Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system

• US 6,980,526 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Kent, Mark, Jang, Saqib
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/819,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/264, 370/265, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/401, 370/402, 370/494, 370/495
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/256 NAT traversal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 : Simulation, emulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 : Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system, method, and device for use in videoconferencing. The method typically includes installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to an IP network, and registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services. Each subscriber typically has a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber. The method further includes storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch, and configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.

Claims

1. A method for videoconferencing using Internet Protocol (IP), the method comprising the steps of:

installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to a service provider IP network;

at the switch, registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services, each subscriber including a plurality of endpoints;

receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber;

storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch; and

configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein subscriber-specific settings include policies selected from the group consisting of outbound/inbound calling privileges, encryption policies, bandwidth policies, priority among users policies, participation privileges, inbound/outbound calling restrictions, time-of-day restrictions, audio or video restrictions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein subscriber-specific settings include firewall settings.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

5. A method for use in videoconferencing, the method comprising:

installing a videoconferencing services switch on a service provider network at an access point configured to enable multiple enterprise subscribers to access a global packet-switched computer network to exchange data, including videoconferencing data and non-videoconferencing data, the videoconferencing services switch being configured to process videoconferencing data from multiple enterprise subscribers;

at the videoconferencing services switch, receiving a request for a videoconferencing call from an origination endpoint of one of the multiple enterprise subscribers;

connecting the videoconferencing call to a destination endpoint, the videoconferencing call having associated videoconferencing data; and

securing the videoconferencing call based on subscriber-specific security settings.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each enterprise subscriber includes an enterprise gateway positioned on the network between the access point and the origination endpoint, the method further comprising:

routing videoconferencing data from the enterprise gateway to videoconferencing services switch; and

routing non-videoconferencing data from the enterprise gateway around the videoconferencing services switch.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the videoconferencing data is routed to the videoconferencing services switch via a direct network connection from an enterprise router to the videoconferencing services switch.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the videoconferencing data is routed to the videoconferencing services service switch through an access point edge router.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a firewall exists between the enterprise gateway and the video conferencing data is passed the firewall unexamined.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the videoconferencing data routed through the firewall is encrypted.

11. The method of claim 10, where the encryption is achieved using the IPSec protocols.

12. The method of claim 6, where the videoconferencing data is routed to the switch via a DSL network.

13. The method of claim 12, where the videoconferencing data is routed to the switch via PVC opened on the DSL network.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the call is connected according to H.323 or SIP protocols.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the security settings include firewall settings.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the security settings includes NAT settings.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein subscriber-specific settings include policies selected from the group consisting of outbound/inbound calling privileges, encryption policies, bandwidth policies, priority among users policies, participation privileges, inbound/outbound calling restrictions, time-of-day restrictions, audio or

video restrictions.

18. A system for use in videoconferencing, the system comprising:

multiple enterprise subscriber networks, each enterprise subscriber network having one or more videoconferencing terminals;

a service provider network configured to enable users of the multiple enterprise subscriber networks to access a global computer network via an access point; and

a videoconferencing services switch positioned on the access point of the service provider network, the videoconferencing services switch being configured to process videoconferencing calls from terminals of each of the multiple enterprise subscriber networks, based on subscriber specific settings;

wherein a first enterprise subscriber network includes an enterprise video gateway; and

wherein the enterprise video gateway includes an encryption module configured to encrypt videoconferencing data sent between the videoconferencing services switch and the enterprise video gateway.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the enterprise video gateway includes an emulation module configured to emulate H.323/SIP call control and firewall functionality.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the encryption module is configured to encrypt videoconferencing data using IP Security (IPSec) authentication and encryption.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the first enterprise subscriber network includes an enterprise router configured to route videoconferencing data to the videoconferencing services switch.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising, a direct network connection dedicated to video traffic linking the first enterprise subscriber network and the videoconferencing services switch.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the access point on the service provider network is a point of presence (POP).

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the service provider network includes an edge router configured to route videoconferencing traffic between the multiple subscriber networks and the videoconferencing services switch.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the service provider network includes a core router configured to route videoconferencing traffic across a computer network backbone to a destination terminal in a remote zone.

26. A system for use in videoconferencing, the system comprising:

multiple enterprise subscriber networks, each enterprise subscriber network having one or more videoconferencing terminals;

a service provider network configured to enable users of the multiple enterprise subscriber networks to access a global computer network via an access point; and

a videoconferencing services switch positioned on the access point of the service provider network, the videoconferencing services switch being configured to process videoconferencing calls from terminals of each of the multiple enterprise subscriber networks, based on subscriber specific settings;

wherein a first enterprise subscriber network includes an enterprise video gateway; and

wherein the videoconferencing services switch includes, (1) a virtual router configured to receive a request for a videoconferencing call from an origination terminal via the enterprise gateway, and (2) a call control module configured to perform call set-up operations, manage call data streams, and perform call tear down operations for the videoconferencing call, wherein the virtual router is configured to route call-related traffic between the origination terminal and the call control module.