System and method for interworking communication protocols to provide supplementary services

• US 7,995,559 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Shipeng, Hua, Stephen S., Chen, Joanna J., Zhu, Yao, Ni, Ping, Pearce, Christopher E., Bao, Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van; Jenkey
• Application Number:
  US11/363,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370466-467, 3703952-39521, 370/392, 370/410, 370/236
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for redirecting a session established between two endpoints. In such an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a SIP request to redirect the session to a third endpoint; dissociating the two endpoints; suspending a media session between the endpoints; connecting a signaling session between one endpoint and a third endpoint; and connecting the media session. In an alternative embodiment, a method is provided for referring a first endpoint to a second endpoint outside of an established dialog. In such an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a SIP REFER request specifying a uniform resource indicator associated with the second endpoint as a target; identifying a protocol associated with each endpoint; initiating a session with the first endpoint using an appropriate protocol; receiving media control information from the first endpoint; and connecting the session to the second endpoint using an appropriate protocol.

Claims

1. A method for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the method comprising;

receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint;

instead of mapping the SIP request to a message of a different protocol, processing, by a call manager, the SIP request to initiate disassociation of the first endpoint from the second endpoint;

endpoint even if the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

suspending a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

determining whether the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint or a non-SIP endpoint;

suspending an established a second media session established between the second endpoint and the third endpoint if the third endpoint is a non-SIP endpoint, and sending a SIP message to the third endpoint to disconnect the second media session if the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

after disassociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint, associating the first endpoint and the third endpoint by connecting a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

connecting the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of suspending the media session comprises sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session further comprises sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have the second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the step of suspending the media session comprises sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor;

further comprising suspending the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the step of connecting the media session comprises sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

8. A system for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the system comprising;

a receiver component of a call manager operable to receive a Session

Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint; and

a processing component of the call manager operable to instead of mapping the SIP request to a message of a different protocol, process the SIP request to initiate disassociation of the first endpoint from the second endpoint even if the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint, suspend a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, connect a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint, determine whether the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint or a non-SIP endpoint, suspend a second media session established between the second endpoint and the third endpoint if the third endpoint is a non-SIP endpoint, send a SIP message to the third endpoint to disconnect the second media session if the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint, and after disassociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint, associate the first endpoint and the third endpoint by connecting the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing component suspends the media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have the second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component suspends the media session by sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor, and is further operable to suspend the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

11. The system of 10, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the processing component further suspends the media session by sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the processing component connects the media session by sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

15. Software embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer code such that when executed by a processor, is operable to:

receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect a session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint to a third endpoint; and

instead of mapping the SIP request to a message of a different protocol, process, by a call manager, the SIP request to initiate disassociation of the first endpoint from the second endpoint in a communication platform even if the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

suspend a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

determine whether the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint or a non-SIP endpoint;

suspend a second media session established between the second endpoint and the third endpoint if the third endpoint is a non-SIP endpoint, and send a SIP message to the third endpoint to disconnect the second media session if the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

after disassociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint, associate the first endpoint and the third endpoint by connecting a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

connect the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.

16. The software of claim 15, wherein the first endpoint is an H.323 endpoint.

17. The software of claim 16, wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the H.323 endpoint.

18. The software of claim 17, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is an INVITE request having a Replaces header that identifies the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is further operable to suspend the media session by sending a second INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor;

wherein the code is further operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a SIP message accepting the INVITE request and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

19. The software of claim 17, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

20. The software of claim 17, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have a second session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending a first INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the third endpoint a second INVITE request specifying the second session in a Replaces header, and sending to the first endpoint a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

21. The software of claim 16, wherein the second endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

wherein the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

wherein the second endpoint and the third endpoint have the second media session established;

wherein the SIP request is a REFER request having a Replaces header specifying the third endpoint as a target;

wherein the code is operable to suspend the media session by sending an INVITE request to the second endpoint specifying an inactive session descriptor, and is further operable to suspend the second media session by sending an Empty Capability Set message and a Close Logical Channel message to the third endpoint; and

wherein the code is operable to connect the media session by sending to the first and the third endpoints a Terminal Capability Set message and an Open Logical Channel message.

22. A system for redirecting a session established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are associated in a communication platform;

the system comprising;

means for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to redirect the session to a third endpoint;

means for instead of mapping the SIP request to a message of a different protocol, processing, by a call manager, the SIP request to initiate disassociation of the first endpoint from the second endpoint even if the third endpoint is an H.323 endpoint;

means for suspending a media session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

means for determining whether the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint or a non-SIP endpoint;

means for suspending a second media session established between the second endpoint and the third endpoint if the third endpoint is a non-SIP endpoint, and sending a SIP message to the third endpoint to disconnect the second media session if the third endpoint is a SIP endpoint;

means for, after disassociating the first endpoint from the second endpoint, associating the first endpoint and the third endpoint by connecting a signaling session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint; and

means for connecting the media session between the first endpoint and the third endpoint.