System and method for enhanced proxy component

• US 8,363,560 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inceptia LLC
• Original Assignee: Inceptia LLC
• Inventors: Bernath, Tracey
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghafoerkhan, Faiyazkhan
• Application Number:
  US11/555,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20080101340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,281 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for use in a telecommunication networks to facilitate the use of packet switched end-user devices, particularly push-to-talk (PTT) devices, across multiple communication services and legacy networks. The present invention provides an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications that enable predefined custom numbers to be utilized on a PTT device to access services on one or more legacy networks. The present invention also provides a means for the delivery of information that is dynamically customized and specific to an end-user of the PTT device.

Claims

1. A method for providing to a Push-to-talk (PTT) endpoint device access to one or more services that are available on a legacy communication network, the method comprising:

providing an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications through which all communications between the PTT endpoint device and a multi-media architecture network pass;

assigning a predefined custom indicia for each of the one or more legacy communication network services, for use on said PTT endpoint device; and

receiving in the enhanced proxy said predefined custom indicia from said PTT endpoint device to invoke said enhanced proxy to provide a signal for a selected one of said legacy communication network services to said multi-media architecture network;

wherein said multi-media architecture network is in operative communication with said legacy communication network to request said selected one of said legacy communication network services and provide a response to the PTT endpoint device through said enhanced proxy;

wherein the one or more legacy communication services includes at least one of;

an operator service, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to talk to an operator; and

a voicemail messaging service, whereby said user of said PTT endpoint device is able to utilize voicemail messaging functions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT endpoint device registers as a participant with the enhanced proxy.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said enhanced proxy registers on said multi-media architecture network to access to said legacy communication network, to provide access to participating PTT endpoint devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said enhanced proxy accesses two or more of said legacy communication networks, and wherein said two or more legacy communication networks are provided by one or more carriers.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the legacy communication network is a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said multi-media architecture network is an Internet Protocol (IP) Multi-media Subsystem Third Generation (IMS 3G) network domain, the method further comprising:

utilizing an edge proxy, for performing call control in said IMS domain; and

utilizing a media gateway to interface between said IMS domain and said PSTN.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said enhanced proxy represents the PTT endpoint device to said edge proxy, whereby said enhanced proxy handles Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration and transparently provides handset presence for the PTT endpoint device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more services is an operator service, wherein said enhanced proxy provides a real time indication to an operator on said PSTN, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to provide a predefined custom indicia associated with the operator service and immediately start talking to said operator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more services is voicemail messaging, wherein said enhanced proxy provides an indication to said PSTN to cause access to voicemail messaging, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to utilize voicemail messaging functions.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing the PTT endpoint device as a delivery mechanism for information that is specific to an end-user of the PTT endpoint device;

wherein a session between the PTT endpoint device and the multi-media architecture network occurs on a communication channel and passes through said enhanced proxy;

obtaining in said enhanced proxy, one or more informational items about the end-user; and

utilizing said one or more informational items to dynamically provide information that is customized to the end-user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring usage and available bandwidth of said communication channel, during said session, whereby said one or more informational items may be transparently requested by the enhanced proxy during said session between the PTT end-point device and the multi-media architecture network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said information that is customized to the end-user is a picture, and said picture is provided as an attachment to other communication data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said session is an ordinary call flow, wherein said one or more informational items are piggy-backed on messages relating to said call flow and unused portions of the communication bandwidth are utilized to transport said one or more informational items.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more informational items pertain to the end-user'"'"'s profile.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more informational items pertain to the end-user'"'"'s current physical location.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more informational items is real time data.

17. A system for providing a Push-to-talk (PTT) endpoint device with transparent access to one or more end-user services that are available on a legacy communication network, comprising

a multi-media architecture network, having a gateway to interface said multi-media architecture network to the legacy communication network;

and

an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications (enhanced proxy);

wherein said enhanced proxy provides a transparent conduit for all communications between the PTT endpoint device and said multi-media architecture network;

wherein said enhanced proxy selectively traps and processes selective ones of said communications, whereby a PTT request for a legacy network service can be handled by the enhanced proxy, wherein the enhanced proxy appears as a legacy communication network device to said legacy communication network during the request for said legacy communication network service, and then appears as a PTT network or server when providing said legacy communication network service to said PTT endpoint device;

wherein said legacy network service is one of;

an operator service, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to talk to an operator; and

a voicemail messaging service, whereby said user of said PTT endpoint device is able to utilize voicemail messaging functions.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said legacy communication network is a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said multi-media architecture network is an Internet Protocol (IP) Multi-media Subsystem Third Generation (IMS 3G) network domain comprising:

a Call Service Control Function (CSCF) for performing call control in said IMS domain; and

a Gateway for interfacing between said IMS domain and said PSTN.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions to implement a method for providing to a Push-to-talk (PTT) endpoint device access to one or more services that are available on a legacy communication network, the method comprising:

providing an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications through which all communications between the PTT endpoint device and a multi-media architecture network pass;

assigning a predefined custom indicia for each of the one or more legacy communication network services, for use on said PTT endpoint device; and

receiving in the enhanced proxy said predefined custom indicia from said PTT endpoint device to invoke said enhanced proxy to provide a signal for a selected one of said legacy communication network services to said multi-media architecture network;

wherein said multi-media architecture network is in operative communication with said legacy communication network to request said selected one of said legacy communication network services and provide a response to the PTT endpoint device through said enhanced proxy;

wherein the one or more legacy communication services includes at least one of;

an operator service, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to talk to an operator; and

a voicemail messaging service, whereby said user of said PTT endpoint device is able to utilize voicemail messaging functions.

21. A computing system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for providing to a Push-to-talk (PTT) endpoint device access to one or more services that are available on a legacy communication network, the method comprising:

providing an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications through which all communications between the PTT endpoint device and a multi-media architecture network pass;

assigning a predefined custom indicia for each of the one or more legacy communication network services, for use on said PTT endpoint device; and

receiving in the enhanced proxy said predefined custom indicia from said PTT endpoint device to invoke said enhanced proxy to provide a signal for a selected one of said legacy communication network services to said multi-media architecture network;

wherein said multi-media architecture network is in operative communication with said legacy communication network to request said selected one of said legacy communication network services and provide a response to the PTT endpoint device through said enhanced proxy;

wherein the one or more legacy communication services includes at least one of;

an operator service, whereby a user of said PTT endpoint device is able to talk to an operator; and

a voicemail messaging service, whereby said user of said PTT endpoint device is able to utilize voicemail messaging functions.

22. A method for communicating between two or more Push-to-talk (PTT) endpoint devices, the method comprising:

providing an enhanced proxy for integrated voice over internet protocol applications;

registering said two or more PTT endpoint devices with said enhanced proxy;

receiving at said enhanced proxy all communication packets passing between said two or more PTT endpoint devices during a communication session;

recording on a storage device in said enhanced proxy the communication packets passing between said two or more PTT endpoint devices during the communication session; and

providing call rejoining to said PTT endpoint device, wherein said enhanced proxy maintains a connection on behalf of a dropped endpoint device and utilizes the stored communication packets to allow at least one of rejoin and playback of missed communication packets;

wherein said enhanced proxy stands in for a recipient of one of said two or more end point devices during said communication session to provide a communication link.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing call waiting functions to said PTT endpoint device, wherein said enhanced proxy provides a notification to the recipient one of said two or more end point devices to indicate an incoming request for a connection.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising, providing through said enhanced proxy, network bypassed communication between said two or more endpoint devices, whereby communication packets are directly routed to participating ones of said two or more endpoint devices.