Composite controller for multimedia sessions

• US 20040125756A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schauer, Daniel L., Lepore, Michael P., Kyzivat, Paul H., Quatrano, Stephen R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• 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 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

A method for managing a multimedia session includes receiving a request to initiate a multimedia session, which includes first media and second media. The method further includes establishing a first delegated session with a first device to communicate the first media, and associating the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

Claims

1. A method for managing a multimedia session, comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a multimedia session, the multimedia session having first media and second media;

establishing a first delegated session with a first device to communicate the first media; and

associating the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first media is voice; and

the second media is instant messaging.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a second delegated session with a second device to communicate the second media; and

associating the second delegated session with the multimedia session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein associating the first delegated session comprises:

establishing a multimedia session with a remote device; and

associating the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the remote device communicates first media with the first device and second media with a second device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote device:

establishes a third delegated session to a third device to communicate first media with the first device; and

establishes a fourth delegated session to a fourth device to communicate second media with the second device.

7. The method of claim 1, whereint:

the steps of the method are performed by a composite controller; and

the method further comprises outputting the second media to a user by executing an application of the composite controller.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an application programming interface.

9. A method for managing a multimedia session, comprising:

receiving a first invite command to initiate a multimedia session having first media and second media;

communicating a second invite command to establish a first delegated session with a first device to communicate first media; and

associating the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the first media is voice; and

the second media is data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating a third invite command to establish a second delegated session with a second device to communicate second media; and

associating the second delegated session with the multimedia session.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein associating the first delegated session comprises:

establishing a master session with a remote device; and

associating the first delegated session with the master session.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote device communicates first media with the first device and second media with a second device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote device:

establishes a third delegated session to a third device to communicate first media with the first device; and

establishes a fourth delegated session to a fourth device to communicate second media with the second device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the request is received from an application programming interface.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the invite messages have a format specified by a communication protocol; and

the communication protocol comprises a peer-to-peer protocol allowing one or more communication devices to establish communication sessions with one another.

17. A composite controller, comprising:

a first interface operable to receive a request to initiate a multimedia session having first and second media;

a second interface operable to establish a first delegated session with a first delegated user agent to exchange the first media with the first delegated user agent; and

a processor operable to associate the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

18. The composite controller of claim 17, wherein:

the first media is voice; and

the second media is data

19. The composite controller of claim 18, wherein:

the second interface is further operable to establish a second delegated session with a second delegated user agent to communicate the second media; and

the processor is further operable to associate the second delegated session with the multimedia session.

20. The composite controller of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to establish a master session with a remote device.

21. The composite controller of claim 17, further comprising a user interface operable to deliver the second media to a user.

22. The composite controller of claim 17, wherein:

the first interface comprises an application programming interface; and

the request is received from an application.

23. Logic embodied in a computer readable medium operable to:

receive a request to initiate a multimedia session, the multimedia session having first media and second media;

establish a first delegated session with a first device to communicate the first media; and

associate the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

24. The logic of claim 23, wherein associating the first delegated session comprises:

establishing a master session with a remote device; and

associating the first delegated session with the master session.

25. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to:

establish a second delegated session with a second device to communicate the second media; and

associate the second delegated session with the multimedia session.

26. A composite controller, comprising:

means for receiving a request to initiate a master multimedia session, the master multimedia session having first media and second media;

means for establishing a first delegated session with a first device to communicate the first media; and

means for associating the first delegated session with the multimedia session.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for establishing a second delegated session with a second device to communicate the second media; and

means for associating the second delegated session with the multimedia session.

28. A system, comprising:

a first composite controller;

a second composite controller operable to establish a master multimedia session comprising at least two media types with the first composite controller;

a first communication device coupled to the first composite controller operable to exchange media with in a first media session corresponding to one of the media types, wherein the first media session is associated with the master multimedia session and the first media session is controlled by the composite controller;

a second communication device coupled to the second composite controller operable to exchange media in a second media session corresponding to one of the media types, wherein the second media session is associated with the master multimedia session and the second media session is controlled by the second composite controller; and

a third communication device operable to exchange media in a third media session corresponding to one of the media types, wherein the third media session is associated with the master multimedia session and the third media session is controlled by one of the composite controllers.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the first and second composite controllers each comprise a user interface operable to output a first media type;

the first and second communication devices are operable to output a second media type; and

the at least two media types in the master multimedia session include the first and second media types.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the third communication device comprises an output device of the first composite controller.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the third communication device is coupled to the first composite controller; and

the third communication device exchanges media of a different type than the first communication device.

32. A method for managing a multimedia session, comprising:

providing a composite controller running session initiation protocol and a communication device docked to the composite controller;

exchanging first session initiation protocol messages between the composite controller and one or more remote devices to establish a master multimedia session comprising at least two media types with the remote devices;

exchanging second session initiation protocol messages with the communication device to establish a delegated media session comprising at least one media type selected from the at least two media types; and

associating the delegated media session with the master multimedia session.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein exchanging the first session initiation protocol messages comprises:

communicating a session initiation protocol invite message for the delegated media session to the communication device;

receiving from the communication device a session initiation protocol OK message for the delegated media session; and

communicating an acknowledgement of the OK message to the communication device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein exchanging the second session initiation protocol messages comprises:

communicating a session initiation protocol invite message for the master multimedia session; and

receiving a session initiation protocol OK message for the master multimedia session.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein:

exchanging the first session initiation protocol messages comprises;

receiving a first session initiation protocol invite message for the delegated media session from the communication device; and

communicating a first session initiation protocol OK message; and

exchanging the second session initiation protocol messages comprises;

in response to receiving the first session initiation protocol invite message, selecting one or more additional media types for the master multimedia session;

communicating a second session initiation protocol invite message for the master multimedia session to the one or more remote devices; and

receiving a second session initiation protocol OK message in response to the second session initiation protocol invite message, wherein the first session initiation protocol OK message is communicated in response to receiving the second session initiation protocol OK message.