VoIP Interconnection via Shared Subscriber Identifier Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
VoIP providers face challenges in interconnection due to the need for signal conversion and high capital expenditures when using the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transit, and existing resolution databases are often static, incomplete, or outdated, limiting effective VoIP provider interconnection over the Internet.
Innovation Solution
A shared subscriber contact identifier translation service that associates subscriber contact identifiers with Internet contact information, allowing selection of optimal communications endpoint identifiers based on reachability information, network routing preferences, and subscriber preferences, enabling VoIP provider interconnection over the Internet without relying on the PSTN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PSTN is used for VoIP provider interconnection, then signal conversion and interconnection capability are achieved, but capital expenditures and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation service as an intermediary component that sits between VoIP providers and the PSTN. This translation service handles the conversion and routing functions, allowing VoIP providers to interconnect without direct PSTN connections. The translation service receives translation requests from VoIP providers, queries resolution databases, and returns translated contact information, thereby eliminating the need for expensive PSTN interconnection infrastructure while maintaining interconnection capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If static resolution databases are used for contact identifier translation, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but translation accuracy and reachability information become outdated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the translation service continuously queries resolution databases and updates translation information based on current reachability data. The system receives feedback from multiple sources including resolution databases and VoIP providers about the current status of contact identifiers. This feedback loop ensures that the translation service maintains accurate, up-to-date information without requiring complex manual updates, thus preserving implementation simplicity while improving information accuracy.
3Reliability
If multiple communications endpoint identifiers are maintained for a subscriber, then reachability and communication reliability are improved, but system complexity and information management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple communications endpoint identifiers into a unified translation service. Instead of each VoIP provider independently managing multiple identifiers for each subscriber, the translation service consolidates this functionality. It receives a single subscriber contact identifier from a VoIP provider, automatically resolves it to multiple communications endpoint identifiers by querying resolution databases, and manages the selection and updating of these identifiers. This merging approach maintains communication reliability through multiple endpoint identifiers while significantly reducing the complexity of information management for individual providers.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, an apparatus and a recording medium are provided for facilitating access by a subscriber over a communications network. The method comprises: acquiring a query message comprising a subscriber contact identifier associated with the subscriber; responsive to acquiring the query message: identifying a plurality of communications endpoint identifiers associated with the subscriber contact identifier, each communications endpoint identifier being associated with a communications device and reachability information, wherein the reachability information reflects a degree of subscriber accessibility via the communications device; and providing a response to the query message comprising at least one of the plurality of the communications endpoint identifiers, wherein the at least one of the plurality of the communications endpoint identifiers is selected based at least in part on the reachability information. The recording medium comprises instructions to configure the apparatus to perform the method.