Interworking of multimedia and telephony equipment

• US 20040120498A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Sylvain, Dany
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6402 Hybrid switching fabrics

Abstract

The present invention provides a way to associate multimedia clients with telephony devices and create multimedia sessions related to a voice connection between the telephony devices. The telephony devices may be part of a public network or an enterprise network associated with a PBX. Further, calls can be routed in part over packet-switched and circuit-switched networks.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving from a telephony switch first information indicative of an initiation of a voice call from a first telephony device having a first directory number to a second telephony device having a second directory number;

b) determining to route the voice call via a public switched telephone network or via a packet switched network based on the second directory number; and

c) sending to the telephony switch second information instructing the telephony switch to either route the voice call via the public switched telephone network or via the packet switched network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if the second telephony device is within a first domain.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the voice call is routed via the public switched telephone network if the second telephony device is within the first domain.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the voice call is routed via the packet switched network if the second telephony device is outside the first domain.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the voice call is routed to a call server, which will control a trunk gateway to establish the voice call from the telephony switch to the packet network.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) determining an address for a first multimedia client, which is associated with the first telephony device, based on the first directory number; and

e) sending the address for the first multimedia client to a call server, which will forward the first address for delivery to a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device, when the voice call is routed via the packet network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving from the call server, a message including the first directory number wherein the address for the first multimedia client is sent in response to the message.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving registration information identifying the first directory number and the address for the first multimedia client and associating the first directory number with the address for the first multimedia client.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) determining a first address for a first multimedia client associated with the first telephony device based on the first directory number;

e) determining a second address for a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device based on the second directory number; and

f) sending the first address to the second multimedia client using the second address, wherein the second multimedia client can send information to the first multimedia client using the first address.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising establishing a multimedia session between the first and second multimedia clients, the multimedia session consisting of at least one of the group of video, media streaming, application sharing, file transfer, and instant messaging.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending instructions to a call server to terminate the voice call at the second telephony device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving a message from a telephony switch when attempting to terminate the voice call to the second telephony device and sending a message to the telephony switch to instruct the telephony switch to terminate the call at the second telephony device.

11. A method comprising:

a) receiving a first address and a second directory number while establishing a call between a first telephony device having a first directory number and a second telephony device having the second directory number, the first address for a first multimedia client associated with the first telephony device;

b) identifying a second address for a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device based on the second directory number; and

c) sending the first address to the second multimedia client using the second address.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first address and second directory number are received from a call server associated with a packet network in which the voice call is routed.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the directory number is an extension number for the second telephony device supported by a public branch exchange.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the extension number is obtained from interaction with a caller via the first telephony device.

17. A system comprising:

a) at least one interface; and

b) a control a system associated with the at least one interface and adapted to;

i) receive from a telephony switch first information indicative of an initiation of a voice call from a first telephony device having a first directory number to a second telephony device having a second directory number;

ii) determine to route the voice call via a public switched telephone network or via a packet switched network based on the second directory number; and

iii) send to the telephony switch second information instructing the telephony switch to either route the voice call via the public switched telephone network or via the packet switched network.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control system is further adapted to determine if the second telephony device is within a first domain.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the voice call is routed via the public switched telephone network if the second telephony device is within the first domain.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the voice call is routed via the packet switched network if the second telephony device is outside the first domain.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the voice call is routed to a call server, which will control a trunk gateway to establish the voice call from the telephony switch to the packet network.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the call server is a Session Initiation Protocol call server.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

iv) determine an address for a first multimedia client, which is associated with the first telephony device, based on the first directory number; and

v) send the address for the first multimedia client to a call server, which will forward the first address for delivery to a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device, when the voice call is routed via the packet network.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive from the call server a message including the first directory number, wherein the address for the first multimedia client is sent in response to the message.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive registration information identifying the first directory number and the address for the first multimedia client and associate the first directory number with the address for the first multimedia client.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

iv) determine a first address for a first multimedia client associated with the first telephony device based on the first directory number;

v) determine a second address for a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device based on the second directory number; and

vi) send the first address to the second multimedia client using the second address, wherein the second multimedia client can send information to the first multimedia client using the first address.

27. A system comprising:

a) at least one interface; and

b) a control system associated with the at least one interface and adapted to;

i) receive a first address and a second directory number while establishing a call between a first telephony device having a first directory number and a second telephony device having the second directory number, the first address for a first multimedia client associated with a first telephony device;

ii) identify a second address for a second multimedia client associated with the second telephony device based on the second directory number; and

iii) send the first address to the second multimedia client using the second address.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the control system is further adapted to send instructions to a call server to terminate the voice call at the second telephony device.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive a message from a telephony switch when attempting to terminate the voice call to the second telephony device and sending a message to the telephony switch to instruct the telephony switch to terminate the call at the second telephony device.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the first address and second directory number are received from a call server associated with a packet network in which the voice call is routed.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the directory number is an extension number for the second telephony device supported by a public branch exchange.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the extension number is obtained from interaction with a caller via the first telephony device.