Method and apparatus for implementing a presence-based universal camp-on feature in packet-based telephony systems

• US 7,480,260 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vashisht, Vikas, Abichandani, Jaideep, Tripathi, Anoop, Dai, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyun; Soon D.
• Application Number:
  US10/845,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing a presence based universal camp-on feature in packet-based telephony systems are disclosed. A first packet-based device is subscribed to a line status of a second packet-based device. A first notification is received into the first packet-based device from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in a busy state. A second notification is received into the first packet-based device from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in an idle state. A user of the first packet-based device is prompted with an option to establish a communication session with the second packet-based device upon receiving the second notification into the first packet-based device. A communication session is established between the first packet-based device and the second packet-based device in response to receiving an accept-call command into the first packet-based device. The first packet-based device and the second packet-based device may be packet-based telephones, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephones.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a first packet-based device subscribing to a line status of a second packet-based device, such that the second packet-based device responsively notifies the first packet-based device of (i) a current line status of the second packet-based device and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second packet-based device;

the first packet-based device receiving a first notification from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in a busy state;

after receiving the first notification, the first packet-based device receiving a second notification from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the first notification followed by the second notification, the first packet-based device prompting a user of the first packet-based device to establish a communication session with the second packet-based device; and

after prompting the user, the first packet-based device receiving an accept-call command from the user, and responsively establishing the communication session with the second packet-based device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based device and the second packet-based device are packet-based telephones.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the first packet-based device receiving from the user a camp-on command into the first packet-based device to subscribe to the line status of the second packet-based device, wherein the first packet-based device subscribes to the line status of the second packet-based device in response to receiving the camp-on command.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second packet-based device is in the busy state when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second packet-based device is in the idle state when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second packet-based device is in a ringing state when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first packet-based telephone is connected to a voicemail account associated with the second packet-based device when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the second packet-based device is in a logged-out state when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first packet-based device is engaged in an initial communication session with the second packet-based device when the camp-on command is received into the first packet-based device.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the first packet-based device placing an initial telephone call to the second packet-based device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the first packet-based device receiving a called-party-unavailable notification from the second packet-based device, notifying the first packet-based device that the second packet-based device is unavailable to receive the initial telephone call.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the first packet-based device notifying the user that the second packet-based device is unavailable to receive the initial telephone call.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the first packet-based device:

subscribing, via a proxy, to a registration status and a contact information of the second packet-based device;

receiving a first registration notification from the proxy, wherein the first registration notification comprises the registration status and the contact information of the second packet-based device; and

receiving an updated registration notification from the proxy each time one or both of the registration status and the contact information of the second packet-based device changes, wherein each updated registration notification comprises the registration status and the contact information of the second packet-based device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the user of the first packet-based device to establish the communication session with the second packet-based device occurs when the first packet-based device is in a connected state.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the user of the first packet-based device to establish the communication session with the second packet-based device comprises a visible notification.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the user of the first packet-based device to establish the communication session with the second packet-based device comprises an audible notification.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first packet-based device is a packet-based telephone; and

the second packet-based device is a packet-based gateway, arranged to mediate communication sessions between (i) one or more packet-based devices in communication with a packet-switched network, and (ii) one or more devices in communication with a circuit-switched telephone network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more devices in communication with the circuit-switched telephone network comprise one or more telephones.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the circuit-switched telephone network is the Public Switched Telephone Network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based device and the second packet-based device are Session Initiation Protocol telephones.

21. A method comprising:

a first packet-based device subscribing to a line status of each of multiple packet-based devices, wherein the first packet-based device is not one of the multiple packet-based devices, such that each of the multiple packet-based devices responsively notifies the first packet-based device of (i) a current line status of the respective packet-based device and (ii) any changes to the line status of the respective packet-based device;

the first packet-based device receiving a first notification from a second packet-based device, wherein the second packet-based device is one of the multiple packet-based devices, when the line status of the second packet-based device is in a busy state;

after receiving the first notification, the first packet-based device receiving a second notification from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the first notification followed by the second notification, the first packet-based device prompting a first user of the first packet-based device to establish a communication session with the second packet-based device; and

after prompting the first user, the first packet-based device receiving an accept-call command from the user, and responsively establishing the communication session with the second packet-based device.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising a second user logging in to each of the multiple packet-based devices.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the first packet-based device:

subscribing, via a proxy, to a registration status and a contact information of each of the multiple packet-based devices;

receiving a registration notification for each of the multiple packet-based devices from the proxy, wherein each registration notification comprises the registration status and the contact information of a respective one of the multiple packet-based devices; and

receiving an updated registration notification from the proxy each time one or both of the registration status and the contact information of any one of the multiple packet-based devices changes, wherein each updated registration notification comprises the registration status and the contact information of the one of the multiple packet-based devices for which the registration status and the contact information changed.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first packet-based device and the multiple packet-based devices are packet-based telephones.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first packet-based device and the multiple packet-based devices are Session Initiation Protocol telephones.

