Method for obtaining a second address free from association with multiple devices

• US 6,542,935 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Art
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US09/363,069
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/245, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/245
• 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

Abstract

A system obtains a second address, such as a unique IP address, from a called device by a calling device across a computer network. A first address and nick related to the called device is registered with a third device interconnected with the computer network, such as a gatekeeper, where the first address is associate with multiple devices, such as a sub-network broadcast address. The second device requests the first address from the third device by using the nick, and then initiates a first transfer of data, such as a call setup, from the second device to the first device using said first address. The first device receives the first transfer of data and in response requests a second address free from associate with said multiple devices from a fourth device, such as an address server. The first devices receives the second address from the fourth device and in response provides the second address to the second device.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a second address of a first device by a second device across a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a first address and a nick related to said first device with a third device interconnected with said computer network where said first address is associated with multiple devices;

(b) requesting said first address from said third device by said second device using said nick;

(c) initiating a first transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said first address;

(d) receiving said first transfer of data by said first device and in response requesting a second address free from association with said multiple devices from a fourth device; and

(e) said first device receiving said second address from said fourth device and in response providing said second address to said second device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of said second device initiating a second transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said-first transfer of data is a call setup.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first address is a broadcast address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first address is an IP broadcast address of a network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said third device is an address server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer network includes the use of a TCP/IP protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first address is a broadcast address.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first data transfer is received by a plurality of said multiple devices.

10. The method of claim 9 where in said multiple devices are each interconnected within a LAN and interconnected to said computer network by a router.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said nick is at least one of a user ID and alias.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said third device is a gatekeeper.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said fourth device is an address server.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein said second transfer of data is a call setup.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said second address is an IP address of said second device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of transmitting a third transfer of data from said first device to said second device of a release complete.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of transmitting a release complete from said second device to said first device prior to said second transfer of data.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising said first device requesting said first address from said fourth device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising said first device registering said first address and said nick with said third device.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising said first device receiving a registration confirmation from said third device in response to said registering.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising said second device initiating a second transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said second transfer is a release complete.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising said second device initiating a third transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address for a call setup.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising said first device initiating a fourth transfer of data from said first device to said second device of at least one of audio and video data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein at least one of said first and second address is an IP address.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said computer network includes the use of TCP/IP protocols.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said multiple devices are connected to a local area network.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said second device is connected to said local area network through a router.

29. A method of obtaining a second address of a first device by a second device across a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a first address and a nick related to said first device with a third device interconnected with said computer network;

(b) requesting said first address from said third device by said second device using said nick;

(c) initiating a first transfer of data from said second device to a fifth device using said first address;

(d) receiving said first transfer of data by said fifth device and in response notifying said first device of said first transfer of data;

(e) requesting a second address from a fourth device unique to said first device; and

(f) at least one of said first device and said fifth device receiving said second address from said fourth device and in response providing said second address to said second device.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of said second device initiating a second transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said first transfer of data is a call setup.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said first address is a broadcast address.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein said first address is an IP address of a call agent.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said third device is an address server.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein said computer network includes the use of a TCP/IP protocol.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein said first address is a an address unique to said fifth device.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said first data transfer is received by only said fifth device.

38. The method of claim 37 where in said fifth device, first device, and said third device are each interconnected within a LAN and interconnected to said computer network by a router.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein said nick is at least one of a user ID and alias.

40. The method of claim 29 wherein said third device is a gatekeeper.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein said fourth device is an address server.

42. The method of claim 30 wherein said second transfer of data is a call setup.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said second address is an IP address unique to said second device.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of transmitting a third transfer of data from said first device to said second device of a release complete.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of transmitting a release complete from said second device to said first device prior to said second transfer of data.

46. The method of claim 29 further comprising said first device requesting said 10 first address from said fourth device.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising said first device registering said first address and said nick with said third device.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising said first device receiving a registration confirmation from said third device in response to said registering.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising said second device initiating a second transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said second transfer is a release complete.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising said second device initiating a third transfer of data from said second device to said first device using said second address for a call setup.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising said first device initiating a fourth transfer of data from said first device to said second device of at least one of audio and video data.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein at least one of said first and second address is an IP address.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said computer network includes the use of TCP/IP protocols.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said first device, said fourth device, and said fifth device are connected to a LAN.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said second device is connected to said LAN through a router.