality allows a single component to provide adaptability to new protocols without requiring changes to the stable core IMS architecture, thus maintaining system stability while expanding protocol access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4380116B1Communication method, signaling control network element, media control network element and communication system

Publication Date: 2026.02.04 ZTE CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

A communication method, a signaling control network element, a media control network element and a communication system. The communication method comprises: acquiring a transparent transmission channel creation request; performing, according to the transparent transmission channel creation request, negotiation processing on a media control network element and a first terminal device corresponding to a first terminal identifier, so as to create a transparent transmission channel between the media control network element and the first terminal device; obtaining a first resource identifier of an application entity according to the transparent transmission channel creation request; and sending the first resource identifier to the media control network element, so that the media control network element determines a data transmission relationship between the transparent transmission channel and the application entity corresponding to an application identifier.