Voice Chat Gateway for Telephone and Data Network Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voice communications over telephone networks are not integrated with voice chat communications over data networks, limiting cross-platform communication and service availability between the two.

Innovation Solution

A voice chat gateway is configured to receive communication requests and redirect or reroute them based on user settings, establishing connections between voice chat and telephone services by determining whether to redirect voice chat requests to a telephone number and maintaining user presence on messaging services, thereby facilitating integration between voice chat and telephone communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If voice chat services and telephone communications remain separate, then each service can be optimized independently, but cross-platform communication and service availability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-platform communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A gateway is introduced as an intermediary component that connects the voice chat service and telephone service. The gateway receives communication requests from either service, determines the appropriate routing based on user preferences, and establishes connections between different communication platforms. This intermediary approach enables cross-platform communication without requiring complete integration of the underlying systems, thus maintaining their independence while achieving interoperability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If voice chat requests are redirected to telephone lines, then users can receive voice chats on telephone devices, but additional routing logic and user preference management are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenience in receiving voice chatsVSAvoidrouting and preference management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Users are provided with the ability to configure their own communication preferences through a user interface. Each user can specify whether they want voice chat requests redirected to their telephone line or handled through the voice chat service. This self-service approach allows users to control their own communication flow according to their needs, reducing the need for complex centralized routing logic while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If services are integrated through a gateway, then interoperability between voice chat and telephone services is enhanced, but the gateway adds additional system components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice interoperabilityVSAvoidnumber of system components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway is designed to perform multiple functions within a single system component. It can route voice chat requests to telephone lines, forward telephone calls to voice chat services, manage user preferences, and maintain presence information. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional gateway, the system achieves high service interoperability without proportionally increasing the number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2254319B1Integration of voice chat services
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • EP2254319B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2254319B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2254319B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A communication system provides a user with the ability to redirect telephone calls to a voice chat account and vice versa. In one example, a voice chat gateway may receive communication requests and determine whether communications directed to a first party is to be redirected. If so, the voice chat gateway may reroute the communication request to an appropriate destination. For instance, a user may request that all communications such as telephone calls be rerouted as a voice chat to the user's voice chat account. Alternatively, a user may request that all communications including voice chats be redirected to a telephone number. Users may further be allowed to call a voice chat account through a telephone network and initiate a voice chat with a telephone number through a data network.