System and method for interworking communication protocols to provide supplementary services

• US 20070201480A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bao, Ho, Li, Shipeng, Pearce, Christopher, Zhu, Yao, Ni, Ping, Chen, Joanna, Hua, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for redirecting a session established between two endpoints. In such an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a SIP request to redirect the session to a third endpoint; dissociating the two endpoints; suspending a media session between the endpoints; connecting a signaling session between one endpoint and a third endpoint; and connecting the media session. In an alternative embodiment, a method is provided for referring a first endpoint to a second endpoint outside of an established dialog. In such an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a SIP REFER request specifying a uniform resource indicator associated with the second endpoint as a target; identifying a protocol associated with each endpoint; initiating a session with the first endpoint using an appropriate protocol; receiving media control information from the first endpoint; and connecting the session to the second endpoint using an appropriate protocol.

Claims

1. A method for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the method comprising;

receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint;

dissociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint;

suspending a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

connecting a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

connecting the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of suspending the media session comprises sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session comprises sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor;

further comprising suspending the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

8. A method for referring a first endpoint to a second endpoint outside of an established dialog, the method comprising:

receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER request comprising a first resource identifier associated with the first endpoint and a Refer-to header specifying a second resource identifier associated with the second endpoint as a target;

identifying a first protocol associated with the first resource identifier;

initiating a session with the first endpoint using the first protocol;

receiving media control information from the first endpoint;

identifying a second protocol associated with the second resource identifier; and

connecting the session to the second endpoint using the second protocol.

9. A system for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the system comprising;

a receiver component operable to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint; and

a processing component operable to dissociate the first endpoint from the second endpoint, suspend a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, connect a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint, and connect the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing component suspends the media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component suspends the media session by sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor, and is further operable to suspend the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

12. The system of 11, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

16. A system for referring a first endpoint to a second endpoint outside of an established dialog, the system comprising:

a first receiver component operable to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER request comprising a first resource identifier associated with the first endpoint and a Refer-to header specifying a second resource identifier associated with the second endpoint as a target;

a first processing component operable to identify a first protocol associated with the first resource identifier and to initiate a session with the first endpoint using the first protocol;

a second receiver component operable to receive media control information from the first endpoint; and

a second processing component operable to identifying a second protocol associated with the second resource identifier and to connect the session to the second endpoint using the second protocol.

17. Software embodied in a computer-readable medium comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect a session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint to a third endpoint; and

dissociate the first endpoint from the second endpoint in a communication platform;

suspend a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

connect a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

connect the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

18. The software of claim 17, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

19. The software of claim 18, wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

20. The software of claim 19, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is further operable to suspend the media session by sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor;

wherein the code is further operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

21. The software of claim 19, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

22. The software of claim 19, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

23. The software of claim 18, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor, and is further operable to suspend the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

24. Software embodied in a computer-readable medium comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER request outside of an established dialog, the request comprising a first resource identifier associated with a first endpoint and a Refer-to header specifying a second resource identifier associated with a second endpoint as a target;

identify a first protocol associated with the first resource identifier and to initiate a session with the first endpoint using the first protocol;

receive media control information from the first endpoint; and

identifying a second protocol associated with the second resource identifier and to connect the session to the second endpoint using the second protocol.

25. A system for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the system comprising;

means for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint;

means for dissociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint;

means for suspending a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

means for connecting a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

means for connecting the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

26. A system for referring a first endpoint to a second endpoint outside of an established dialog, the system comprising:

means for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER request comprising a first resource identifier associated with the first endpoint and a Refer-to header specifying a second resource identifier associated with the second endpoint as a target;

means for identifying a first protocol associated with the first resource identifier;

means for initiating a session with the first endpoint using the first protocol;

means for receiving media control information from the first endpoint;

means for identifying a second protocol associated with the second resource identifier; and

means for connecting the session to the second endpoint using the second protocol.