26. A packet-based telephone, comprising:

a user interface;

a network interface;

a processor; and

a data storage;

wherein the data storage comprises a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein, the control logic comprising computer readable program code executable by the processor for causing the packet-based telephone to;

subscribe the packet-based telephone to a line status of a packet-based device, such that the packet-based device responsively notifies the packet-based telephone of (i) a current line status of the packet-based device and (ii) any changes to the line status of the packet-based device;

receive via the network interface a first notification from the packet-based device when the line status of the packet-based device is in a busy state;

after receiving the first notification, receive via the network interface a second notification from the packet-based device when the line status of the packet-based device is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the first notification followed by the second notification, prompt a user of the packet-based telephone via the user interface to establish a communication session with the packet-based device; and

after prompting the user, receive an accept-call command from the user, and responsively establish the communication session with the packet-based device.

27. The packet-based telephone of claim 26, wherein the packet-based telephone and the packet-based device are Session Initiation Protocol telephones.

28. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone transmitting a first SIP message, offering a SIP device an invitation to engage in a first communication session with the first SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from a user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the SIP device;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a second SIP message to the SIP device, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the SIP device, such that the SIP device responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the SIP device and (ii) any changes to the line status of the SIP device;

the first SIP telephone receiving a third SIP message from the SIP device, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the SIP device is in a busy state;

after receiving the third SIP message, the first SIP telephone receiving a fourth SIP message from the SIP device, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the SIP device is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the third SIP message followed by the fourth SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a second communication session with the SIP device;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone to establish the second communication session with the SIP device; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the second communication session with the SIP device in response to receiving the accept-call command.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the SIP device is a second SIP telephone.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the SIP device is a SIP gateway, arranged to mediate communication sessions between (i) one or more SIP devices in communication with a packet-switched network, and (ii) one or more devices in communication with a circuit-switched telephone network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the one or more devices in communication with the circuit-switched telephone network comprises one or more telephones.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the circuit-switched telephone network is the Public Switched Telephone Network.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising the first SIP telephone receiving a SIP response message from the SIP device in response to transmitting the first SIP message, wherein the SIP response message notifies the first SIP telephone that the SIP device is unavailable to engage in the first communication session.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the SIP response message notifies the first SIP telephone that the SIP device is in the busy state.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the first SIP telephone notifying the user of the first SIP telephone that the SIP device is unavailable to enter into the first communication session.

36. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone transmitting a first SIP message, offering a second SIP telephone an invitation to engage in a first communication session with the first SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from the user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the second SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a second SIP message to the second SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the second SIP telephone, such that the second SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the second SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone canceling the invitation offered by the first SIP message;

the first SIP telephone receiving a third SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in a busy state;

after receiving the third SIP message, the first SIP telephone receiving a fourth SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the third SIP message followed by the fourth SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a second communication session with the second SIP telephone;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone to establish the second communication session with the second SIP telephone; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the second communication session with the second SIP telephone in response to receiving the accept-call command.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the first SIP telephone receiving a SIP response message from the second SIP telephone in response to transmitting the first SIP message, wherein the SIP response message notifies the first SIP telephone that the second SIP telephone is in a ringing state.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the first SIP telephone canceling the invitation offered by the first SIP message comprises the first SIP telephone transmitting a SIP cancel message to the second SIP telephone.

39. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone transmitting a first SIP message, offering a second SIP telephone an invitation to engage in a first communication session with the first SIP telephone;

initiating a second communication session between the first SIP telephone and a messaging system, wherein the messaging system maintains an account associated with the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from the user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the second SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a second SIP message from the first SIP telephone to the second SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the second SIP telephone, such that the second SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the second SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone terminating the second communication session;

the first SIP telephone receiving a third SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in a busy state;

after receiving the third SIP telephone, the first SIP telephone receiving a fourth SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the third SIP message followed by the fourth SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a third communication session with the second SIP telephone;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone to establish the third communication session with the second SIP telephone; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the third communication session with the second SIP telephone in response to receiving the accept-call command.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein initiating the second communication session comprises:

a SIP proxy transmitting a SIP cancel message to the second SIP telephone, canceling the invitation offered by the first SIP message; and

the SIP proxy transmitting a SIP invite message to the messaging system, offering the messaging system an invitation to engage in the second communication session.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein initiating the second communication session comprises:

a SIP proxy transmitting a SIP referral message to the first SIP telephone, referring the first SIP telephone to the messaging system; and

the first SIP telephone transmitting a SIP invite message to the messaging system, offering the messaging system an invitation to engage in the second communication session.

42. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone transmitting a first SIP message, offering a second SIP telephone an invitation to engage in a first communication session with the first SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a second SIP message, notifying the first SIP telephone that the second SIP telephone is unavailable to engage in the first communication session, wherein the second SIP telephone is in a logged-out state;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from the user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the second SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a third SIP message a SIP proxy, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a registration status and a contact information of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a fourth SIP message from the SIP proxy, notifying the first SIP telephone of the registration status and the contact information of the second SIP telephone, wherein the fourth SIP message indicates that the second SIP telephone is in the logged-out state;

the first SIP telephone receiving a fifth SIP message from the SIP proxy, notifying the first SIP telephone of the registration status and the contact information of the second SIP telephone, wherein the fifth SIP message indicates that the second SIP telephone is in a logged-in state;

responsive to receiving the fifth SIP message, the first SIP telephone transmitting a sixth SIP message to the second SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the second SIP telephone, such that the second SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the second SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a seventh SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in a busy state;

after receiving the seventh SIP message, the first SIP telephone receiving an eighth SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the seventh SIP message followed by the eighth SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a second communication session with the second SIP telephone;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone into the first SIP telephone to establish the second communication session with the second SIP telephone; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the second communication session with the second SIP telephone in response in response to receiving the accept-call command.

43. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone transmitting a first SIP message, offering a second SIP telephone an invitation to engage in a first communication session with the first SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from the user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the second SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a second SIP message, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a registration status and a contact information of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a third SIP message, notifying the first SIP telephone of the registration status and the contact information of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone transmitting a fourth SIP message to the second SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the second SIP telephone, such that the second SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the second SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second SIP telephone;

transmitting a fifth SIP message to the second SIP telephone, canceling the invitation offered by the first SIP message;

the first SIP telephone receiving a sixth SIP message, notifying the first SIP telephone of the registration status and the contact information of a third SIP telephone, wherein a user of the second SIP telephone is logged in to both the second SIP telephone and the third SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the sixth SIP message, the first SIP telephone transmitting a seventh SIP message to the third SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the third SIP telephone, such that the third SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the third SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the third SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving an eighth SIP message from the third SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the third SIP telephone is in a busy state;

after receiving the eighth SIP message, the first SIP telephone receiving a ninth SIP message from the third SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the third SIP telephone is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the eighth SIP message followed by the ninth SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a second communication session with the third SIP telephone;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone to establish the second communication session with the third SIP telephone; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the second communication session with the third SIP telephone in response to receiving the accept-call command.

44. A method, comprising:

a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephone establishing a first communication session with a second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a camp-on command from the user of the first SIP telephone to camp-on the second SIP telephone;

responsive to receiving the camp-on command, the first SIP telephone transmitting a first SIP message from the first SIP telephone to the second SIP telephone, subscribing the first SIP telephone to a line status of the second SIP telephone, such that the second SIP telephone responsively notifies the first SIP telephone of (i) a current line status of the second SIP telephone and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second SIP telephone;

the first SIP telephone receiving a second SIP message from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in a busy state;

the first SIP telephone terminating the first communication session;

after receiving the fourth SIP message, the first SIP telephone receiving a third SIP message into the first SIP telephone from the second SIP telephone, notifying the first SIP telephone that the line status of the second SIP telephone is in an idle state;

responsive to receiving the sequence of the second SIP message followed by the third SIP message, the first SIP telephone prompting the user of the first SIP telephone to establish a second communication session with the second SIP telephone;

after prompting the user, the first SIP telephone receiving an accept-call command from the user of the first SIP telephone to establish the second communication session with the second SIP telephone; and

the first SIP telephone establishing the second communication session with the second SIP telephone in response to receiving the accept-call command.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second SIP telephone is engaged in a third communication session with a third SIP telephone prior to the first communication session being established.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the third SIP message is received into the first SIP telephone following termination of the third communication session.