AUTOMATED SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL (SIP) DEVICE

• US 20080144606A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Organization Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Newman, Craig E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,873,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/241 for stored program controlled exchanges

Abstract

A device includes a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, an audio interface for receiving or transmitting audio information with the SIP phone to test a SIP-based network, and a controller for controlling the SIP phone and the audio interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling communication between an automated Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device (ASD) and a SIP-based network; and

receiving or transmitting audio information with the ASD to test the SIP-based network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating or deactivating relays of the ASD based on the communication with the SIP-based network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relays of the ASD are activated or deactivated based on instructions received in a test case.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the activating or deactivating relays of the ASD comprises one of:

disconnecting a SIP phone of the ASD;

dialing telephone numbers of varying lengths via the SIP phone of the ASD;

pressing function keys to invoke feature via the SIP phone of the ASD;

or

controlling power supplied to the SIP phone of the ASD in order to reset the SIP phone and to cause the SIP phone to receive new configuration information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for an occurrence of one of a ringing event, a call waiting event, or a message waiting indicator event with the ASD; and

providing notification if one of the ringing event, the call waiting event, or the message waiting indicator event occurs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the monitoring for the occurrence of the ringing event comprises:

monitoring an audible ringing provided by a speaker of the ASD for a predetermined ring frequency.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the monitoring for the occurrence of the message waiting indicator event comprises:

monitoring a light-emitting diode for presence of energy to determine if the message waiting indicator event has occurred.

8. A device comprising:

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone;

an audio interface for receiving or transmitting audio information with the SIP phone to test a SIP-based network; and

a controller for controlling the SIP phone and audio endpoints.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the SIP phone comprises a computation or communication device capable of providing SIP-based communications.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the SIP phone includes at least one of a keypad, function keys, a hook switch, a power supply, a speaker, or a microphone.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the audio interface converts the audio information received and/or transmitted by the SIP phone.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the audio interface comprises:

a transmitter that receives the audio information from the SIP phone, converts the audio information into electrical signals representative of the audio information, and outputs the electrical signals; and

a receiver that receives electrical signals representative of the audio information, converts the electrical signals into the audio information, and outputs the audio information via the SIP phone.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

a relay interface including relays capable of being activated or deactivated based on instructions received by the device; and

a ring detector for monitoring an occurrence of a ringing event for the SIP phone, and for providing notification if the ringing event occurs.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the relay interface at least one of:

controls a hook-switch;

dials telephone numbers of varying lengths via the SIP phone;

activates function keys;

or

resets the SIP phone to permit the SIP phone to receive new configuration information.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the ring detector connects to a speaker provided within the SIP phone or the audio interface, and monitors the audible ringing provided by the speaker of the SIP phone or the audio interface for a predetermined ring frequency.

16. A method comprising:

translating a script command into a communication capable of being understood by an automated Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device (ASD);

mapping an Internet Protocol (IP) address/port location of the ASD based on the translated script command;

controlling the ASD based on the mapped IP address/port location and the translated script command; and

monitoring an event from the ASD.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ASD is monitored to test a SIP-based network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the script command includes a script command that creates a test case for the SIP-based network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mapping comprises:

providing a database that includes information enabling reference to a specific Internet Protocol (IP) address/port combination for communication with the ASD; and

utilizing the database to aid in the translation of the script command.

20. A device comprising:

a script translator for translating a script command into a communication capable of being understood by an automated Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device (ASD);

a database for mapping an Internet Protocol (IP) address/port location of the ASD based on the translated script command;

a controller for controlling the ASD based on the mapped IP address/port location and the translated script command; and

an event monitor for monitoring an event from the ASD.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the script command includes a script command that creates a test case for a SIP-based network.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the ASD is monitored to test the SIP-based network.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the controller utilizes the translated script command to provide ASD information.

24. A method comprising:

defining an originating automated Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device (ASD) and a terminating ASD;

utilizing a database to map Internet Protocol (IP) address and port locations to the defined ASDs;

verifying that the originating ASD is providing a dial tone;

instructing, when the originating ASD is providing a dial tone, the originating ASD to dial a telephone number of the terminating ASD to initiate a call;

monitoring for a ringing event;

instructing the terminating ASD to answer the call;

instructing the originating ASD to generate a tone; and

verifying a result of the generated tone.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

instructing the terminating ASD to generate a return tone; and

verifying a result of the generated return tone.