Signaling method for Internet telephony

• US 8,306,016 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Jonathan David, Schulzrinne, Henning G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHAU BA
• Application Number:
  US11/134,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,724 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/93.09, 709/227
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/561 by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A method for creating, modifying, and terminating connections between Internet end systems, particularly, although not exclusively, for Internet telephony communication. The method relies on several request messages sent between a client and a server and the response messages sent back in response. Each request and response message may contain one or more header fields which modify or more uniquely link the messages with a given connection. On this basis, advanced telephony services, such as call forwarding, call transferring, and multiparty conferencing are provided.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a call made over a network, comprising:

receiving, at a first receiving user, a call over the network from an original calling user such that a connection is established between the original calling user and the first receiving user;

sending a request over the network from the first receiving user to the original calling user that requests a communication device of the original calling user to call a second receiving user designated in the request;

disconnecting, at the first receiving user, the connection with the original calling user; and

receiving, at the first receiving user, an indication over the network that the original calling user and the second receiving user have established a connection;

wherein

the disconnecting step is performed in response to the receiving an indication step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step sends the request such that the request requests a communication device of the original calling user to call a second receiving user designated in the request and to send the indication if the original calling user and the second receiving user have established a connection.

3. A method of transferring a call made over a network, comprising:

receiving, at a first receiving user, a call over the network from an original calling user such that a connection is established between the original calling user and the first receiving user;

sending a request over the network from the first receiving user to a second receiving user that requests a communication device of the second receiving user to call the original calling user;

disconnecting, at the first receiving user, the connection with the original calling user; and

receiving, at the first receiving user, an indication over the network that the original calling user and the second receiving user have established a connection;

wherein

the disconnecting step is performed in response to the receiving an indication step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending step sends the request such that the request requests a communication device of the second receiving user to call the original calling user and to send the indication if the original calling user and the second receiving user have established a connection.

5. A method of transferring a call made over a network, comprising:

calling a first receiving user over the network from an original calling user such that a connection is established between the original calling user and the first receiving user;

receiving a request over the network from the first receiving user that requests the original calling user to call a second receiving user designated in the request;

calling the second receiving user over the network in response to the received request;

establishing a connection with the second receiving user over the network; and

sending an indication over the network to the first receiving user that a connection has been established between the original calling user and the second receiving user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the received request also requests that the original calling user send an indication if the original calling user and the second receiving user have established a connection.