System and method for providing an eCamp feature in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment

• US 7,853,696 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pirzada, Shamim S., Caballero-McCann, Denise G., Levy, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): King; Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/993,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 379/266.02, 379/265.06, 379/212.01, 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• 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 for facilitating a data session in a session protocol environment is provided that includes identifying a first endpoint and receiving a status indicator as to whether the first endpoint is available to participate in a communication session that involves the first endpoint and a second endpoint. In a more particular embodiment, the first endpoint is operable to recognize that the second endpoint is seeking to contact the first endpoint in order to conduct the communication session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a presence server, a command to watch a first campee endpoint and a second campee endpoint, the command received from a plurality of camper endpoints currently camping on the first campee endpoint and the second campee endpoint;

determining that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available to participate in a communication session with the camper endpoints, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint;

determining that the second campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available to participate in the communication session;

setting a timer in response to the first and second campee endpoints being available;

notifying a first camper endpoint of the availability of the first and the second campee endpoints when the timer expires by;

sending a first status indicator to the first camper endpoint indicating that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available; and

sending a second status indicator to the first camper endpoint indicating that the second campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available; and

notifying a second camper endpoint of the availability of the first and the second campee endpoints if the first camper endpoint fails to complete a call to the first and the second campee endpoints by sending the first and the second status indicators to the second camper endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication to initiate the communication session from the first camper endpoint; and

initiating the communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a display of a conference button at the first camper endpoint, the conference button configured to be selected to initiate the communication session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the communication session when the first camper endpoint, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint are available.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the first camper endpoint according to priority value for the first camper endpoint, the priority value indicating the order in which the first camper endpoint should be notified with respect to a plurality of other camper endpoints.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the first status indicator, automatically initiating contact between the first camper endpoint and the first campee endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1, the determining that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available further comprising:

aggregating a plurality of status indicators of a plurality of endpoints of a user of the first campee endpoint.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a display at the first camper endpoint of a plurality of status indicators of a plurality of endpoints that share a common character trait with the first campee endpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

informing the first camper endpoint, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint that the communication session is outstanding.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a command to watch a first campee endpoint and a second campee endpoint, the command received from a plurality of camper endpoints currently camping on the first campee endpoint and the second campee endpoint; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available to participate in a communication session with the camper endpoints, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint;

determine that the second campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available to participate in the communication session;

set a timer in response to the first and second campee endpoints being available;

notify a first camper endpoint of the availability of the first and the second campee endpoints when the timer expires by;

sending a first status indicator to the first camper endpoint indicating that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available; and

sending a second status indicator to the first camper endpoint indicating that the second campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available; and

notify a second camper endpoint of the availability of the first and the second campee endpoints if the first camper endpoint fails to complete a call to the first and the second campee endpoints by sending the first and the second status indicators to the second camper endpoint.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

receive an indication to initiate the communication session from the first camper endpoint; and

initiate the communication session.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

initiate a display of a conference button at the first camper endpoint, the conference button configured to be selected to initiate the communication session.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

initiate the communication session when the first camper endpoint, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint are available.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

notifying the first camper endpoint according to priority value for the first camper endpoint, the priority value indicating the order in which the first camper endpoint should be notified with respect to a plurality of other camper endpoints.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

in response to receiving the first status indicator, automatically initiate contact between the first camper endpoint and the first campee endpoint.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to determine that the first campee endpoint has a presence state that is currently available by:

aggregating a plurality of status indicators of a plurality of endpoints of a user of the first campee endpoint.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

initiate a display at the first camper endpoint of a plurality of status indicators of a plurality of endpoints that share a common character trait with the first campee endpoint.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

inform the first camper endpoint, the first campee endpoint, and the second campee endpoint that the communication session is outstanding.