SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL SURVIVABLE SERVER

• US 20070047571A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Arimilli, Harinarayana, Kandikonda, Prasad
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/449
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, a telephony network having a server configured to provide selected communication functions following failure of a primary server.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an operating mode of a first server in a communication network, the method comprising:

sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) polling message from the first server to a second server; and

monitoring for a reply message from the second server, the reply message based on the polling message and upon receiving the reply message selecting a first mode of operation for the first server and upon absence of the reply message, selecting a second mode of operation for the first server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the SIP polling message includes sending an inquiry message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the SIP polling message includes sending a request message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring includes waiting for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the first mode of operation includes forwarding registration information from an endpoint to the second server.

6. The method of claim 5 further including redirecting a call from the endpoint to a destination, wherein the destination is selected based on the registration information at the second server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the second mode of operation includes authenticating registration information at the first server, the registration information corresponding to an endpoint.

8. The method of claim 7 further including redirecting a call from the endpoint to a destination, wherein the destination is selected based on the registration information at the first server.

9. The method of claim 6 further including exchanging network traffic using a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

10. A system comprising:

an interface configured to couple to a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN) and a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

a processor coupled to the interface and having instructions stored thereon to determine a condition of the WAN and to exchange a session initiation protocol (SIP) message between the WAN and the LAN when the WAN is operable and to exchange a SIP message between the PSTN and the LAN when the WAN is inoperable.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the WAN includes an internet.

12. The system of claim 10 further wherein the interface includes an endpoint, and wherein the endpoint includes a device configured to communicate using SIP.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the endpoint includes at least one of a telephone, a facsimile machine, an Internet Protocol (IP) device, and a gateway.

14. The system of claim 10 further wherein the processor is configured to determine operability of the WAN by monitoring for a reply to a predetermined polling message.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to authenticate an endpoint on the LAN.

16. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for executing a method comprising:

receiving registration information from each of at least one endpoint of a local area network (LAN), the LAN coupled to a first server configured for communicating a session initiation protocol (SIP) message with a second server using a wide area network (WAN);

determining availability of the second server; and

if the second server is operable, then sending the registration information on the WAN to the second server; and

if the second server is inoperable, then registering the at least one endpoint using the first server.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein determining includes monitoring for a reply to a message sent by the first server.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further wherein the first server is configured to establish communications between endpoints.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further including detecting restoration of operability of the second server.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further including providing the registration information to the second server upon detecting the restoration of the operability of the second server.

21. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for executing a method comprising:

receiving registration information from each of at least one endpoint of a local area network (LAN), the LAN coupled to a first server configured for communicating a session initiation protocol (SIP) message with a first link to a wide area network (WAN);

determining operability of the first link; and

if the first link is operable, then sending the registration information on the WAN to a second server coupled to the WAN; and

if the first link is inoperable, then registering the at least one endpoint using the first server.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein determining includes monitoring for a response to an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) request message sent by the first server.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein determining includes monitoring for a link signal on a physical port coupled to the first server.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further wherein the first server is configured to establish communications between endpoints.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further including detecting restoration of operability of the first link.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further including providing the registration information to the second server upon detecting the restoration of the first link.