System and method for providing multimedia services utilizing a local proxy

• US 20070081519A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Athias, Franklyn, Ramaswamy, Veeru
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

A communications system and method is configured to provide multimedia services utilizing a signaling protocol such as a session initiated protocol (SIP), via a local access network. The method includes providing a local proxy having an internet protocol (IP) address, wherein the local proxy is integrated with the local access network. The method further includes providing a client device having a signaling protocol client, wherein the client device is coupled to a remote access network that is external to the local access network. Additionally, the method includes initiating a session by the client device accessing the IP address of the local proxy.

Claims

1. A method for providing multimedia services utilizing a signaling protocol over a local access network, the method comprising:

providing a local proxy having an internet protocol (IP) address, wherein the local proxy is integrated with the local access network;

providing a client device having a signaling protocol client that is compatible with the signaling protocol, wherein the client device is coupled to a remote access network that is external to the local access network; and

initiating a multimedia session via the client device, wherein the client device establishes the multimedia session with the local proxy by accessing the IP address of the local proxy.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling protocol includes at least one of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia session includes a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating commands or messages through the use of the client device; and

configuring a core SIP proxy located in a core network to receive messages from the local proxy and route the messages to network elements.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein initiating a SIP session via the client device, wherein the client device establishes the multimedia session includes registering the client device with the local proxy.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy IP address includes an IP address that corresponds to a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy is coupled to an embedded multimedia terminal adapter.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy is coupled to a digital subscriber line modem.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy is coupled to a cable home device.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy includes a signal distribution device.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local access network includes a cable modem termination system or a digital subscriber line access multiplexer that is configured to distribute signals to the core network.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local access network comprises a hybrid fiber coaxial access network or a digital subscriber line access network.

13. A method according to claim 1, further including communicating with the client device during an in-network SIP session through the use of a dynamic host configuration protocol.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the local proxy is stateful or stateless.

15. A communication system for providing multimedia services utilizing a session initiated protocol (SIP) through the use of a local access network comprising:

a local proxy having an internet protocol (IP) address, the local proxy being integrated with the local access network; and

at least one client device having a SIP client that is compatible with the SIP, the client device being coupled to a remote access network that is external to the local access network and configured to establish a multimedia session with the local proxy by communicating with the local proxy via the remote access network.

16. A system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a core network having a core SIP proxy configured to receive messages from the local proxy and route the messages to network elements that are operable with the Core network.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the client device initiates the message session by registering with the local proxy.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local proxy IP address corresponds to a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local proxy is coupled to an embedded multimedia terminal adapter.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local proxy is coupled to a digital subscriber line modem.

21. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local proxy is coupled to a cable home device.

22. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local access network includes a signal distribution device.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the signal distribution device includes a cable modem termination system or a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

24. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local access network includes a hybrid fiber coaxial access network or a digital subscriber line access network.

25. A system according to claim 15, wherein the client device is configured to communicate during an in-network SIP session through the use of a dynamic host configuration protocol.

26. A system according to claim 15, wherein the local proxy is stateful or stateless.

27. A system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a protocol translator adapted to translate the SIP session initiated by the client device into a network-based call signaling protocol; and

a network-based call signaling type client device that is operable with the client device subsequent to translation of the SIP session into the NCS protocol.

28. A method for providing multimedia services utilizing Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) over a local access network that communicates with core network, the method comprising:

configuring a local proxy to have an internet protocol (IP) address and be integrated with the local access network;

configuring the core SIP/IP network to be operable with a core SIP proxy and a public IP network;

initiating an IP session from a client device that is connected to a remote access network by accessing the IP address of the local proxy;

transmitting a SIP register message from the client device that is connected to the remote access network to the local proxy;

transmitting the SIP register message from the local proxy to the core SIP proxy;

authenticating the SIP register message;

transmitting a SIP invite message from the client device to the local proxy upon authentication of the SIP register message;

transmitting the SIP invite message from the local proxy to the core SIP proxy;

transmitting the SIP invite message from the core SIP proxy to the client device via the IP network; and

receiving SIP enabled multimedia services at the client device subsequent to transmitting the SIP invite message from the core SIP proxy to the client device.