Distribution of location information in IP networks by intelligent endpoints

• US 6,823,364 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Jessen, Christopher, Sollee, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/468,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/207, 709/223, 709/230, 709/250, 709/249, 709/251, 709/252, 709/106
• US Class Current: 709/205
• 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 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• 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: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A distribution of location information in IP networks by intelligent endpoints is presented. The network comprises an intelligent endpoint operably coupled to a plurality of clients. A first one of the clients registers with the intelligent endpoint that stores location information of the first client. A second one of the clients may also register with the intelligent endpoint that stores the location information of the second client. The intelligent endpoint automatically presents the location information of the first client to the second client and of the second client to the first client. The first client can then directly communicate with the second client. Either client can also be an intelligent endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network that comprises a first intelligent endpoint operably coupled to clients, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is a networked computer that satisfies a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in a network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint be Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based, and have a static IP address and an always available IP connection, the method comprising:

registering, by a first one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint wherein the registering facilitates communications between the first one of the clients with other clients;

storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client;

registering, by a second one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint;

storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client;

automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client to the second client;

automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client to the first client;

designating the first client as a second intelligent endpoint; and

informing the second client that the first client is the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the second client can be simultaneously served by both the first and second intelligent endpoints.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising directly communicating, by the first client, with the second client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises the clients IP address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a user'"'"'s name, wherein the user is associated with one of the clients.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is associated with an area of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is associated with a plurality of areas of interest.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering by the first intelligent endpoint with the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the second intelligent endpoint is associated with a second area of interest.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering, by a plurality of clients, with a plurality of intelligent endpoints, wherein the registration includes each client'"'"'s areas of interest.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering, by a private group of clients, with the first intelligent endpoint.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

de-registering, by the first client, with the first intelligent endpoint;

deleting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client; and

automatically removing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client with the second client.

11. A system for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network that comprises a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based intelligent endpoint operably coupled to clients, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is a networked computer that satisfies a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in a network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint have a static IP address and an always available IP connection, the system comprising:

means for registering, by a first one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint;

means for storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client;

means for registering, by a second one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint;

means for storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client;

means for automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client to the second client; and

means for automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client to the first client;

means for designating the first client as a second intelligent endpoint; and

means for informing the second client that the first client is the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the first and second intelligent endpoints are simultaneously accessible to the second client.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprises means for directly communicating, by the first client, with the second client.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the location information comprises the clients IP address.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the location information comprises a user'"'"'s name, wherein the user is associated with one of the clients.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is associated with an area of interest.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is associated with a plurality of areas of interest.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprises means for registering by the first intelligent endpoint with the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the second intelligent endpoint is associated with a second area of interest.

18. The system of claim 11 further comprises means for registering, by a plurality of clients, with a plurality of endpoints, wherein the registration includes each client'"'"'s areas of interest.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprises means for registering, by a private group of clients, with the first intelligent endpoint.

20. The system of claim 11 further comprises:

means for de-registering, by the first client, with the first intelligent endpoint;

means for deleting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client; and

means for automatically removing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client with the second client.

21. A method for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network having a plurality of clients, wherein each client is associated with unique identification information, the method comprising:

registering the unique identification information of each of the clients with a first intelligent endpoint;

sending the unique identification information of each of the clients from the first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based intelligent endpoint to the other clients so that the clients can communicate directly;

enabling at least a first one of the clients to become a second intelligent endpoint; and

informing the other clients of the second intelligent endpoint if the first one of the clients becomes the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the first and second intelligent endpoints are networked computers that satisfy a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in the IP network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint have a static IP address and an always available IP connection.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining whether the first one of the clients meets the predetermined set of criteria before enabling the first one of the clients to become the second intelligent endpoint.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising associating each of the first and second intelligent endpoints with first and second areas of interest, respectively, and informing the clients of the first and second areas of interest.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

associating each client with at least one of the first and second areas of interest;

registering the second intelligent endpoint with the first intelligent endpoint; and

automatically registering any client that is registered with the first intelligent endpoint with the second intelligent endpoint if the client is associated with the second area of interest.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

enabling the first one of the clients to discontinue its role as the second intelligent endpoint; and

informing the other clients that the first one of the clients is no longer the second intelligent endpoint.

26. A system for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network having at least first and second clients, wherein each client is associated with unique identification information and able to become an intelligent endpoint, wherein an intelligent endpoint is a networked computer that satisfies a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in the IP network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint have a static IP address and an always available IP connection, the system comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based intelligent endpoint accessible to the first and second clients and operable to provide the unique identification information of each client to the other client so that the clients can communicate directly; and

the first and second clients, wherein either of the first and second clients can become a second intelligent endpoint, and wherein both the first and second intelligent endpoints can communicate with the first or second client that is not an endpoint.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

a processor associated with the first intelligent endpoint; and

a memory accessible to the processor for storing instructions for processing by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise;

registering the unique identification information of first and second clients;

providing the unique identification information of each client to the other client; and

registering the second intelligent endpoint if either of the first or second clients becomes the second intelligent endpoint.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising instructions for, if the first or second client becomes the second intelligent endpoint, deregistering the unique identification information of the first or second client, respectively.

29. The system of claim 27 further comprising instructions for automatically informing the first client when the unique identification information of the second client is registered.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the first and second intelligent endpoints are associated with static IP addresses.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein any client can become an intelligent endpoint by satisfying the criteria and any intelligent endpoint can revert to a client.

31. A method for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network having a plurality of clients and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based intelligent endpoint, wherein each client is associated with unique identification information, and wherein the intelligent endpoint is a networked computer that satisfies a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in the IP network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint have a static IP address and an always available IP connection, and wherein any client can become an intelligent endpoint by satisfying the criteria and any intelligent endpoint can revert to a client, the method comprising:

registering each of the plurality of clients with the intelligent endpoint when each client logs on to the network;

sending the unique identification information of each registered client to the other registered clients;

accepting a change in status of any of the plurality of clients from a client status to an intelligent endpoint status; and

notifying the plurality of clients of the change in status.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising verifying that any of the plurality of clients wanting to change from a client status to an intelligent endpoint status satisfies a predetermined set of parameters before accepting the change in status.