SIP ENDPOINT ENHANCER

• US 20110066694A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Brunson, Gordon R., Barrett, Peter, Mendiratta, Harsh V., Liddell, Gethin, Boulton, Chris, Evans, Ian, Shutt, David, Ezell, Joel M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1033 Signalling gateways
• 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 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are provided for enhancing the functionality of a communication device, such as a communication endpoint. This provides the ability to enhance less intelligent SIP endpoints with required features to support a richer user experience. Furthermore, the endpoint enhancer may be dynamically pluggable onto an existing network device. This provided pluggability allows a network administrator to add a new SEE template to the network without disrupting the network operation or the operation of previously existing SEEs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first communication endpoint;

analyzing the first message to identify functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint;

determining functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first communication endpoint;

comparing the functional requirements of the communication network with the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint;

determining that the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint do not meet the functional requirements of the communication network;

based on determining functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint do not meet the functional requirements of the communication network, selecting at least one endpoint enhancer for the first communication endpoint;

receiving a second message from the first communication endpoint, wherein the second message is received in connection with establishing a communication session between the first communication endpoint and a communication device over the communication network; and

inserting the selected at least one endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first communication endpoint and the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication endpoint comprises a SIP endpoint, wherein the communication network comprises a SIP network, and wherein the communication device comprises a second communication endpoint in the SIP network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second message is a message that will be sequenced through at least one application; and

invoking the selected at least one endpoint enhancer according to at least one of the following;

(i) before origination processing has begun for a user utilizing the first communication endpoint; and

(ii) following termination processing for a user when contact resolution has been performed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second message comprises one or more of an INVITE message, a REFER message, and a MESSAGE message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a REGISTER message and wherein the second message comprises at least one of a dialog initiating SIP message, other than a REGISTER message, and an out of dialog message between the first communication endpoint and the communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer stays in the signalling path of any dialog being established between the first communication endpoint and the communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein all messages of the communication session are received by the selected at least one endpoint enhancer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first communication endpoint; and

re-using an established TLS connection between the first communication endpoint and the communication network to insert the selected at least one endpoint enhancer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer is selected from a plurality of endpoint enhancers, wherein each of the plurality of endpoint enhancers are used to provide endpoints with different functions to meet the functional requirements of the communication network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer is dynamically added to the plurality of endpoint enhancers without disrupting operation of the other endpoint enhancers in the plurality of endpoint enhancers.

11. A communication device adapted to receive a registration-type message from a first communication endpoint, analyze the registration-type message to identify functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint, determine functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first communication endpoint, compare the functional requirements of the communication network with the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint, determine that the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint do not meet the functional requirements of the communication network, select an endpoint enhancer for the first communication endpoint, and insert the selected endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first communication endpoint and another communication device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first communication endpoint comprises a SIP endpoint, wherein the communication network comprises a SIP network, and wherein the communication device comprises a second communication endpoint in the SIP network.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer is inserted in at least one of the call origination side and the call termination side of the call.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the first message comprises a REGISTER message.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer stays in the signalling path of any dialog being established between the first communication endpoint and the communication device.

16. The device of claim 11, comprising memory including SIP proxy code and the selected endpoint enhancer, the device further comprising a processor for executing contents of its memory.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer is a stand-alone application that does not operate within the code space of the SIP proxy.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer operates within the code space of the SIP proxy.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the device operates as a Back-to-Back User Agent between the first communication endpoint and the communication device and wherein the selected endpoint enhancer resides on the Back-to-Back User Agent.

20. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored onto a computer readable medium which, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to execute a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from a first communication endpoint;

analyzing the first message to identify functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint;

determining functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first communication endpoint;

comparing the functional requirements of the communication network with the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint;

determining that the functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint do not meet the functional requirements of the communication network;

based on determining functional capabilities of the first communication endpoint do not meet the functional requirements of the communication network, selecting at least one endpoint enhancer for the first communication endpoint;

receiving a second message from the first communication endpoint, wherein the second message is received in connection with establishing a communication session between the first communication endpoint and a communication device over the communication network; and

inserting the selected at least one endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first communication endpoint and the communication device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer readable medium comprises the selected at least one endpoint enhancer and SIP proxy logic.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer operates within the same code space as the SIP proxy logic.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer readable medium comprises the selected at least one endpoint enhancer and Back-to-Back User Agent logic.