System and method for video call configuration and scheduling

• US 6,633,324 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Forgent Networks (Asure Software)
• Inventors: Stephens, James H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US09/919,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/14.01, 379/93.21, 379/202.01, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A method and system configures video calls and schedules the calls for a video call network based on a query from a user to establish a video call between end points of the video call network. A configuration engine accepts video call information from a query engine based on the video call request and applies device data and rules to determine one or more possible call configurations. The configuration engine or an associated optimization engine determines a preferred video call configuration and schedules devices of the video call network without requiring the user to have any in depth understanding of the device limitations and capabilities. Automatic configuration and scheduling of video calls simplifies the use of a video call network to reduce the expense and complexity of efficiently using network resources.

Claims

1. A method for configuring video calls, the method comprising:

querying a platform with video call information for establishing a video call between plural video and points;

providing the video call information to a rules-based engine; and

applying rules and device data with the rules-based engine to determine one or more video call configurations for a video call corresponding to the video call information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the video call information comprises scheduling resources for video calls.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device data comprises schedule capacity and capability information for devices associated with the one or more call configurations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the device data comprises the protocol associated with the end point devices.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the device data comprises the protocol associated with MCU devices.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein one or more of the devices comprises a gateway device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device data comprises bandwidth associated with one or more devices.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining plural call configurations for a video call corresponding to the video call information;

selecting one of the call configurations based on one or more predetermined optimization factors; and

scheduling the devices associated with the optimal call configuration for accomplishing the video call.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the optimization factors comprise the cost associated with the video call configurations.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the optimization factors comprise the reliability associated with the video call configurations.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the device data to reflect changes in the status of the devices.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a rule comprises that an MCU device be used for a multi-point video call.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a rule comprises that a gateway device be used for a video call having end point devices with different protocols.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a rule comprises that devices associated with a video call consume not more than a maximum bandwidth associated with each device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the video call information comprises a priority for the video call and a rule comprises that a video call be scheduled according to the video call'"'"'s priority.

16. A system for configuring a video call between video endpoints and supported by devices, the system comprising:

a query engine that accepts video call information associated with a scheduling request for video call end points;

a device database that stores device data associated with the video endpoints and the devices;

a rules database that stores rules associated with the configuration of video calls; and

a configuration engine interfaced with the query engine, the device database and the rules database, the configuration engine applying the video call information, the device data and the rules to determine one or more video call configurations.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an update engine interfaced with the device database, the update engine maintaining device data to reflect changes in the status of devices and end points.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising an optimization engine operable to select one of the video call configurations based on predetermined optimization factors.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the configuration engine is operable to select one of the video call configurations and schedule the resources for accomplishing the video call.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising an optimization engine associated with the configuration engine, the optimization engine operable to optimize the device schedules according to predetermined optimization factors.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the configuration engine is further operable to provide a user with the plural configurations and accept a configuration selection by the user for scheduling a video call.