VOIP Call Management via Administrative Entity Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current VOIP call management systems, particularly in the transition between PSTN and packet switched networks, face challenges with 'hung calls' leading to billing discrepancies due to inefficiencies in detecting inactive calls, which existing RTCP timers and script-based solutions cannot fully address, especially when gateways are not owned by the service provider.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an administrative entity that gathers information on VOIP calls, analyzes uptime values and data packet transmission/reception, and sends commands to session controllers to drop inactive calls, allowing for flexible threshold settings and reduced overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RTCP timers are used to detect inactive calls, then call monitoring is automated, but detection accuracy is insufficient leading to hung calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the administrative entity continuously receives call status information from session controllers, analyzes it using multiple criteria (uptime thresholds, data packet transmission rates, RTCP packet reception), and sends commands back to terminate inactive calls. This closed-loop feedback system significantly improves detection accuracy compared to simple RTCP timers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for call status determination from单一的RTCP timer to a multi-parameter analysis including uptime values, data packet transmission rates, and RTCP packet reception patterns. By analyzing multiple parameters simultaneously, the system achieves more precise detection of inactive calls while maintaining automated monitoring.
2Reliability
If script-based solutions are implemented at gateways, then hung calls can be detected, but system complexity increases and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex call analysis functionality from the gateway session controllers and centralizes it in a separate administrative entity. The session controllers only need to collect and forward basic call status information, while the administrative entity performs the sophisticated analysis using multiple parameters. This separation significantly reduces gateway complexity while maintaining reliable hung call detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The administrative entity acts as an intermediary between session controllers and the call management system. It receives information from multiple session controllers, performs centralized analysis using multiple criteria, and coordinates termination of inactive calls. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating complex logic in a dedicated component.
3Measurement precision
If multiple parameters are analyzed for call status, then detection accuracy improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tiered analysis approach where the administrative entity first checks basic parameters like uptime thresholds, then selectively analyzes more resource-intensive parameters like data packet transmission rates only when needed. This partial action approach maintains high detection precision while minimizing unnecessary processing overhead by not always evaluating all parameters at full depth.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for: obtaining information at an administrative entity concerning one or more voice-over-Internet (VOI) calls gathered at one or more session controllers operatively coupled between one or more packet switched networks and one or more public switched telephone networks; analyzing the information to determine whether any of the calls are inactive; and sending at least one command from the administrative entity to the one or more session controllers that causes the session controllers to drop any VOIP calls that are determined to be inactive.