Extensible metadata structure

• US 7,502,364 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Malueg, Michael D., Moore, Timothy M., Criddle, Linda, Milstein, David, Wang, Kuansan, Howell, David A., Chou, Philip Andrew, Forbes, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US11/394,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.19, 379/373.01, 379/355.03, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 370352-356, 709/203, 709206-207, 715/749, 715/760
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Structured hierarchies for communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation are provided. The structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information over a VoIP conversation channel. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices and prior to the exchange of contextual information. The structural hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. Additionally, the structural hierarchies can be extensible by the addition of more definitions to the current structural hierarchies.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) data according to an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy, the method comprising:

initializing a conversation channel between a first VoIP client and a second VoIP client;

exchanging structured hierarchical identification information between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client, wherein the structured hierarchical identification information indicates an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy and a location of the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy;

obtaining the identified pregenerated structured hierarchy from the location;

determining whether a modification to the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy has been received;

when a modification to the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy has been received;

communicating the modification between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client;

updating the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy to include the modification;

binding contextual data in accordance with the modified pregenerated structured hierarchy to generate contextual data packets, and

after binding the contextual data in accordance with the modified pregenerated structured hierarchy, transmitting the VoIP data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets include the contextual data packets bound by the modified pregenerated structured hierarchy and voice data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets cause interface communication between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client;

when a modification to the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy has not been received;

binding contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy to generate contextual data packets, and

after binding the contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy, transmitting the VoIP data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets include the contextual data packets bound by the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy and voice data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets cause the communication between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy corresponds to a set of classes and attributes defining the contextual data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the set of classes includes call basics, call contexts, device type, and VoIP clients.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the set of attributes relate to the class of call basics and include call priority, namespace information, and call type.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of call contexts and include subject information, file identification, and keywords relating to the conversation.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of device type and includes audio information about a device, video information about a device, and device specific information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of clients and includes biometrics information, location information, and client rules.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the extensible predefined structured hierarchy is defined by a Markup Language namespace.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for transmitting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) data according to an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy, the instructions comprising:

prior to sending VoIP data packets for communication, exchanging structured hierarchical identification information between a first VoIP client and a second VoIP client, wherein the structured hierarchical identification information indicates an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy and a location of the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy;

obtaining the identified pregenerated structured hierarchy from the location;

binding contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy to generate contextual data packets; and

after binding the contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy, transmitting the VoIP data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets include the contextual data packets bound by the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy and voice data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets cause the interface communication between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy corresponds to a set of classes and attributes defining the contextual data.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the set of classes includes call basics, call contexts, device type, and VoIP clients.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of attributes relate to the class of call basics and include call priority, namespace information, and call type.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of call contexts and include subject information, file identification, and keywords relating to the conversation.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of device type and includes audio information about a device, video information about a device, and device specific information.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of attributes relates to the class of clients and includes biometrics information, location information, and client rules.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the extensible predefined structured hierarchy is defined by a Markup Language namespace.

17. A system for transmitting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) data according to an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

exchanging structured hierarchical identification information between a first VoIP client and a second VoIP client, wherein the structured hierarchical identification information indicates an extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy and a location of the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy;

obtaining the identified pregenerated structured hierarchy from the location;

binding contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy to generate contextual data packets; and

after binding the contextual data in accordance with the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy, transmitting the VoIP data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets include the contextual data packets bound by the obtained pregenerated structured hierarchy and voice data packets, wherein the VoIP data packets cause the interface communication between the first VoIP client and the second VoIP client.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the extensible pregenerated structured hierarchy corresponds to a set of classes and attributes defining the contextual data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the set of classes includes call basics, call contexts, device type, and VoIP clients.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the set of attributes relate to the class of call basics and include call priority, namespace information, and call type.