SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING VIDEO CALLS

• US 20150189227A1
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banma Zhixing Network (Hongkong) Co., Limited
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Peng, Wei, Du, Wuping, Zong, Ming
• Granted Patent: US 9,693,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1404 Methods for optical code recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate to a method for implementing video calls, a system for implementing video calls, and a computer program product for implementing video calls. A method for implementing video calls is provided. The method includes maintaining persistent connections with a plurality of terminals used to make video calls, each terminal having a universally unique identifier, receiving a video call request from a calling terminal via one of the persistent connections, the video call request including the universally unique identifier of the calling terminal, equipment descriptive information of the calling terminal, and the universally unique identifier of a called terminal, notifying the called terminal via one of the persistent connections, the notification being based on the universally unique identifier of the called terminal, receiving a response from the called terminal, and establishing a video call channel based on the received response.

Claims

1. A method for implementing video calls, comprising:

maintaining persistent connections with a plurality of terminals used to make video calls, wherein each terminal has a universally unique identifier;

receiving a video call request from a calling terminal via one of the persistent connections, the video call request including the universally unique identifier of the calling terminal, equipment descriptive information of the calling terminal, and the universally unique identifier of a called terminal;

notifying the called terminal via one of the persistent connections, the notification being based on the universally unique identifier of the called terminal;

receiving a response from the called terminal; and

establishing a video call channel based on the received response, wherein the calling terminal and the called terminal conduct a video call via the video call channel.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a unique identifier to each of the plurality of terminals, the issued unique identifier corresponding to the universally unique identifier of the each terminal.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the establishing of the video call channel comprises:

establishing a point-to-point channel between the calling terminal and the called terminal;

or

establishing a stream server relay channel.

4. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

allocating a different currently unique identifier to each terminal that maintains a persistent connection and that is used for video calling.

5. A method for implementing video calls, comprising:

maintaining a persistent connection with a server;

acquiring a first universally unique identifier;

sending a video call request to the server, the video call request including the first universally unique identifier, local equipment descriptive information, and a second universally unique identifier of a called terminal; and

conducting a video call with the called terminal via an established video call channel.

6. The method as described in claim 5, wherein the acquiring of the first universally unique identifier comprises:

acquiring contact information.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the acquiring of the contact information comprises:

scanning a quick response (QR) code displayed on the called terminal used for video calling;

adding the called terminal as a contact; and

sending the first universally unique identifier to the called terminal via the persistent connection to be added as a contact.

8. The method as described in claim 7, wherein the QR code is generated by the called terminal based on the second universally unique identifier and an equipment descriptive information of the called terminal and displayed on the called terminal.

9. The method as described in claim 7, wherein the acquiring of the contact information comprises:

acquiring the second universally unique identifier and an equipment descriptive information of the called terminal using the persistent connection with the server;

adding the called terminal as a contact; and

sending the first universally unique identifier to the called terminal using the persistent connection to be added as a contact on the called terminal.

10. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the acquiring of the contact information comprises:

inputting the currently allocated unique identifier to the called terminal used for video calling; and

adding the called terminal as a contact.

11. The method as described in claim 5, wherein the acquiring of the first universally unique identifier comprises:

generating the first universally unique identifier based on local hardware information; and

sending the first universally unique identifier to the server.

12. A system for implementing video calls, comprising:

a maintaining unit configured to maintain persistent connections with a plurality of terminals used to make video calls, wherein each terminal has a universally unique identifier;

a request receiving unit configured to receive a video call request from a calling terminal via one of the persistent connections;

an allocating unit configured to notify a called terminal via one of the persistent connections, the notification being based on the universally unique identifier of the called terminal;

a response receiving unit configured to receive a response from the called terminal; and

an establishment unit configured to establish a video call channel, wherein the calling terminal and the called terminal conduct a video call via the video call channel.

13. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the maintaining unit is further configured to issue a unique identifier to each of the plurality of terminals, the issued unique identifier corresponding to the universally unique identifier of the each terminal.

14. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the establishment unit is further configured to:

establish a point-to-point channel between the calling terminal and the called terminal;

or

establish a stream server relay channel.

15. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the allocating unit is further configured to allocate a different currently unique identifier to each terminal that maintains a persistent connection and that is used for video calling.

16. A computer program product for implementing video calls, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

maintaining persistent connections with a plurality of terminals used to make video calls, wherein each terminal has a universally unique identifier;

receiving a video call request from a calling terminal via one of the persistent connections, the video call request including the universally unique identifier of the calling terminal, equipment descriptive information of the calling terminal, and the universally unique identifier of a called terminal;

notifying the called terminal via one of the persistent connections, the notification being based on the universally unique identifier of the called terminal;

receiving a response from the called terminal; and

establishing a video call channel based on the received response, wherein the calling terminal and the called terminal conduct a video call via the video call channel.

17. A computer program product for implementing video calls, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

maintaining a persistent connection with a server;

acquiring a first universally unique identifier;

sending a video call request to the server, the video call request including the first universally unique identifier, local equipment descriptive information, and a second universally unique identifier of a called terminal; and

conducting a video call with the called terminal via an established video call channel.