Method and apparatus for session initiation protocol application design, development, execution and integration

• US 20060187902A1
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Birch, Oliver, Williamson, Paul Stuart, Gilfix, Michael A., Ulerich, Rhys D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a session initiation protocol application design, development, execution, and integration. A framework with a framework controller, an application data object, transition handlers, precondition handlers and post condition handlers is provided. When a message is received in a SIP application, the framework controller determines a state of application and parses the message to update application data by using corresponding handlers. The handlers for each state are specified in an input markup language model defined by a user externally via a Web service accessible component.

Claims

1. A signaling protocol application framework for executing a signaling protocol application, comprising:

a controller adapted to receive a descriptor and a request message, wherein the controller parses the request message, and wherein the descriptor defines a plurality of state transitions that may occur during execution of the application;

application data comprising global application data and global application state data required for execution of the application;

a plurality of precondition handlers adapted to examine the application data and determine if a precondition is met;

a plurality of postcondition handlers adapted to examine the application data and determine if a postcondition is met; and

a plurality of transition handlers each having one or more respective instance variables and each adapted to receive and process the request message.

2. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 1, wherein the descriptor comprises an extensible markup language deployment descriptor.

3. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 1, wherein the controller examines the application data and determines whether the application is at a start of a state.

4. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 3, wherein the controller, responsive to determining the application is at a start of a state, evaluates the state to determine if a precondition is specified by the state.

5. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 4, wherein the controller, responsive to identifying a precondition is specified by the state, loads a set of the precondition handlers.

6. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 5, wherein a method of the transition handlers is supplied the request message and the application data.

7. The signaling protocol application framework of claim 1, wherein the postcondition handlers, responsive to the transition handlers updating the state of the application, evaluate postconditions of the application.

8. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for executing a signaling protocol application, comprising:

first instructions that receive a descriptor and a request message and that parse the request message, wherein the descriptor defines a plurality of state transitions that may occur during execution of the application;

second instructions that define application data comprising global application data and global application state data required for execution of the application;

third instructions that define a plurality of precondition handlers adapted to examine the application data and determine if a precondition is met;

fourth instructions that define a plurality of postcondition handlers adapted to examine the application data and determine if a postcondition is met; and

fifth instructions that define a plurality of transition handlers each having one or more respective instance variables and each adapted to receive and process the request message.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first instructions examine the application data and determine whether the application is at a start of a state.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the first instructions, responsive to determining the application is at a start of a state, evaluate the state to determine if a precondition is specified by the state.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first instructions, responsive to identifying a precondition that is specified by the state, load the third instructions to determine whether a precondition is met.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein a method of the fifth instructions is supplied the request message and the application data.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the fourth instructions, responsive to the fifth instructions updating the state of the application, evaluate postconditions of the application.

9. The computer program product of clam 8, wherein the descriptor comprises an extensible markup language deployment descriptor.

15. A data processing system for executing a signaling protocol application, comprising:

a memory that contains a set of instructions comprising a signaling protocol application, a controller, and application data comprising global application data and global application state data required for execution of the application; and

a processing unit, responsive to execution of the set of instructions, that receives a descriptor that defines a plurality of state transitions that may occur during execution of the application and a request message, wherein the controller parses the request message, and wherein the set of instructions comprise logic for examining the application data to determine if a precondition is met, examine the application data to determine if a postcondition is met, and transition handler logic including instance variables, wherein the transition handler logic is adapted to receive and process the request message.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the descriptor comprises an extensible markup language deployment descriptor.

17. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the controller examines the application data and determines whether the application is at a start of a state.

18. The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the controller, responsive to determining the application is at a start of a state, evaluates the state to determine if a precondition is specified by the state.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, wherein the controller, responsive to identifying a precondition that is specified by the state, loads a set of precondition handlers.

20. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the post condition handlers, responsive to the transition handlers updating the state of the application, evaluate postconditions of the application.