Method for restoring a portion of a communication session transmitted over a computer network

• US 6,880,004 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STS Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: STS Software Systems, Ltd. (Nice Ltd)
• Inventors: Bar, Eitan, Nisani, Mordechai
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US10/962,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709204-207, 709/227, 345/302, 379/67, 379/70, 379/88
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• 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 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data

Abstract

Restoring at least a portion of a telephone communication session, in which at least the following occur. Data packets transmitted over a computer network are received. Audio or video data contained in the data packets is stored. The portion of the telephone communication session from the audio or video data contained in the data packets is restored. A terminal having a user interface, a data entry device and a display unit suitable for outputting audio data, video data, or both audio and video is provided. The portion of the telephone communication session is output using the display unit.

Claims

1. In a communication system including computer network-based telephones, a method for restoring at least a portion of a telephone communication session, the method comprising:

(a) receiving data packets transmitted over a computer network;

(b) analyzing a data portion of the data packets to determine the telephone communication session to which the data packets belong;

(c) storing audio or video data contained in the data packets;

(d) restoring the portion of the telephone communication session from the audio or video data contained in the data packets;

(e) providing a terminal having a user interface, a data entry device and a display unit suitable for outputting audio data, video data, or both audio and video; and

(f) outputting the portion of the telephone communication session using the display unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of receiving a command via the data entry device and using the command to determine filtering information, wherein the storing step stores audio or video data contained in data packets that satisfy the filtering information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the restoring step includes the steps of obtaining time-stamp data from each of the data packets and re-assembling the telephone communication session using the time-stamp data to maintain an overall timing among the data packets that comprise the telephone communication session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of obtaining time-stamp data comprises examining the data packets to determine a time stamp for each of the data packets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step further comprises the step of displaying any video data included in the restored portion of the communication session on a computer monitor, a video monitor or a display screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step further comprises the step of producing any audio data included in the restored portion of the communication session through an earphone or a loudspeaker.

7. The method of claim 1, including the additional steps of determining which data packets comprise the portion of the telephone communication session on the basis of information extracted from a header of the data packets.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information extracted from the header includes one of a source IP address and a destination IP address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the restoring step occurs at the terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the restoring step occurs remote from the terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a request issued from the terminal, wherein the outputting step is in response to the request.