Method and system for improving establishing of a multimedia session

• US 20050091380A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toren, Shai, Sahai, Anupam, Yedlin, Guil, Rakhlin, Boris, Gonen, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• 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 65/4038 with floor control

Abstract

Multimedia communication systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary system comprises a server adapted to communicate with two or more multimedia endpoints; and a MCU adapted to communicate with the at least one server and the multimedia endpoints, wherein the server contains a module for instructing the multimedia endpoints to call a dial number for the MCU to establish a multimedia conference in response to a requested list of multimedia endpoints received from one of the multimedia endpoints. An exemplary method for establishing a multimedia conference comprises receiving at a server from a first endpoint a requested list of second endpoints desired to participate in the multimedia session; reviewing at the server the status of the second endpoints; and if the status of a particular second endpoint is an available status, instructing at least some of the available second endpoints to call a dial number for a MCU to participate in the multimedia conference. A further exemplary method allows for a determination to be made whether a multipoint or point-to-point conference is required, and allows a user to leave a message for users who unavailable to participate in the conference.

Claims

1. A multimedia communication system, comprising:

a server adapted to communicate with two or more multimedia endpoints,

wherein the server contains a module for instructing the multimedia endpoints to call a dial number to establish a multimedia session in response to a requested list of multimedia endpoints received from one of the multimedia endpoints.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an MCU adapted to communicate with the at least one server and the two or more multimedia endpoints.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the dial number is associated with the MCU.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the module further instructs the MCU to call a dial number of at least one of the endpoints included in the requested list of endpoints.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the server is configured to transfer the multimedia session from the MCU to another MCU in the event of a failure.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the server is integrated with the MCU.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints, and for carrying multimedia communications between the endpoints and the MCU and the endpoints.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is an IP server.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoints each are associated with a computer, and wherein the server communicates with the endpoints via their associated computer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the associated computer is integrated with at least one multimedia endpoint.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one network comprises an IP network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the dial number comprises a network address.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is configured to reestablish the session if not successfully established initially.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is configured to reestablish the session using different connection parameters if not successfully established initially.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is integrated with at least one of the endpoints.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the server comprises at least one buddy list, wherein each buddy in the list is associated with at least one endpoint, and wherein the requested list is generated via access to the buddy list.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the buddy list comprises information concerning the status of the multimedia endpoints for each buddy in the list or the availability of the buddy.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested list is initiated from a scheduling application.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested list is initiated from a hosting application.

21. A method for establishing a multimedia session, comprising:

receiving at a server from a first endpoint a requested list of second one or more endpoints desired to participate in the multimedia session;

determining at the server whether the requested multimedia session requires an MCU and the status of the second one or more endpoints;

if an MCU is required and if the status of a particular second one or more endpoint is an available status, instructing at least some of those second endpoints to call a dial number for a MCU to participate in the multimedia session.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the server is an IP server.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the endpoints each are associated with a computer, and wherein the server communicates with the endpoints via their associated computer.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the server is integrated with at least one computer.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints, and for carrying multimedia communications between the MCU and the endpoints.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one network comprises an IP network.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the dial number comprises a network address.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the server is integrated with at least one of the endpoints.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the server is integrated with the MCU.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the server comprises at least one buddy list, wherein each buddy in the list is associated with a second endpoint, and wherein the requested list is generated via access to the buddy list.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the buddy list comprises information concerning the status of the multimedia endpoints for each buddy in the list.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising having the MCU call a dial number for at least some of the available first or second endpoints.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the requested list is initiated from a scheduling application.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the requested list is initiated from a hosting application.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining whether the multimedia session is successfully established, and if not, reestablishing the session using alternate connection parameters.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising checking the status of the multimedia session, and if the session is disconnected, reestablishing the session.

