Media Application

• US 20080270457A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya LLC (Avaya Incorporated), Avaya Management L.P. (Avaya Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Brunson, Gordon R., Zilbershtein, Itai Ephraim, Perry, Zvika, Pdut, Yaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/103R
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0072 Speech codec negotiation H04L65/1069 takes precedence

Abstract

A media application server, comprising a network interface and a processor adapted to establish voice connections with opposite end devices and to perform on the connections at least one media application task for signals of a plurality of different signal formats, the processor being adapted to establish the connection in a negotiation procedure in which it advertises itself as supporting fewer than the plurality of signal formats.

Claims

1. A media application server, comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor adapted to establish voice connections with opposite end devices and to perform on the connections at least one media application task for signals of a plurality of different signal formats, the processor being adapted to establish the connection in a negotiation procedure in which it advertises itself as supporting fewer than the plurality of signal formats.

2. A media application server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to advertise itself as supporting only a single signal format in negotiation procedures for establishing a connection.

3. A media application server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to advertise itself as supporting signal formats configured by a human.

4. A media application server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to perform, on connections it handles, a task of storing samples in a voice mail box.

5. A server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to enforce different maximal message lengths for different signal formats.

6. A server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to store an indication of the format of signals it stores along with the stored signals.

7. A method of operating a media application, comprising:

establishing a first real time voice connection between the media application and an opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself as supporting only a first signal format;

handling, by the media application, signals received on the first connection in accordance with the first signal format, so as to perform on the first connection a media application task;

establishing a second real time voice connection between the media application and an opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself as supporting only a second, different, signal format; and

handling, by the media application, signals received on the second connection in accordance with the second signal format, so as to perform on the second connection a media application task.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein establishing the first and second connections are performed during the same day.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the second connection is established after the first connection is terminated.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the media application uses a same software not being updated in establishing both the first and second connections.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first signal format is a compressed format and the second signal format is an uncompressed format.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first signal format is an encrypted format and the second signal format is an unencrypted format.

13. A method according to claim 7, comprising transcoding the signals of the first connection between the first signal format and a format of the opposite end device, by a switch not controlled by the media application.

14. A method according to claim 7, wherein the signal format that the media application advertises as supporting is selected responsive to a voice mail box to which the connection is connected.

15. A media application server, comprising:

a network interface;

a configuration interface adapted to receive from a human an indication of a signal format according to which the server is to operate; and

a processor adapted to establish real time voice connections with opposite end devices and to perform on the connections at least one media application task for signals of a plurality of different signal formats,

the specific signal format used in each specific connection being at least partially selected responsive to an indication from the configuration interface, and being carried out by the processor without performing translation between different signal formats.

16. A server according to claim 15, wherein the network interface connects to an external communication link through a switch.

17. A server according to claim 16, wherein the processor adapted to perform the at least one media application task is additionally adapted to perform a switch control application task of the switch.

18. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to perform the at least one media application task differently for different signal formats.

19. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to enforce different maximal message lengths for different signal formats.

20. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to store an indication of the format of signals it stores along with the stored signals.

21. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to identify to an opposite end device with which it communicates, the signal format according to which it operates.

22. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to perform at least one media application task for signals in accordance with a plurality of different signal formats.

23. A server according to claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to indicate to opposite end devices with which it communicates only a single signal format that it supports.

24. A private box exchange, comprising:

a switch adapted to set up real time voice connections;

a media application server adapted to manage voice mail boxes for voice connections set up by the switch; and

a translation processor adapted to transcode signals passing on connections set up by the switch between two different signal formats, under control of the switch, without being controlled by the media application server.

25. A private box exchange according to claim 24, wherein the switch is adapted to redirect real time voice connections.

26. A private box exchange according to claim 24, wherein the media application controller comprises a software running on a processor which additionally hosts a controller of the switch.

27. A method of translating voice signals between two different formats, comprising:

establishing a connection between two ports of a network device;

exchanging connection setup signals on the connection, in which one of the ports identifies as supporting a first signal format and the second port identifies as supporting a second signal format; and

transmitting voice signals between the ports, such that they undergo signal format conversion along the connection.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the signal format conversion comprises changing the codec of the voice signals.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein transmitting voice signals between the ports comprises transmitting signals taken in real time from a real time voice connection handled by the network device.