Proxy apparatus and method

• US 20040078468A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frank Hundscheidt, George Vergopoulos, Jan Hedin, Jerker Widmark, Stefan Leupers
• Original Assignee: Frank Hundscheidt, George Vergopoulos, Jan Hedin, Jerker Widmark, Stefan Leupers
• Inventors: Leupers, Stefan, Hedin, Jan, Vergopoulos, George, Widmark, Jerker, Hundscheidt, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/273,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A system, comprising various methods and apparatus providing a transparent communication session setup and control for communication sessions involving different communication capabilities, is disclosed. The system receives a request for a communication session at a proxy apparatus, the request being originated from a first subscriber to the communication session using a first group of terminals. The system identifies at least a second subscriber to the communication session using a second group of terminals. The system evaluates types of communication being available for the first group of terminals and at least the second group of terminals on the basis of the request. The system sets up terminal sub-sessions from the proxy apparatus to the first group of terminals and to at least the second group of terminals according to types of communication being available for the first group of terminals and at least the second group of terminals.

Claims

1. ) A proxy method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a communication session at a proxy apparatus, the request being originated from a first subscriber to the communication session using a first group of terminals and identifying at least a second subscriber to the communication session using a second group of terminals;

evaluating types of communication being available for the first group of terminals and at least the second group of terminals on the basis of the request; and

setting up terminal sub-sessions from the proxy apparatus to the first group of terminals and to at least the second group of terminals according to types of communication being available for the first group of terminals and at least the second group of terminals.

2. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the request for the communication session identifies the desired types of communication for the communication session.

3. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the step of reading from subscriber profiles communication types of terminal groups used by the subscribers and corresponding terminal IDs.

4. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the step of contacting at least one terminal of a subscriber for input of communication capabilities.

5. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the step of interrogating the group of terminals of at least one subscriber to determine related communication capabilities and/or readiness for service.

6. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation step further comprises a the step of negotiating communication capabilities via a dedicated protocol.

7. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a transmission of payload or control information between the proxy apparatus, the first group of terminals of the first subscriber, and at least the second group of terminals of the second subscriber, according to the types of communication for the terminals.

8. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, further comprisinf the step of controlling the merging of payload information or control information of at least two terminal sub-sessions for common transmission via a further terminal sub-session.

9. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a splitting of payload information or control information of a terminal sub-session for transmission over separate terminal sub-sessions.

10. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a conversion of payload information or control information.

11. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, futher comprising the steps of:

re-evaluating the types of communication for the group of terminals of a subscriber after reception of a further request at the proxy apparatus; and

responsive to the re-evaluation result, changing parameters for at least one existing terminal sub-session, controlling the release of at least one existing terminal sub-session, or controlling the setup of at least one new terminal sub-session.

12. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, futher comprising the steps of:

determining, after reception of a request to join an ongoing communication session at the proxy apparatus, the corresponding ongoing communication session;

evaluating whether a new communication session subscriber is admitted to the ongoing communication session; and

reponsive to the evaluation, rejecting the request to join if the new communication session subscriber is not admitted to the ongoing communication session or, if the new communication session subscriber is admitted to join, the ongoing communication session the types of communication for the group of terminals of the new subscriber are further evaluated to control the setup of at least one new terminal sub-session, control an information transmission between the new subscriber and the existing subscribers, change parameters for at least one existing terminal sub-session, control a merging of information of at least two terminal sub-sessions for common transmission, or control a splitting of information of a sub-session for transmission over separate terminal sub-sessions.

13. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, wherin the release of at least one terminal-sub-session is achieved by detecting a release request for at least one terminal sub-session of a communication session, controlling the release of the at least one terminal sub-session or changing parameters for the remaining terminal sub-sessions of the communication session, or controlling the release of the communication session.

14. ) The proxy method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a request for a communication session from a further proxy for inter-proxy communication.

15. ) A proxy apparatus, comprising:

a setup control unit, receiving a request for a communication session, the request being originated from a first subscriber using a first group of terminals and identifying at least a second subscriber to the communication session using a second group of terminals;

an evaluation unit evaluating types of communication being available for the first group of terminals and at least the second group of terminals on the basis of the request; and

a session control unit setting up terminal sub-sessions from the proxy apparatus to the first group of terminals and to at least the second group of terminals according to types of communication being commonly available for the first group of terminals and is at least the second group of terminals.

16. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to read communication types of terminal groups and corresponding terminal IDs from a user profile data base.

17. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to contact at least one terminal of a subscriber for input of communication capabilities.

18. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the evaluating unit is adapted to interrogate the group of terminals of at least one subscriber to determine related communication capabilities or readiness for service.

19. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to negotiate communication capabilities via a dedicated protocol.

20. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a conversion control unit adapted to control a conversion of payload or control information for transmission between the first group of terminals of the first subscriber and at least the second group of terminals of the second subscriber according to the type of communication for each terminal.

21. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a merging unit adapted to control the merging of payload information or control information of at least two terminal sub-sessions for common transmission via a further terminal sub-session.

22. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a splitting unit adapted to control the splitting payload information or control information of a terminal sub-session for transmission over separate terminal sub-sessions.

23. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the session control unit is further adapted to modify parameters of a terminal sub-session of a communication session.

24. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the session control unit is further adapted to control a gatekeeper for address translation between different terminals.

25. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the session control unit is further adapted to control a gateway or an access server for transfer of signalling or payload information to related terminals.

26. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the gatekeeper or at least one gateway or at least one network access server are integrated into the proxy apparatus.

27. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a computer program product, directly loadable into internal memory of a proxy apparatus, comprising software code portions for performing a proxy method when the product is run on a processor of the proxy apparatus.

28. ) The proxy apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a processor program product, stored on a processor usable medium, comprising processor readable program means for performing a proxy method when the product is run on a processor of a proxy apparatus.