WebRTC Gateway for IMS Ad-Hoc Conference Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
IMS ad-hoc conferences currently require all participants to be registered and provisioned within the IMS network, preventing external WebRTC users from joining without prior registration.
Innovation Solution
A method allowing a WebRTC-enabled terminal to join an ad-hoc conference or chat session in the IMS network by sending a link with a conference/chat-correlator to an external user, enabling them to join via a WebRTC gateway, which sets up a new session and associates it with the ongoing session, allowing participation without prior IMS registration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all users must be registered and provisioned in the IMS network to participate in ad-hoc conferences, then the IMS network security and control are maintained, but external WebRTC users cannot join the conference without prior registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a WebRTC gateway as an intermediary component between external WebRTC users and the IMS network. The gateway translates WebRTC protocols into SIP protocols, enabling external users to join IMS conferences without direct integration into the IMS infrastructure. This mediator approach allows the system to maintain IMS security while enabling external access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the conference participation process into two distinct paths: one for registered IMS users and another for external WebRTC users. External users join through a separate gateway infrastructure, while IMS users participate through the core IMS network. This segmentation allows the system to handle different user types through appropriate infrastructure without requiring all users to be provisioned in IMS.
2Ease of operation
If external users can join IMS conferences without registration, then user accessibility and ease of joining is improved, but the control and authentication mechanisms of the IMS network are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The WebRTC gateway serves as an authentication intermediary that verifies external users before allowing them to join IMS conferences. The gateway maintains authentication control while simplifying the user experience, ensuring that only authorized external users can access the conference without needing prior IMS registration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions at the WebRTC gateway before allowing external users to enter the IMS conference space. This preliminary action ensures security and control are maintained while the user experiences ease of joining through a simplified process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a WebRTC gateway is introduced to enable external user access, then external users can join conferences, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the WebRTC gateway to perform multiple functions: protocol translation between WebRTC and SIP, authentication of external users, session establishment, and media stream management. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components into a single gateway, reducing overall system complexity while enabling external user access.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on user type and conference requirements. By changing parameters such as authentication depth, session configuration, and media handling based on whether the user is registered in IMS or accessing via WebRTC, the system adapts to different scenarios without requiring proportional increases in infrastructure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of facilitating participation of a WebRTC enabled terminal in an ad hoc conference or chat session hosted in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, where there is an ongoing session between first and second terminals using the IMS network. The method comprises sending a link from the first terminal to a third terminal that is not provisioned or not registered with the IMS network, where the third terminal is said WebRTC enabled terminal and the link provides access to a conference/chat-correlator identifying said ongoing session, and sending a session invite from the third terminal to the first terminal, via a WebRTC gateway, WGw, the session invite including the conference/chat-correlator. The method further comprises, at the first terminal setting up a second session between the first terminal and the third terminal in response to the received session invite, and at the first terminal using the conference/chat-correlator in the received session invite to associate the ongoing and second sessions, and joining both sessions into an ad hoc conference or chat session hosted in the IMS network.