Communication system based on SIP, and communication terminal

• US 20060013371A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shimada, Osamu, Yamamoto, Kiyoko, Akizuki, Takeo, Morimoto, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/100.160
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42212 Call pickup comprising simultaneous alerting H04M3/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• 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

A communication system based on a communication protocol such SIP includes a first communication terminal Bob and a second communication terminal Bill, wherein the second communication terminal Bill has a unit, when the first communication terminal Bob receives an incoming message from a source communication terminal Alice, transmitting a substitute response control message to the first communication terminal Bob, the first communication terminal Bob has an incoming message transferring unit, when receiving the substitute response control message, transferring the incoming message given from the source terminal Alice to the second communication terminal Bill and has a response message transmitting unit transmitting to the source communication terminal Alice a response message containing contact information for specifying the second communication terminal Bill, and a call is established between the source communication terminal Alice and the second communication terminal Bill.

Claims

1. A communication system wherein a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, being connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP,

the plurality of communication terminals including a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal,

the second communication terminal comprising a unit transmitting a substitute response control message to the first communication terminal on the basis of a predetermined trigger when the first communication terminal receives an incoming message from the source communication terminal,

the first communication terminal comprising an incoming message transfer unit transferring to the second communication terminal the incoming message given from the source communication terminal when receiving the substitute response control message from the second communication terminal, and a response message transmitting unit transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the second communication terminal,

wherein a call is established between the source communication terminal receiving the response message and the second communication terminal to which the incoming message has been transferred.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, the first communication terminal comprising a judging unit judging based on the substitute response control message whether a substitute response by the second communication terminal is permitted or not, wherein

the incoming message transfer unit, when judging that the substitute response by the second communication terminal is permitted, transfers the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to the second communication terminal.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, the first communication terminal comprising a rejection responding unit transmitting to the second communication terminal a message for rejecting the substitute response in place of the transfer of the incoming message to the second communication terminal by the incoming message transferring unit when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the second communication terminal is not permitted,

wherein the response message is not transmitted from the first communication terminal to the source communication terminal and the call between the source communication terminal and the second communication terminal is not established when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the second communication terminal is not permitted.

4. A communication system according to claim 2, the first communication terminal comprising a unit keeping a non-response status with respect to the second communication terminal in place of the transfer of the incoming message to the second communication terminal by the incoming message transfer unit when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the second communication terminal is not permitted,

wherein the response message from the first communication terminal to the source communication terminal is not transmitted and the call between the source communication terminal and the second communication terminal is not established when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the second communication terminal is not permitted.

5. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the substitute response control message contains group information representing a group to which the second communication terminal belongs, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the group represented by the group information contained in the substitute response control message is the same as a group to which the first communication terminal belongs.

6. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the substitute response control message contains an authentication password of the second communication terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the authentication password contained in the substitute response control message is a normal password.

7. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the substitute response control message contains authority information for representing whether or not the second communication terminal has authority for making the substitute response, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of the authority information contained in the substitute response message.

8. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the substitute response control message contains target source information for specifying the source communication terminal serving as a substitute response target terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the target source information contained in the substitute response control message is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message.

9. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the substitute response control message contains non-target source information for specifying the source communication terminal that does not become a substitute response target terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the non-target source information contained in the substitute response control message is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message.

10. A communication system according to claim 2, the second communication terminal comprising a unit transmitting a message for canceling the substitute response to the first communication terminal when receiving the transfer of the incoming message from other communication terminal than the first communication terminal,

wherein the response message from the first communication terminal to the source communication terminal is not transmitted and the call between the source communication terminal and the second communication terminal is not established when receiving the transfer of the incoming message from the other communication terminal to the second communication terminal.

11. A communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP,

the plurality of communication terminals each comprising a unit transmitting a substitute response control message to a first communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals on the basis of a predetermined trigger when the first communication terminal receives an incoming message from the source communication terminal,

the first communication terminal comprising:

a terminal selection unit selecting, when receiving the substitute response control message from each of the plurality of communication terminals as candidate communication terminals other than the first communication terminal, a second communication terminal that should make a substitute response from within the plurality of candidate communication terminals on the basis of the substitute response message;

an incoming message control unit making the selected second communication terminal effectively obtain the incoming message given from the source communication terminal; and

a unit transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the selected second communication terminal,

wherein a call is established between the source communication terminal receiving the response message containing the contact information and the second communication terminal that has effectively obtained the incoming message.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the incoming message control unit includes a unit transferring the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to the selected second communication terminal.

13. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the incoming message control unit includes:

a unit transferring the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to each of the plurality of candidate communication terminals each serving as a source of the substitute response control message; and

a unit transmitting a response release message to the candidate terminals excluding the selected second communication terminal, and

wherein the incoming message to the candidate communication terminals excluding the second communication terminal, is invalidated.

14. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the terminal selection unit selects, as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as a source of the substitute response control message received for the first time by the first communication terminal.

15. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains priority level information representing a priority level, and

the terminal selection unit selects the second communication terminal from within the plurality of candidate communication terminals on the basis of the priority level information.

16. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains group information representing a group to which the communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message belongs, and

the terminal selection unit excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing the group information representing a group different from the group to which the first communication terminal belongs.

17. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains an authentication password of the terminal serving as a source of this substitute response control message, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether or not the authentication password is a normal authentication password, and excludes, from the candidate terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing an authentication password judged not to be the normal authentication password.

18. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains authority information representing whether or not the candidate terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message has authority for making the substitute response, and

the terminal selection unit excludes, from the candidate terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing the authority information representing non-possession of the authority for making the substitute response.

19. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains target source information for specifying the source terminal serving as a substitute response target terminal, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the target source information is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message, and excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing the target source information for specifying the source communication terminal judged not to be coincident with the source terminal of the incoming message.

20. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the substitute response control message contains non-target source information for specifying the source terminal that does not become a substitute response target terminal, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the non-target source information is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message, and excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing the non-target source information for specifying the source communication terminal judged to be coincident with the source terminal of the incoming message.

21. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality candidate communication terminals comprises a unit transmitting a message for canceling the substitute response to the first communication terminal after obtaining the incoming message, and

the terminal selection unit excludes the candidate communication terminal serving as a source of the canceling message from the candidate terminals each selectable as the second communication terminal when the first communication terminal receives the message for canceling the substitute response.

22. A communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising:

a unit transmitting a substitute response control message to the communication terminal receiving an incoming message on the basis of a predetermined trigger when receiving the incoming message from the source communication terminal;

an incoming message obtaining unit obtaining the incoming message from the communication terminal receiving the incoming message after transmitting the substitute response control message; and

a call connection control unit establishing a call with the source communication terminal on the basis of the incoming message after obtaining the incoming message.

23. A communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising:

an incoming message transfer unit transferring the incoming message to a substitute response request communication terminal when receiving a substitute response control message from the substitute response request communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving the incoming message from the source communication terminal; and

a unit transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the substitute response request communication terminal.

24. A communication terminal according to claim 23, further comprising a judging unit judging whether a substitute response by the substitute response request communication terminal is permitted or not on the basis of the substitute response control message, and

when it is judged that the substitute response by the substitute response request communication terminal is permitted, the incoming message transfer unit transfers the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to the substitute response request communication terminal.

25. A communication terminal according to claim 24, further comprising a rejection responding unit, when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the substitute response request communication terminal is not permitted, transmitting to the substitute response request communication terminal a message for rejecting the substitute response in place of the transfer of the incoming message to the substitute response request communication terminal by the incoming message transfer unit.

26. A communication terminal according to claim 24, further comprising a unit, when the judging unit judges that the substitute response by the substitute response request communication terminal is not permitted, keeping a non-response status with respect to the substitute response request communication terminal in place of the transfer of the incoming message to the substitute response request communication terminal by the incoming message transfer unit.

27. A communication terminal according to claim 24, wherein the substitute response control message contains group information representing a group to which the substitute response request communication terminal belongs, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the group represented by the group information contained in the substitute response control message is the same as a group to which the self-communication-terminal belongs.

28. A communication terminal according to claim 24, wherein the substitute response control message contains an authentication password of the substitute response request communication terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the authentication password contained in the substitute response control message is a normal authentication password.

29. A communication terminal according to claim 24, wherein the substitute response control message contains authority information representing whether or not the substitute response request communication terminal has authority for making the substitute response, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of the authority information contained in the substitute response control message.

30. A communication terminal according to claim 24, wherein the substitute response control message contains target source information for specifying a source communication terminal serving as a substitute response target terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the target source information contained in the substitute response control message, is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message.

31. A communication terminal according to claim 24, wherein the substitute response control message contains non-target source information for specifying a source communication terminal that does not become a substitute response target terminal, and

the judging unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the non-target source information contained in the substitute response control message, is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message.

32. A communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising:

a terminal selection unit selecting a substitute response communication terminal that should make a substitute response from within the plurality of communication terminals as candidate communication terminals on the basis of a substitute response control message when receiving the substitute response control message from each of the plurality of candidate communication terminals included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving an incoming message from the source communication terminal;

an incoming message control unit making the selected substitute response communication terminal effectively obtain the incoming message given from the source communication terminal; and

a unit transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the selected substitute response communication terminal.

33. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the incoming message control unit includes a unit transferring the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to the selected substitute response communication terminal.

34. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the incoming message control unit includes a unit transferring the incoming message given from the source communication terminal to each of the plurality of candidate communication terminals each serving as a source of the substitute response control message;

and

a unit transmitting a response release message to the candidate communication terminals excluding the selected substitute response communication terminal, and,

wherein the incoming message to the candidate communication terminals excluding the substitute response communication terminal, is invalidated.

35. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the terminal selection unit selects, as the substitute response communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message received for the first time.

36. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein each substitute response control message contains priority level information representing a priority level, and,

the terminal selection unit selects the substitute response communication terminal from within the plurality of candidate communication terminals on the basis of the priority level information.

37. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein each substitute response control message contains group information representing a group to which the communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message belongs, and

the terminal selection unit excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing the group information representing a group different from the group to which the self-communication-terminal belongs.

38. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein each substitute response control message contains an authentication password of the communication terminal serving as a source of this substitute response control message, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether or not the authentication password is a normal authentication password, and excludes, from the candidate terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing an authentication password judged not to be the normal authentication password.

39. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein each substitute response control message contains authority information representing whether or not the candidate terminal serving as a source of this substitute response control message has authority for making the substitute response, and

the terminal selection unit excludes, from the candidate terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing authority information representing non-possession of the authority for making the substitute response.

40. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the substitute response control message contains target source information for specifying a source terminal serving as a substitute response target terminal, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the target source information is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming messages and excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing target source information for specifying the source communication terminal judged not to be coincident with the source terminal of the incoming message.

41. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the substitute response control message contains non-target source information for specifying a source terminal that does not become a substitute response target terminal, and

the terminal selection unit includes a unit judging whether the substitute response is permitted or not on the basis of whether or not the source communication terminal specified by the non-target source information is coincident with the source communication terminal of the incoming message, and excludes, from the candidate communication terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication terminal, the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the substitute response control message containing non-target source information for specifying the source communication terminal judged to be coincident with the source communication terminal of transmitting the incoming message.

42. A communication terminal according to claim 32, wherein the selection unit, when receiving a message for canceling the substitute response, excludes the candidate communication terminal serving as the source of the canceling message from the candidate terminals each selectable as the substitute response communication terminal.

43. A communication method in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising steps of:

making a second communication terminal included in a plurality of communication terminals transmit a substitute response control message to a first communication terminal on the basis of a predetermined trigger when the first communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals receives an incoming message from a source communication terminal;

making the first communication terminal transfer to the second communication terminal the incoming message given from the source communication terminal when receiving a substitute response control message;

making the first communication terminal transmit to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the second communication terminal; and

establishing a call between the source communication terminal receiving the response message containing the contact information and the second communication terminal to which the incoming message has been transferred.

44. A communication method in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising steps of:

making each of the plurality of communication terminals other than a first communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals transmit a substitute response control message to the first communication terminal on the basis of a predetermined trigger when the first communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals receives an incoming message from the source communication terminal;

making, a second communication terminal that should make a substitute response and is selected from within the plurality of candidate communication terminals on the basis of each substitute response control message, effectively obtain the incoming message given from the source communication terminal when the first communication terminal receives the substitute response control message from each of the plurality of communication terminals as candidate communication terminals;

making the first communication terminal transmit to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the selected second communication terminal; and

establishing a call between the source communication terminal receiving the response message containing the contact information and the second communication terminal that has effectively obtained the incoming message.

45. An executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising steps of:

transmitting a substitute response control message to the communication terminal receiving an incoming message on the basis of a predetermined trigger when any one communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals receives the incoming message from a source communication terminal;

obtaining the incoming message from the communication terminal that has received the incoming message after transmitting the substitute response control message; and

establishing a call with the source communication terminal on the basis of the incoming message after obtaining the incoming message.

46. An executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising steps of:

transferring an incoming message to a substitute response request communication terminal when receiving a substitute response control message from the substitute response request communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving the incoming message from the source communication terminal; and

transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the substitute response request communication terminal.

47. An executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, comprising:

selecting a substitute response communication terminal that should make a substitute response from within the plurality of communication terminals as candidate communication terminals on the basis of a substitute response control message when receiving the substitute response control message from each of the plurality of candidate communication terminals included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving an incoming message from a source communication terminal;

making the selected substitute response communication terminal effectively obtain the incoming message from the source communication terminal; and

transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the selected substitute response communication terminal.

48. A storage medium readable by a computer recording an executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, the program comprising steps of:

transmitting a substitute response control message to the communication terminal receiving an incoming message on the basis of a predetermined trigger when any one communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals receives the incoming message from a source communication terminal;

obtaining the incoming message from the communication terminal that has received the incoming message after transmitting the substitute response control message; and

establishing a call with the source communication terminal on the basis of the incoming message after obtaining the incoming message.

49. A storage medium readable by a computer recording an executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, the program comprising steps of:

transferring an incoming message to a substitute response request communication terminal when receiving a substitute response control message from the substitute response request communication terminal included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving the incoming message from the source communication terminal; and

transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the substitute response request communication terminal.

50. A storage medium readable by a computer recording an executable-by-computer program executed on a communication terminal used in a communication system in which a source communication terminal and a plurality of communication terminals, which are connected to an IP network, perform communications based on a communication protocol such as SIP, the program comprising:

selecting a substitute response communication terminal that should make a substitute response from within the plurality of communication terminals as candidate communication terminals on the basis of a substitute response control message when receiving the substitute response control message from each of the plurality of candidate communication terminals included in the plurality of communication terminals after receiving an incoming message from a source communication terminal;

making the selected substitute response communication terminal effectively obtain the incoming message from the source communication terminal; and

transmitting to the source communication terminal a response message containing contact information for specifying the selected substitute response communication terminal.