37. A method for establishing a multimedia session, comprising:

receiving at a server from a first endpoint a requested list of second one or more endpoints desired to participate in the multimedia session;

determining at the server whether the requested multimedia session requires an MCU and the status of the second one or more endpoints;

if an MCU is not required and if the status of a particular second endpoint from the one or more endpoint is an available status, instructing the first endpoint or the particular second endpoint to call a dial number for the other endpoint to participate in the multimedia session.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the server is an IP server.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the endpoints each are associated with a computer, and wherein the server communicates with the endpoints via their associated computer.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the server is integrated with at least one computer.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints, or for carrying multimedia communications between the MCU and the endpoints.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one network comprises an IP network.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the dial number comprises a network address.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the server is integrated with at least one of the endpoints.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the server is integrated with the MCU.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the server comprises at least one buddy list, wherein each buddy in the list is associated with a second endpoint, and wherein the requested list is generated via access to the buddy list.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the buddy list comprises information concerning the status of the multimedia endpoints for each buddy in the list.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the requested list is initiated from a scheduling application.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein the requested list is initiated from a hosting application.

50. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining whether the multimedia session is successfully established, and if not, reestablishing the session using alternate connection parameters.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising checking the status of the multimedia session, and if the session is disconnected, reestablishing the session.

52. A method for establishing a multimedia conference, comprising:

receiving at a server from a first endpoint a requested list of second one or more endpoints desired to participate in the multimedia session;

determining at the server whether an MCU is required;

if an MCU is required, assigning an MCU to host the session; and

if an MCU is not required, having the server provide the first endpoint and or a particular second endpoint with a dial number of the other endpoint to establish the multimedia session.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising, if an MCU is required, assigning an MCU to host the session by having the server provide the first endpoint and or the second one or more endpoints with a dial number of the MCU to host the session.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein determining whether an MCU is required is based on at least one parameter selected from the group of consisting of type of one or more endpoints, capabilities of one or more endpoints, number of endpoints in the session, network load, network topology, MCU availabilities, and user preference.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the server is an IP server.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the endpoints each are associated with a computer, and wherein the server communicates with the endpoints via their associated computer.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the server is integrated with at least one computer.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints, and for carrying multimedia communications between the MCU and the endpoints.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the at least one network comprises an IP network.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein the MCU hosts the conference by providing a dial number for the MCU to the second endpoints.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the dial number for the MCU is provided in response to an instruction from the server.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the dial number for the MCU comprises a network address.

63. The method of claim 52, wherein the server is integrated with at least one of the endpoints.

64. The method of claim 52, wherein the server is integrated with the MCU.

65. The method of claim 52, wherein the server comprises at least one buddy list, wherein each buddy in the list is associated with a second endpoint, and wherein the requested list is generated via access to the buddy list.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the buddy list comprises information concerning the status of the multimedia endpoints for each buddy in the list.

67. The method of claim 52, wherein the requested list is initiated from a scheduling application.

68. The method of claim 52, wherein the requested list is initiated from a hosting application.

69. The method of claim 52, wherein at least one of the second endpoints comprises a gateway.

70. A method for leaving a message for a user in a multimedia session environment, comprising:

receiving at a server from a first endpoint a requested list of at least one second endpoint desired to participate in the multimedia session;

determining the status of the at least one second endpoint at the server;

if the status of the at least one second endpoint is such that the at least one second endpoint is unavailable to participate in the multimedia session, receiving a message from a user at the first endpoint; and

transmitting from the server the message to the at least one second endpoint.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the message is transmitted to the at least one second endpoint upon receiving a request from the at least one second endpoint.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the server is an IP server.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the endpoints each are associated with a computer, and wherein the server communicates with the endpoints via their associated computer.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein the server is integrated with at least one computer.

75. The method of claim 70, further comprising at least one network for carrying the communication between the server and the endpoints.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the at least one network comprises an IP network.

77. The method of claim 70, wherein the server is integrated with at least one of the endpoints.

78. The method of claim 70, wherein the server comprises at least one buddy list, wherein each buddy in the list is associated with a second endpoint, and wherein the requested list is generated via access to the buddy list.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the buddy list comprises information concerning the status of the second endpoints for each buddy in the list.

80. The method of claim 70, wherein receiving a message from a user at the first endpoint further comprises first sending from the server a message to the first endpoint that at least one second endpoint is unavailable, and permitting the user at the first endpoint to compose the message.

81. The method of claim 70, wherein determining the status of the at least one second endpoint at the server occurs continuously.

82. The method of claim 70, wherein determining the status of the at least one second endpoint at the server comprises determining whether the at least one second endpoint is on.

83. The method of claim 70, wherein determining the status of the at least one second endpoint at the server comprises checking a database at the server.