Unified Communication Preferred Device Assignment via Virtual Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Unified Communication (UC) solutions face complexity and inflexibility in dynamically assigning and managing preferred devices for One Number Service, particularly when integrating external devices, leading to high implementation effort and limited simultaneous use of multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that bundles physical and virtual devices into a group configuration, allowing dynamic and transparent assignment of preferred devices, enabling simultaneous use of multiple devices without requiring client-side application reactions, using a combination of CTI layers and CSTA services for seamless operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic device assignment is implemented in UC solutions, then device flexibility and adaptability are improved, but system complexity and implementation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple CTI layers (CTI layer 1 for static subscriber-device assignment, CTI layer 2 for dynamic preferred device selection, and CTI layer 3 for application integration). This segmentation allows dynamic device assignment functionality to be isolated in specific layers without complicating the entire system, enabling flexibility while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A virtual device is introduced as an intermediary between the subscriber and physical devices. The virtual device acts as a mediator that receives calls and routes them to the currently active preferred device, thereby enabling dynamic device assignment without requiring direct complex interactions between applications and multiple physical devices, thus reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are integrated into the communications system, then device versatility is improved, but management complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple physical devices and virtual devices are merged into a unified group configuration associated with a single subscriber. This merging allows the system to manage multiple devices as a cohesive unit through the virtual device intermediary, enabling multi-device versatility while simplifying management by presenting a single unified interface to applications rather than requiring separate management of each device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external devices are connected via gateways, then device connectivity is improved, but integration complexity and configuration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual device serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of external device connections via gateways. External devices connect through the established gateway infrastructure to the virtual device, which then manages routing to the active preferred device. This intermediary approach enables external device connectivity while hiding the integration complexity from applications and reducing configuration effort by centralizing management at the virtual device level.
4Ease of operation
If dynamic preferred device selection is enabled, then operational flexibility is improved, but feedback requirements and synchronization needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The CTI layers are segmented such that CTI layer 2 handles dynamic preferred device selection while CTI layer 1 maintains static assignment information. This segmentation allows dynamic selection to occur in one layer without requiring other layers to process feedback or synchronization requests, as each layer operates independently with its own information set, thereby reducing feedback requirements and synchronization needs while maintaining operational flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for integrating at least one first communication terminal device (D2) assigned to a user (T) as a preferred device (OND 1) into a static configuration of a communication system (10) and/or for dynamically switching from a first communication terminal device (D2) used as a preferred device (OND 1) to a second communication terminal device (D5, D6) as a preferred device (OND 2) for providing a One Number Service using the preferred device (OND 1, OND 2) to which a One Number Service number is assigned, wherein at least two communication terminal devices (D2, D5, D6) are statically assigned to the user (T) and, in addition, a preferred device (OND 1, OND 2) is dynamically assigned to the user (T) via a virtual device. The invention also relates to a communication system (10) configured for this purpose.