Fast network SIP/SDP procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources

• US 7,586,857 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Xie, Hong, Liu, Chung-Zin, Ejzak, Richard Paul, Henrikson, Eric Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Jayanti K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Churnet; Dargaye H
• Application Number:
  US10/405,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,352 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/352, 370/356, 370/354
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The apparatus and method are fast network SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources. The apparatus has an SIP/SDP based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call. The SIP/SDP based network controller is structured to negotiate, allocate and re-configure network resources.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller operatively coupled to a resource controller via a SIP interface link, the network controller operatively coupled to a first SIP server via a SIP interface link and a SIP conference control interface link;

the network controller operatively coupled to at least one further SIP server via a signaling interface link;

the resource controller operatively coupled to network resources via a predetermined interface link;

the network resources operatively coupled to a first media server via a media interface link;

the first media server operatively coupled to the first end user via a first respective user equipment media interface link; and

the network resources operatively coupled to at least one further media server via a further media interface link;

wherein the network controller and the SIP servers exchange call control information, and wherein the network controller is operatively coupled to the media servers;

wherein the network controller and the resource controller exchange resource control information, the resource controller operatively coupled to network resources;

wherein the network controller employs a session description protocol within SIP to exchange resource control information with the resource controller using third party call control procedures; and

wherein media of a conference call between respective users is communicated over a bearer path between the network controller and the media servers, and wherein the network resources provide media translations between respective users.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network controller employs a session description protocol to perform end-to-end negotiation of the network resources through third party call control procedures.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network controller, upon a request from a first user that is on an active call, the first user having at least one on-hold call with at least a second user, joins at least the first and second users in the conference call with at least a third user, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a resource controller operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling that allows the resource controller to independently perform at least codec renegotiation and bearer re-configuration for each call leg between users.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein upon a further request from one of the first, second, third users, the network controller clears the conference call thereby disconnecting the at least third user, and restores the active call for two-way conversation between the first and second users.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a respective user is operatively connected to a respective SIP server, and wherein the respective SIP server is operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network controller maintains previous call information associated with respective users during the conference call.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the call information includes at least one of end-point codec capabilities and call identifications.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein after the network resources are set up by the resource controller, the network controller outputs update information simultaneously to each user to re-configure bearer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the update information includes at least send/receive IP (Internet Protocol) address, port number, and codec information.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller that, upon a request from a first user equipment that is on an active call, the first user equipment having at least one on-hold call with at least a second user equipment, joins at least the first and second users equipment in a conference call with at least a third user equipment;

the network controller operatively coupled to a resource controller via a SIP interface link, the network controller operatively coupled to a first SIP server via a SIP interface link and a SIP conference control interface link;

the network controller operatively coupled to at least one further SIP server via a signaling interface link;

the resource controller operatively coupled to network resources via a predetermined interface link;

the network resources operatively coupled to a first media server via a media interface link;

the first media server operatively coupled to the first end user equipment via a first respective user equipment media interface link; and

the network resources operatively coupled to at least one further media server via a further media interface link;

wherein the network controller translates call control information between a plurality of protocols employed by a plurality of respective communication links for the first, second and third users in the conference call, and wherein a plurality of codecs and conference ports serve as a conference bridge for the conference call;

wherein the network controller and the SIP servers exchange call control information, and wherein the network controller is operatively coupled to the media servers;

wherein the network controller and the resource controller exchange resource control information, the resource controller operatively coupled to network resources;

wherein the network controller employs a session description protocol within SIP to exchange resource control information with the resource controller using third party call control procedures; and

wherein media of a conference call between respective users equipment is communicated over a bearer path between the network controller and the media servers, and wherein the network resources provide media translations between respective users equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein upon a further request from one of the first, second, third users, the network controller clears the conference call thereby disconnecting the at least third user, and restores the active call for two-way conversation between the first and second users.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a respective user is operatively connected to a respective SIP server, and wherein the respective SIP server is operatively connected to the network controller via SIP/SDP signaling.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network controller maintains previous call information associated with respective users during the conference call.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the call information includes at least one of end-point codec capabilities and call identifications.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein after network resources are set up by the resource controller, the network controller outputs update information simultaneously to each user to re-configure bearer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the update information includes at least send/receive IP (Internet Protocol) address, port number, and codec information.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller operatively coupled to a resource controller via a SIP interface link, the network controller operatively coupled to a first SIP server via a SIP interface link and a SIP conference control interface link;

the first SIP server operatively coupled to a first user equipment via a user equipment signaling interface link and a user equipment conference control link;

the network controller operatively coupled to at least one further SIP server via a signaling interface link;

the at least one further SIP server operatively coupled to at least one further end user via a further respective user equipment signaling interface link;

the resource controller operatively coupled to network resources via a predetermined interface link;

the network resources operatively coupled to a first media server via a media interface link;

the first media server operatively coupled to the first end user via a first respective user equipment media interface link, and the first media server operatively coupled to the first SIP server via a first media control interface;

the first media server operatively coupled to the first end user via a first respective user equipment media interface link;

the network resources operatively coupled to at least one further media server via a further media interface link; and

the at least one further media server operatively coupled to at least one further end user via at least one further respective user equipment media interface link, and the at least one further media server operatively coupled to the at least one further SIP server via at least one further media control interface link;

wherein the network controller and the SIP servers exchange call control information;

wherein the network controller and the resource controller exchange resource control information;

wherein the network controller employs a session description protocol within SIP to exchange resource control information with the resource controller using third party call control procedures; and

wherein media of a conference call between respective users is communicated over a bearer path between the network controller and the media servers, and wherein the network resources provide media translations between respective user equipment.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the predetermined interface link between resource controller and the network resources is an H.248 interface.