Multimedia communication session coordination across heterogeneous transport networks

• US 7,936,746 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Toennis, Roger L., Mohler, David S., Michaelis, Paul Roller
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US12/406,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20100239077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 370/356, 370/252, 370/351, 370/352, 370/419, 370/328, 455/90.5, 379/265, 379/88
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

The present invention, in one embodiment, is directed to the use of a communication pathway traversing a digital telephone network to handle a portion of the signaling traffic associated with a communication method performed over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) establishing, by a processor, a first communication pathway between first and second endpoints over a digital telephone network; and

(b) performing, by the processor, at least one of the following sub-steps;

(B1) in response to a request received over the first communication pathway, requesting that a security gateway port be opened and determining whether a test signal transmitted by the second endpoint passed through the port;

(B2) negotiating, by messages sent over the first communication pathway, a failover strategy, in the event of a failover triggering event, for a subsequent Voice over Internet Protocol communication between the first and second endpoints; and

(B3) exchanging, between the first and second endpoints and over the first communication pathway, encryption keys, the encryption keys to be used for at least one of a second communication pathway traversing the Internet and for validating a license.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sub-step (B1) is performed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sub-step (B2) is performed, wherein a first failover strategy for the first and second endpoints in first and second enterprise networks, respectively, differs from a second failover strategy for third and fourth endpoints in the first and second enterprise networks, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sub-step (B3) is performed.

5. A Non-transitory computer readable medium comprising processor executable instructions to perform the steps of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium is connected to and accessible by a processor.

6. A system, comprising:

a processor operable to;

(a) establish a first communication pathway between first and second endpoints over a digital telephone network; and

(b) perform at least one of the following sub-steps;

(B1) in response to a request received over the first communication pathway, request that a security gateway port be opened and determining whether a test signal transmitted by the second endpoint passed through the port;

(B2) negotiate, by messages sent over the first communication pathway, a failover strategy, in the event of a failover triggering event, for a subsequent Voice over Internet Protocol communication between the first and second endpoints; and

(B3) exchange, between the first and second endpoints and over the first communication pathway, encryption keys, the encryption keys to be used for at least one of a second communication pathway traversing the Internet and for validating a license.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein sub-operation (B1) is performed.

8. The systemd of claim 6, wherein sub-operation (B2) is performed, wherein a first failover strategy for the first and second endpoints in first and second enterprise networks, respectively, differs from a second failover strategy for third and fourth endpoints in the first and second enterprise networks, respectively.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein sub-operation (B3) is performed.