SIP endpoint enhancer

• US 8,095,611 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter, Boulton, Chris, Brunson, Gordon R., Evans, Ian, Ezell, Joel M., Liddell, Gethin, Mendiratta, Harsh V., Shutt, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATSIKIS, KOSTAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/561,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1033 Signalling gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are provided for enhancing the functionality of a communication device, such as a communication endpoint. This provides the ability to enhance less intelligent SIP endpoints with required features to support a richer user experience. Furthermore, the endpoint enhancer may be dynamically pluggable onto an existing network device. This provided pluggability allows a network administrator to add a new SEE template to the network without disrupting the network operation or the operation of previously existing SEEs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

analyzing the first message to identify SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

determining SIP-based functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

comparing the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network with the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

determining that the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint do not meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network;

based on determining that the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint do not meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, selecting at least one endpoint enhancer for the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, the at least one endpoint enhancer being configured to enhance SIP capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

receiving a second message from the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, wherein the second message is received in connection with establishing a communication session between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and a communication device over the communication network; and

inserting the selected at least one endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the communication device, thereby enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint to at least meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, wherein enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint comprises adding one or more SIP headers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a SIP network, and wherein the communication device comprises a second SIP-enabled communication endpoint in the SIP network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second message is a message that will be sequenced through at least one application; and

invoking the selected at least one endpoint enhancer following termination processing for a user when contact resolution has been performed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second message comprises one or more of an INVITE message, a REFER message, and a MESSAGE message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a REGISTER message and wherein the second message comprises at least one of a dialog initiating SIP message, other than a REGISTER message, and an out of dialog message between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer stays in a signalling path of any dialog being established between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein all messages of the communication session are received by the selected at least one endpoint enhancer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint; and

re-using an established TLS connection between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the communication network to again insert the selected at least one endpoint enhancer for the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer is selected from a plurality of endpoint enhancers, wherein each of the plurality of endpoint enhancers are used to provide SIP-enabled endpoints with different SIP-based functions to meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer is dynamically added to the plurality of endpoint enhancers without disrupting operation of other endpoint enhancers in the plurality of endpoint enhancers.

11. A communication device adapted to receive a registration-type message from a first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, analyze the registration-type message to identify SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, determine SIP-based functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, compare the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network with the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, determine that the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint do not meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, select an endpoint enhancer for the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, and insert the selected endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and a second communication endpoint, thereby enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint to at least meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, wherein enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint comprises adding one or more SIP headers.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication network comprises a SIP network, and wherein the second communication endpoint resides in the SIP network.

13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer is inserted in a call origination side of a call.

14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the registration-type message comprises a REGISTER message.

15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer stays in a signalling path of any dialog being established between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the second communication endpoint.

16. The communication device of claim 11, comprising memory including SIP proxy code and the selected endpoint enhancer, the communication device further comprising a processor for executing contents of its memory.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer is a stand-alone application that is not part of the SIP proxy code.

18. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the selected endpoint enhancer is part of the SIP proxy code.

19. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication device operates as a Back-to-Back User Agent between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the second communication endpoint and wherein the selected endpoint enhancer resides on the Back-to-Back User Agent.

20. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored onto a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to execute a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from a first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

analyzing the first message to identify SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

determining SIP-based functional requirements of a communication network that will be used by the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

comparing the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network with the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

determining that the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint do not meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network;

based on determining that the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint do not meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, selecting at least one endpoint enhancer for the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint;

receiving a second message from the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint, wherein the second message is received in connection with establishing a communication session between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and a communication device over the communication network; and

inserting the selected at least one endpoint enhancer into a call path between the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint and the communication device, thereby enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint to at least meet the SIP-based functional requirements of the communication network, wherein enhancing the SIP-based functional capabilities of the first SIP-enabled communication endpoint comprises adding one or more SIP headers.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer readable medium comprises the selected at least one endpoint enhancer and SIP proxy logic.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the selected at least one endpoint enhancer is part of the SIP proxy logic.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer readable medium comprises the selected at least one endpoint enhancer and Back-to-Back User Agent logic.