VoIP Handoff Logic Using Annoyance Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handoff mechanisms in dual network communication devices lack user tolerance and network condition adaptability, leading to suboptimal call quality and increased user annoyance during network transitions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating user feedback and annoyance tolerance into the handoff decision algorithm, using a communication link handoff logic that monitors network conditions and predicts the need for handoffs based on statistical models and annoyance thresholds, allowing seamless transitions between IP and circuit-switched networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handoff is initiated based on default manufacturer or carrier settings, then network transitions can occur, but user annoyance increases and call quality deteriorates due to premature or unnecessary handoffs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring network conditions (signal strength, data throughput, packet loss) and user behavior patterns to dynamically adjust handoff thresholds. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from past handoff outcomes and user reactions, optimizing future handoff decisions to minimize annoyance while maintaining call continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively establishing circuit-switched network connections before IP-based connections are completely lost. The handoff logic anticipates network degradation trends and initiates handoff procedures in advance, ensuring seamless transition and preventing call drops while avoiding premature handoffs that would cause user annoyance.
2Reliability
If handoff threshold is set low to maintain call quality, then call drops are prevented, but network transitions occur too frequently causing user annoyance
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by implementing multiple handoff thresholds rather than a single threshold. It uses a first threshold for initiating handoff preparation and a second, more conservative threshold for completing handoff. This staged approach allows the system to monitor conditions closely without triggering unnecessary full handoffs, reducing handoff frequency while maintaining call continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handoff threshold is made dynamic rather than static. The system adjusts thresholds based on network conditions, call duration, user behavior patterns, and historical performance data. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize the balance between preventing call drops and minimizing handoff frequency for each specific situation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If handoff is delayed to avoid unnecessary transitions, then user annoyance is reduced, but call quality deteriorates and call drops occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary handoff actions by establishing circuit-switched network connectivity before the IP-based connection is completely lost. This proactive approach ensures that the handoff buffer is ready in advance, allowing the system to delay the actual handoff execution until necessary while maintaining call continuity through the pre-established alternative path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements cushioning by maintaining a handoff buffer that keeps the circuit-switched network connection active and ready before it is needed. This buffer absorbs the variability in network conditions and provides a safety margin that prevents call drops while allowing the system to wait for optimal handoff timing, thus reducing unnecessary handoffs.
4Measurement precision
If multiple network parameters are monitored for handoff decision, then handoff accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into modular components, each responsible for monitoring specific network parameters (signal strength, data throughput, packet loss, latency). This segmentation allows the system to independently manage and process each parameter, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability for accurate handoff decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The handoff logic component is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a universal decision-making engine that processes multiple different network parameters and applies consistent decision rules across various scenarios. This universal handler reduces complexity by consolidating the decision logic into a single component rather than requiring separate processing for each parameter combination.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for evaluating an ongoing VoIP call over a combination of IP data communication network connections for purposes of determining when to hand it off to a circuit-switched cellular network connection. Multiple IP stream call quality values X1(i), X2(i), and Xb(i) are sampled over a time period (N) of (j) samples for an ongoing telephone call and stored. Instantaneous annoyance values a1(j), a2(j), and ab(j) for each of the stored call quality values for each of the IP streams within sampled time period (N) are calculated. Current accumulated annoyance values A1(i), A2(i), and Ab(i) are obtained by summing the instantaneous annoyance values a(j) for each IP network. The combined IP stream accumulated annoyance values Ab(i) is compared to a handoff threshold values Hb(i). A handoff of the telephone call a circuit-switched cellular communication link is initiated when the accumulated annoyance value Ab(i) is greater than the handoff threshold value Hb(i).