Systems for providing peer-to-peer communications

• US 8,437,757 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Varma, Manish, Makelainen, Sami, Aarni, Ville, Lindgren, Tommy, Harju, Teemu, Vesterinen, Matti, Lafuente, Javier, Teinila, Jaakko, Hakulinen, Harri, Kokkinen, Heikki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/479,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20080123685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349, 370/352, 370/356, 370/466, 370/310.1, 709/227, 455/414.4, 455/414.1, 455/466, 455/557, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/437, 455/552.1, 379/88.1
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network

Abstract

Improved systems and methods for establishing peer-to-peer calls such as voice over IP calls and video over IP calls. In various embodiments of the invention, SMTP messages are exchanged between devices using a SMTP server, with the SMTP messages including IP address information. With this arrangement, the need for SIP service providers can be eliminated. In other embodiments of the present invention, SMS messages including IP address information are transmitted between devices during a GSM or other type of telephone call, enabling the call to “migrate” to a VoIP or video over IP call.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a cellular call with a second client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmitting a first message to the second client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a first client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receiving a second message from the second client device; and

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the second client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message, wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peer-to-peer call comprises a voice over internet protocol call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the peer-to-peer call comprises a video over internet protocol call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the second client device through a simple mail transfer protocol server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the first client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message includes a second list of at least one candidate internet protocol address of the second client device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is transmitted in response to the first client device being activated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message comprises a short messaging service message and includes a second list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for the second client device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, after receiving the second message, transmitting a session initiation protocol INVITE message to the second client device, after which the peer-to-peer call is initiated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message comprises a session initiation protocol INVITE message directed to the first client device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the first message occurs in response to a determination by the first client device that the second client device has previously participated in peer-to-peer transmission with the first client device over a network connection.

12. A method comprising:

initiating a cellular call with a second client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmitting a first message to the second client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a first client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receiving a second message from the second client device;

providing a user with an option of establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the second client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message, wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

dropping the cellular call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cellular call comprises a global system for mobile communications call.

14. A method comprising:

initiating a cellular call with a second client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmitting a first message to the second client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a first client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receiving a second message from the second client device;

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the second client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message, wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

after establishing the peer-to-peer call, maintaining the cellular call for audio communication and using the peer-to-peer call for video communication.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store computer code; and

a processor, operatively connected to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer code to control the apparatus to;

initiate a cellular call with a receiving client device;

determine if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmit a first message to the receiving client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a calling client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receive a second message from the receiving client device; and

establish a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the receiving client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the calling client device and information included in the second message wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the receiving client device asking a user of the receiving client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

drop the cellular call.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a cellular call from a first client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, receiving a first message from the first client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for the first client device;

in response to the received message, transmitting a second message to the first client device;

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the first client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message, wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at a second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

dropping the cellular call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed from the first client device through a simple mail transfer protocol server.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the first client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second message includes a second list of at least one candidate internet protocol address of a second client device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second message comprises a short messaging service message and includes a second list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a second client device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising, after transmitting the second message, receiving a session initiation protocol INVITE message from the first client device, after which the peer-to-peer call is initiated.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the second message comprises a session initiation protocol INVITE message directed to the first client device.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store computer code; and

a processor, operatively connected to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer code to control the apparatus to;

receive a cellular call from a calling client device;

determine if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, receive a first message from the calling client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for the calling client device;

in response to the received message, transmit a second message to the calling client device;

establish a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the calling client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the calling client device and information included in the second message, wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at a receiving client device asking a user of the receiving client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

drop the cellular call.

24. A method comprising:

initiating a cellular call with a second client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmitting a first message to the second client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a first client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receiving a second message from the second client device;

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the second client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the second client device through a simple mail transfer protocol server;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

dropping the cellular call.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the first client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store computer code; and

a processor, operatively connected to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer code to control the apparatus to;

initiate a cellular call with a receiving client device;

determine if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmit a first message to the receiving client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a calling client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receive a second message from the receiving client device;

establish a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the receiving client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the calling client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the client through a simple mail transfer protocol server;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the receiving client device asking a user of the receiving client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

drop the cellular call.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the calling client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

28. A method comprising:

receiving a cellular call from a first client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, receiving a first message from the first client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for the first client device;

in response to the received message, transmitting a second message to the first client device;

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the first client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the client through a simple mail transfer protocol server;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at a second client device as a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

dropping the cellular call.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the first client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

30. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store computer code; and

a processor, operatively connected to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer code to control the apparatus to;

receive a cellular call from a calling client device;

;

determine if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, receive a first message from the calling client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for the calling client device;

in response to the transmitted message, transmit a second message to the calling client device;

establish a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the calling client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the calling client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the client through a simple mail transfer protocol server;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at a receiving client device asking a user of the receiving client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

drop the cellular call.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second message is transmitted according to simple mail transfer protocol and is relayed to the calling client device through the simple mail transfer protocol server.

32. A method comprising:

initiating a cellular call with a second client device;

determining if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmitting a first message to the second client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a first client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receiving a second message from the second client device;

establishing a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the second client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the first client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted in response to one of the first client device being activated and a user logging in to the first client device;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the second client device asking a user of the second client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

dropping the cellular call.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store computer code; and

a processor, operatively connected to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer code to control the apparatus to;

initiate a cellular call with a receiving client device;

determine if an alternate communication channel is available;

if it is determined that the alternate communication channel is available, transmit a first message to the receiving client device, the first message including a first list of at least one candidate internet protocol address for a calling client device;

in response to the transmitted message, receive a second message from the receiving client device;

establish a peer-to-peer call over a network connection with the receiving client device using one of the candidate internet protocol addresses for the calling client device and information included in the second message,

wherein the first message is transmitted in response to one of the calling client device being activated and a user logging in to the calling client device;

wherein the first message includes a text message for exhibition at the receiving client device asking a user of the receiving client device to obtain necessary software to complete the peer-to-peer call if necessary; and

drop the cellular call.