Multimedia access device and system employing the same

• US 20050249196A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyson King
• Original Assignee: Prodea Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Cowgill, George A., Ansari, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1033 Signalling gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

A method of establishing a voice communication session with a multimedia access device employable in a multimedia communication system. In one embodiment, the method includes initiating a session request from a first endpoint communication device employing an instant messaging client and coupled to a packet based communication network. The method also includes processing the session request including emulating the instant messaging client for a second endpoint communication device coupled to said packet based communication network. The second endpoint communication device is a non-instant messaging based communication device. The method still further includes establishing a voice communication session between the first and second endpoint communication devices in response to the session request.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a voice communication session, comprising:

initiating a session request from a first endpoint communication device employing an instant messaging client and coupled to a packet based communication network;

processing said session request including emulating said instant messaging client for a second endpoint communication device coupled to said packet based communication network, said second endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device; and

establishing a voice communication session between said first and second endpoint communication devices in response to said session request.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second endpoint communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

an analog communication device;

a voice over Internet protocol communication device; and

a communication device coupled to a circuit switched communication network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising providing instant messaging messages between an instant messaging server and an instant messaging agent of a session control module of a multimedia access device in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of processing said session request includes providing a setup message between an instant messaging agent and a call control subsystem of a session control module of a multimedia access device associated with said first and second endpoint communication devices.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of processing said session request includes correlating a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of processing said session request includes determining a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of processing said session request includes determining a session description parameter for session initiation protocol messages associated with said voice communication session.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of establishing said voice communication session includes notifying said second endpoint communication device of said session request.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of establishing said voice communication session includes initiating a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said act of establishing said voice communication session includes activating a voice path and thereafter terminating said voice communication session.

11. A multimedia access device configured to receive a session request from a first endpoint communication device coupled to a packet based communication network, and employing an instant messaging client, process said session request including emulating said instant messaging client, and establish a voice communication session with a second endpoint communication device, coupled to a packet based communication network, in response to said session request, said second endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device.

12. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 wherein said second endpoint communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

an analog communication device;

a voice over Internet protocol communication device; and

a communication device coupled to a circuit switched communication network.

13. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising an instant messaging agent of a session control module configured to emulate said instant messaging client and provide instant messaging messages to an instant messaging server in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

14. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a call control subsystem of a session control module configured to provide a setup message to an instant messaging agent thereof.

15. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a directory server of a session control module configured to correlate a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device.

16. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a feature manager of a session control module configured to determine a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

17. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a media control module configured to determine a session description parameter for session initiation protocol messages associated with said voice communication session.

18. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a device driver configured to notify said second endpoint communication device of said session request.

19. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module configured to initiate a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

20. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

a media control module and a call control subsystem of a session control module configured to activate a voice path between said first and second endpoint communication devices; and

an instant messaging agent of a session control module configured to terminate said voice communication session.

21. A multimedia communication system, comprising:

a first endpoint communication device employing an instant messaging client and coupled to a packet based communication network;

a second endpoint communication device coupled to a packet based communication network and being a non-instant messaging based communication device;

a multimedia access device that receives a session request from said first endpoint communication device, processes said session request including emulating said instant messaging client, and establishes a voice communication session between said first and second endpoint communication devices in response to said session request; and

a management and maintenance server coupled to said multimedia access device.

22. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said second endpoint communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

an analog communication device;

a voice over Internet protocol communication device; and

a communication device coupled to a circuit switched communication network.

23. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises an instant messaging agent of a session control module that emulates said instant messaging client and provides instant messaging messages to an instant messaging server in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

24. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 further comprising a plurality of multimedia access devices and an instant messaging server coupled to said management and maintenance server.

25. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a directory server of a session control module that correlates a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device, said management and maintenance server providing said user identification and directory number to said multimedia access device.

26. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a feature manager of a session control module that determines a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

27. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a media control module that determines a session description parameter for session initiation protocol messages associated with said voice communication session.

28. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a device driver that notifies said second endpoint communication device of said session request.

29. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module that initiates a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

30. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a media control module and call control subsystem of a session control module that activates a voice path between said first and second endpoint communication devices, and an instant messaging agent of a session control module that terminates said voice communication session.

31. A method of establishing a voice communication session, comprising:

initiating a session request from a first endpoint communication device coupled to a packet based communication network, said first endpoint communication device being a voice over Internet protocol communication device;

processing said session request including emulating an instant messaging client for a second endpoint communication device coupled to said packet based communication network; and

establishing a voice communication session between said first and second endpoint communication devices in response to said session request.

32. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said first endpoint communication is a session initiation protocol telephone.

33. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of initiating said session request includes providing a session initiation invite message to a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module of a multimedia access device associated with said first and second endpoint communication devices.

34. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of processing said session request includes providing a setup message between a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module and a call control subsystem of a session control module of a multimedia access device associated with said first and second endpoint communication devices.

35. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of processing said session request includes correlating a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device.

36. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of processing said session request includes determining a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

37. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of processing said session request includes providing a setup message between an instant messaging agent and a call control subsystem of a session control module of a multimedia access device associated with said first and second endpoint communication devices.

38. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising providing instant messaging messages between an instant messaging server and an instant messaging agent of a session control module of a multimedia access device in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

39. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of establishing said voice communication session includes initiating a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

40. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said act of establishing said voice communication session includes activating a voice path and thereafter terminating said voice communication session.

41. A multimedia access device configured to receive a session request from a first endpoint communication device coupled to a packet based communication network, process said session request including emulating an instant messaging client for a second endpoint communication device coupled to said packet based communication network, and establish a voice communication session between said first and second endpoint communication devices in response to said session request, said first endpoint communication device being a voice over Internet protocol communication device.

42. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 wherein said first endpoint communication is a session initiation protocol telephone.

43. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module configured to receive said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

44. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module configured to provide a setup message to a call control subsystem of a session control module thereof.

45. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a directory server of a session control module configured to correlate a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device.

46. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a feature manager of a session control module configured to determine a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

47. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a call control subsystem of a session control module configured to provide a setup message to an instant messaging agent thereof.

48. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising an instant messaging agent of a session control module configured to emulate said instant messaging client and provide instant messaging messages to an instant messaging server in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

49. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module configured to initiate a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

50. The multimedia access device as recited in claim 41 further comprising:

a media control module and a call control subsystem of a session control module configured to activate a voice path between said first and second endpoint communication devices; and

an instant messaging agent of a session control module configured to terminate said voice communication session.

51. A multimedia communication system, comprising:

a first endpoint communication device coupled to a packet based communication network and being a voice over Internet protocol communication device;

a second endpoint communication device employing an instant messaging client and coupled to a packet based communication network;

a multimedia access device that receives a session request from said first endpoint communication device, processes said session request including emulating said instant messaging client, and establishes a voice communication session between said first and second endpoint communication devices in response to said session request; and

a management and maintenance server coupled to said multimedia access device.

52. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said first endpoint communication is a session initiation protocol telephone.

53. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module that receives said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

54. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 further comprising a plurality of multimedia access devices and an instant messaging server coupled to said management and maintenance server.

55. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a directory server of a session control module configured to correlate a user identification to a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device, said management and maintenance server providing said user identification and directory number to said multimedia access device.

56. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a feature manager of a session control module that determines a feature set for said second endpoint communication device.

57. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a call control subsystem of a session control module that provides a setup message to an instant messaging agent thereof.

58. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises an instant messaging agent of a session control module that emulates said instant messaging client and provides instant messaging messages to an instant messaging server in response to said session request from said first endpoint communication device.

59. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a voice over Internet protocol and video protocol module that initiates a session initiation protocol call with said instant messaging client.

60. The multimedia communication system as recited in claim 51 wherein said multimedia access device further comprises a media control module and a call control subsystem of a session control module that activates a voice path between said first and second endpoint communication devices, and an instant messaging agent of a session control module that terminates said voice communication session.