Service control framework for seamless transfer of a multimedia conference over different media

• US 20040030749A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for seamless transfer of a conference over different media. Initially, a conference is initiated on a first medium with a first set of associated capabilities utilizing a network. During use, a request to transfer the conference to a second medium is received utilizing the network. A second set of capabilities associated with the second medium is then determined in response to the request. Aspects of the conference requiring the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium are then disabled in response to the request. In a similar manner, aspects of the conference supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium are enabled in response to the request. The conference is thus seamlessly continued on the second medium.

Claims

1. A method for seamless transfer of a conference over different media, comprising:

initiating a conference on a first medium with a first set of associated capabilities utilizing a network;

receiving a request to transfer the conference to a second medium utilizing the network;

determining a second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to the request;

disabling aspects of the conference requiring the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium in response to the request;

enabling aspects of the conference supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to the request; and

seamlessly continuing the conference on the second medium.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second medium are selected from the group consisting of a desk top computer, a personal digital assistant, a palm computer, a lap top computer, and a cellular phone.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first medium includes a desk top computer and the second medium is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a palm computer, a lap top computer, and a cellular phone.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the capabilities of the first medium are greater than the capabilities of the second medium.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising matching a plurality of settings on the second medium with a plurality of settings on the first medium.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the settings include device settings.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the settings include user settings.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the settings include network settings.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the aspects include performance.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the aspects include features.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the aspects include format.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is carried out utilizing a service control architecture.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the service control architecture includes a database, a profiler module, an application module, a network resource module, a presentation module, and a policy server.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the service control architecture includes at least one of a profiler module, an application module, a network resource module, a presentation module, and a policy server.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the service control architecture includes a database;

a profiler module coupled to the database, the profiler module adapted for collecting a state of a user along with profile information selected from the group consisting of identity, location, available services per location, devices per location, and security per location, wherein the profiler module communicates the profile information to the database for storage therein;

an application module coupled to the database and including a plurality of application program interfaces for interfacing with a plurality of applications, the application module adapted for allocating application resources to the applications based on the profile information stored in the database;

a network resource module coupled to the database and a plurality of network routers, the network resource module adapted for configuring the network routers based on the profile information stored in the database and the application resources allocated to the applications;

a presentation module coupled to the database, the presentation module adapted for tailoring an output of the applications based on the profile information; and

a policy server coupled to the database, the application module, the network resource module, and the presentation module for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with policies identified utilizing the profile information.

16. A computer program product for seamless transfer of a conference over different media, comprising:

computer code for initiating a conference on a first medium with a first set of associated capabilities utilizing a network;

computer code for receiving a request to transfer the conference to a second medium utilizing the network;

computer code for determining a second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to the request;

computer code for disabling aspects of the conference requiring the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium in response to the request;

computer code for enabling aspects of the conference supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to the request; and

computer code for seamlessly continuing the conference on the second medium.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the first and second medium are selected from the group consisting of a desk top computer, a personal digital assistant, a palm computer, a lap top computer, and a cellular phone.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the first medium includes a desk top computer and the second medium is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a palm computer, a lap top computer, and a cellular phone.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the capabilities of the first medium are greater than the capabilities of the second medium.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, and further comprising computer code for matching a plurality of settings on the second medium with a plurality of settings on the first medium.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the settings include device settings.

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the settings include user settings.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the settings include network settings.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the aspects include performance.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the computer program product is executed utilizing a service control architecture including at least one of a profiler module, an application module, a network resource module, a presentation module, and a policy server.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the aspects include features.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the aspects include format.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the computer program product is executed utilizing a service control architecture.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 28, wherein the service control architecture includes a database, a profiler module, an application module, a network resource module, a presentation module, and a policy server.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein the service control architecture includes a database;

a profiler module coupled to the database, the profiler module adapted for collecting a state of a user along with profile information selected from the group consisting of identity, location, available services per location, devices per location, and security per location, wherein the profiler module communicates the profile information to the database for storage therein;

an application module coupled to the database and including a plurality of application program interfaces for interfacing with a plurality of applications, the application module adapted for allocating application resources to the applications based on the profile information stored in the database;

a network resource module coupled to the database and a plurality of network routers, the network resource module adapted for configuring the network routers based on the profile information stored in the database and the application resources allocated to the applications;

a presentation module coupled to the database, the presentation module adapted for tailoring an output of the applications based on the profile information; and

a policy server coupled to the database, the application module, the network resource module, and the presentation module for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with policies identified utilizing the profile information.

31. A system for transferring a conference over different media, comprising:

a first medium with a first set of associated capabilities capable of conducting a conference utilizing a network;

a second medium with a second set of associated capabilities capable of conducting a conference utilizing the network; and

service control logic in communication with the first medium and the second medium, the service control logic adapted for determining a second set of capabilities associated with the second medium, disabling aspects of the conference requiring the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium, and enabling aspects of the conference supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to a request to transfer the conference from the first medium to the second medium utilizing the network.

32. A method for seamless transfer of a conference over different media, comprising:

initiating a conference on a first medium with a first set of associated capabilities utilizing a network;

conducting the conference on the first medium with a first performance amount supported by the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium;

formatting the conference on the first medium in accordance with the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium;

enabling features of the conference supported by the first set of capabilities associated with the first medium;

receiving a request to transfer the conference to a second medium utilizing the network;

determining a second set of capabilities associated with the second medium in response to the request;

conducting the conference on the second medium with a second performance amount supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium;

matching a plurality of settings on the second medium with a plurality of settings on the first medium;

formatting the conference on the second medium in accordance with the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium; and

enabling features of the conference supported by the second set of capabilities associated with the second medium.