Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system

• US 8,665,759 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Jang, Saqib, Kent, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US11/236,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,081 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/256 NAT traversal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• 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: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 : Simulation, emulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 : Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system, method, and device for use in videoconferencing. The method typically includes installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to an IP network, and registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services. Each subscriber typically has a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber. The method further includes storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch, and configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.

Claims

1. A videoconferencing services device, comprising:

a call control module configured to provide control of videoconferencing calls in a service provider Internet Protocol (IP) network, the call control module comprising;

an H.323 gatekeeper module configured to control calls placed with the H.323 protocol; and

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy module configured to control calls placed with the SIP protocol; and

a videoconferencing security module coupled to the call control module, the videoconferencing security entity comprising;

a firewall module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis; and

a network address translation module configured to provide network address translation services for a videoconferencing data stream, the network address translation module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis,

wherein the call control module and the videoconferencing security module are adapted for deployment at an access point of a service provider IP network.

2. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1, further comprising:

a virtual router configured to route data from one or more enterprise subscriber networks to the call control module.

3. The videoconferencing services device of claim 2, wherein the virtual router uses a unique IP address for each enterprise subscriber network.

4. The videoconferencing services device of claim 2, wherein the virtual router is configured to route videoconferencing call data from an enterprise gateway in a first enterprise subscriber network to an enterprise gateway in a second enterprise subscriber network.

5. The videoconferencing services device of claim 4, wherein the virtual router is configured to route videoconferencing call data from an enterprise gateway having a public IP address that is routable across a global computer network.

6. The videoconferencing services device of claim 4, wherein the virtual router is configured to route videoconferencing call data from an enterprise gateway having a private IP address that is routable across a local network but not routable across a global computer network.

7. The videoconferencing services device of claim 6, wherein the enterprise gateway private IP address is mapped by the network address translation (NAT) module within the videoconferencing service device to a public IP address that is routable across a global computer network.

8. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1, further comprising:

a policy engine configured to enforce policies based on subscriber-specific settings on the videoconferencing data stream.

9. The videoconferencing services device of claim 8, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of:

outbound/inbound calling privileges, encryption policies, bandwidth policies, priority among users policies, participation privileges, inbound/outbound calling restrictions, time-of-day restrictions, and audio or video restrictions.

10. The videoconferencing services device of claim 8, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of:

calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and restriction policies.

11. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1, further comprising:

a quality of service module configured to provide bandwidth management for each videoconferencing data stream based upon subscriber-specific bandwidth settings.

12. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1, further comprising:

a quality of service module capable of being configured to guarantee quality of service for videoconferencing calls placed via the device according to subscriber-specific settings.

13. The videoconferencing service device of claim 12, wherein the quality of service module comprises:

a call bandwidth management module.

14. The videoconferencing service device of claim 12, wherein the quality of service module comprises:

a call Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) traffic engineering module.

15. The videoconferencing service device of claim 12, wherein the quality of service module comprises:

a call Differentiated Services (Diff Serv) capabilities module.

16. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1, further comprising:

a security module capable of being configured to prevent unauthorized access to the enterprise subscriber network and to videoconferencing call data according to subscriber-specific settings.

17. The videoconferencing services device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tunneling services module configured to receive encrypted traffic from enterprise subscriber networks and unencapsulate said traffic.

18. The videoconferencing services device of claim 17, wherein the encrypted traffic is received from enterprise subscriber networks through a virtual private network (VPN) that exists between the videoconferencing services device and each enterprise subscriber network.

19. A videoconferencing services device, comprising:

a call control module configured to provide control of videoconferencing calls in a service provider Internet Protocol (IP) network, the call control module comprising;

an H.323 gatekeeper module configured to control calls placed with the H.323 protocol; and

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy module configured to control calls placed with the SIP protocol;

a videoconferencing security module coupled to the call control module, the videoconferencing security entity comprising;

a firewall module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis; and

a network address translation module configured to provide network address translation services for a videoconferencing data stream, the network address translation module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis; and

a quality of service module capable of being configured to guarantee quality of service for videoconferencing calls placed via the device according to subscriber-specific settings,

wherein the call control module, the videoconferencing security module, and the quality of service module are adapted for deployment at an access point of a service provider IP network.

20. A videoconferencing services device, comprising:

a call control module configured to provide control of videoconferencing calls in a service provider Internet Protocol (IP) network, the call control module comprising;

an H.323 gatekeeper module configured to control calls placed with the H.323 protocol; and

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy module configured to control calls placed with the SIP protocol;

a videoconferencing security module coupled to the call control module, the videoconferencing security entity comprising;

a firewall module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis; and

a network address translation module configured to provide network address translation services for a videoconferencing data stream, the network address translation module configured to support both the H.323 and SIP protocols as needed on a per-call basis; and

a tunneling services module configured to receive encrypted traffic from enterprise subscriber networks and unencapsulate said traffic,

wherein the call control module, the videoconferencing security module and the tunneling module are adapted for deployment at an access point of a service provider IP network.