Distributed services based on presence technology

• US 7,711,810 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Weisenberg, Douglas S., Janning, William, McKinnon, Steve J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/336,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/219, 709/206, 709/204, 709/205, 709/202, 709/228, 709/207, 709/227, 370/349, 370/266.02, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/404 Collaboration among agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained

Abstract

The present invention provides distributed communication services based on a presence technology platform. Presence messaging and communication techniques allow a variety of communication agents to cooperate with one another to provide distributed services. Essentially, the messaging between the agents is used to facilitate media sessions and update participating devices of state changes bearing on providing the services. In one embodiment, each of the participating devices is associated with a logic entity, referred to as a presentity, which subscribes to notification services for the other participating devices. When a state change occurs on any one of the participating devices, the corresponding presentity notifies the other devices of the state change. As such, each participating device knows the status of the other participating devices via the presentities and can systematically determine when and how to provide services based on its current state and the current state of the other participating devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing distributed communication services comprising:

a) subscribing to a plurality of presentities for participant devices to receive notification when the participant devices change state, the participant devices adapted to provide a communication service;

b) receiving a subscribe request from the presentities to provide notification of a change in state;

c) determining the change in state; and

d) notifying the presentities of the change in state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving notification of the change in state for one of the participant devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the change in state comprises:

a) receiving a communication control message from a remote device;

b) taking action in response to the communication control message; and

notifying the presentities of the change in state comprises;

c) sending a notification message to the presentities identifying the change in state.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the change in state further comprises receiving indication of an event occurrence and changing state based on the event occurrence.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein communications with the presentities is based on a presence platform.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) receiving an invitation to initiate a media session from a remote device wherein the invitation is sent to the participant devices; and

b) sending a notification to the presentities when the media session is accepted.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

a) receiving a hold instruction to place the media session on hold; and

b) sending a notification message indicating the media session is held to other of the presentities.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

a) receiving a notification message requesting transfer of the media session to a select one of the participant devices; and

b) sending a message to refer the media session to the select one of the participant devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the notification message requesting transfer of the media session is received from a select one of the presentities.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the media session is one of a voice or other media session.

11. A method for controlling distributed communication services via a focal device for a plurality of participant devices, the method comprising:

a) receiving subscribe requests from a plurality of presentities associated with participant devices to provide notification of a change in state;

b) determining the change in state; and

c) notifying the presentities of the change in state.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising subscribing to the plurality of presentities to receive notification when the participant devices change state, the participant devices adapted to provide a communication service.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a change in state further comprises receiving indication of an event occurrence and changing state based on the event occurrence.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving notification of the change in state from one of the presentities.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein determining the change in state comprises:

a) receiving a communication control message from a remote device;

b) taking action in response to the communication control message wherein notifying the presentities of the change in state comprises

sending a notification message to the presentities identifying the change in state.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein determining the change in state further comprises receiving indication of an event occurrence and changing state based on the event occurrence.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

a) receiving notification of a state of the participant devices;

b) storing the state of the participant devices;

c) sending notification messages in response to the notification of state to others of the presentities;

d) receiving an invitation to establish a media session with one of the participant devices;

e) determining an available one of the participant devices; and

f) sending the invitation to establish the media session to the available one of the participant devices.

18. A communication system for providing distributed communication services comprising:

a) a network interface; and

b) a control system associated with the network interface and adapted to;

i) subscribe to a plurality of presentities associated with participant devices to receive notification when the participant devices change state, the participant devices adapted to provide a communication service;

ii) receive a subscribe request from the presentities to provide notification of a change in state;

iii) determine the change in state; and

iv) notify the presentities of the change in state.

19. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive notification of the change in state from one of the presentities.

20. The communication system of claim 18 wherein when determining the change in state, the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a communication control message from a remote device;

b) take action in response to the communication control message; and

when notifying the presentities of the change in state;

c) send a notification message to the presentities identifying the change in state.

21. The communication system of claim 18 wherein when determining the change in state, the control system is further adapted to receive indication of an event occurrence and change state based on the event occurrence.

22. The communication system of claim 18 wherein communications with the presentities is based on a presence platform.

23. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive an invitation to initiate a media session from a remote device wherein the invitation is sent to the participant devices; and

b) send a notification to the presentities when the media session is accepted.

24. The communication system of claim 23 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a hold instruction to place the media session on hold; and

b) send a notification message indicating the media session is held to other of the presentities.

25. The communication system of claim 24 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a notification message requesting transfer of the media session to a select one of the participant devices; and

b) send a message to refer the media session to the select one of the participant devices.

26. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the notification message requesting transfer of the media session is received from a select one of the presentities.

27. The communication system of claim 25 wherein the media session is one of a voice or other media session.

28. A communication system for controlling distributed communication services in association with a plurality of participant devices comprising:

a) a network interface; and

b) a control system associated with the network interface and adapted to;

i) receive subscribe requests from a plurality of presentities associated with participant devices to provide notification of a change in state;

ii) determine the change in state;

iii) notify the presentities of the change in state.

29. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the control system is further adapted to subscribe to the plurality of presentities to receive notification when the participant devices change state, the participant devices adapted to provide a communication service.

30. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive notification of the change in state from one of the presentities.

31. The communication system of claim 28 wherein when determining the change in state, the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a communication control message from a remote device; and

b) take action in response to the communication control message; and

c) when notifying the presentities of the change in state, send a notification message to the presentities identifying the change in state.

32. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive indication of an event occurrence and change state based on the event occurrence.

33. The communication system of claim 28 wherein communications with the participant devices is based on a presence platform.

34. The communication system of claim 28 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive notification of a state of the participant devices;

b) store the state of the participant devices;

c) send notification messages in response to the notification of state to others of the presentities;

d) receive an invitation to establish a media session with one of the participant devices;

e) determine an available one of the participant devices; and

f) send the invitation to establish a media session to the available one of the participant devices.

35. A method for providing distributed services on a presence platform comprising:

a) providing a plurality of participant devices capable of providing a communication service;

b) causing a plurality of presentities associated with the participant devices to subscribe to each other to receive notification of a change in state for the participant devices; and

c) causing each of the presentities to notify each other of changes in state to effect a communication service.