Fast network SIP/SDP procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources

• US 20040196867A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Xie, Hong, Liu, Chung-Zin, Ejzak, Richard Paul, Henrikson, Eric Harold
• Granted Patent: US 7,586,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party service or three-way call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The apparatus and method are fast network SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources. The apparatus has an SIP/SDP based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call. The SIP/SDP based network controller is structured to negotiate, allocate and re-configure network resources.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call; and

the SIP/SDP based network controller structured to negotiate, allocate, and re-configure network resources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network controller employs a session description protocol to perform end-to-end negotiation of the network resources through third party call control procedures.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network controller, upon a request from a first user that is on an active call, the first user having at least one on-hold call with at least a second user, joins at least the first and second users in a conference call with at least a third user, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a resource controller operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling that allows the resource controller to independently perform at least codec renegotiation and bearer re-configuration for each call leg between users.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein upon a further request from one of the first, second, third users, the network controller clears the conference call thereby disconnecting the at least third user, and restores the active call for two-way conversation between the first and second users.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a respective user is operatively connected to a respective SIP server, and wherein the respective SIP server is operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network controller maintains previous call information associated with respective users during the conference call.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the call information includes at least one of end-point codec capabilities and call identifications.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein after network resources are set up by the resource controller, the network controller outputs update information simultaneously to each user to re-configure bearer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the update information includes at least send/receive IP (Internet Protocol) address, port number, and codec information.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller that, upon a request from a first user that is on an active call, the first user having at least one on-hold call with at least a second user, joins at least the first and second users in a conference call with at least a third user;

a resource controller operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling that allows the resource controller to independently perform at least codec renegotiation and bearer re-configuration for each call leg between users.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein upon a further request from one of the first, second, third users, the network controller clears the conference call thereby disconnecting the at least third user, and restores the active call for two-way conversation between the first and second users.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the respective user is operatively connected to a respective SIP server, and wherein the respective SIP server is operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network controller maintains previous call information associated with respective users during the conference call.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the call information includes at least one of end-point codec capabilities and call identifications.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein after network resources are set up by the resource controller, the network controller outputs update information simultaneously to each user to re-configure bearer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the update information includes at least send/receive IP (Internet Protocol) address, port number, and codec information.

17. A method, comprising the steps of:

placing on-hold a call between a first user and at least a second user, wherein the first user is on an active call, wherein the at least the second user is on an on-hold call;

sending a request for a conference call, with at least a third user, from the first user to a network controller via SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) signaling; and

communicating between the network controller and a resource controller via SIP/SDP signaling to allow the resource controller to independently perform at least codec renegotiation and bearer re-configuration for each call leg between users.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein upon a further request from one of the first, second, third users, the network controller clears the conference call thereby disconnecting the at least third user, and restores the active call for two-way conversation between the first and second users.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a respective user communicates via a respective SIP server with the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the network controller maintains previous call information associated with respective users during the conference call.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the call information includes at least one of end-point codec capabilities and call identifications.