Systems and methods for initiating announcements in a SIP telecommunications network

• US 8,700,716 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tekla PEHR LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Gallant, John Kenneth, McMurry, Kathleen A, Gregorat, Mariafranca
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman, Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US12/850,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 709227-230, 709/203, 709/206, 709/217, 709/223, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/201.02, 379/211.02, 379/142.01, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services

Abstract

Network servers in a session initiation protocol (SIP) telecommunication network implement playback of announcements to end-users by embedding programming scripts defining how the announcements are to be played in a SIP message. In particular, the scripts may define the sequence in which a series of announcements are to be played, duration information relating to a playback length of the announcements, and repetition information defining how many times an announcement is to be repeated. By including a script in a single message, announcement instructions may be efficiently communicated in the network.

Claims

1. A method performed by a server device, the method comprising:

embedding, with the server device, a script file into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, the script file defining a sequence of a plurality of audio announcements; and

transmitting, with the server device, the SIP message to an announcement server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the script file comprises control information relating to transmission of the plurality of audio announcements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control information comprises duration information that defines a time period for playback of the plurality of audio announcements.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the control information defines a repetition cycle of the plurality of audio announcements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of audio announcements.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a server device configured to;

embed, into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, a reference to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback, and

transmit the SIP message to an announcement server device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the server device is further configured to:

embed, into the SIP message, duration information that defines a duration of playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the server device is further configured to:

embed, into the SIP message, information that defines a repetition cycle of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

21. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the server device configured to embed the reference to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback comprises the server device configured to embed, into the session initiation protocol (SIP) message, a hyperlink to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server device, a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a script file, the script file defining a playback sequence for a plurality of announcements;

retrieving, by the server device, the plurality of announcements; and

transmitting, by the server device, the plurality of announcements to an end user station associated with the SIP message, the plurality of announcements being transmitted to the end user station based on the defined playback sequence.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the script file comprises duration information relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein transmitting the plurality of announcements comprises transmitting the plurality of announcements based on the duration information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the script file comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein transmitting the plurality of announcements comprises transmitting the plurality of announcements based on the repetition cycle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of announcements, and

wherein retrieving the plurality of announcements comprises accessing the identified storage locations.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions-stored thereon that in response to being executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a hyperlink to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback;

accessing the hyperlink to retrieve the at least one pre-recorded announcement; and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to an end user station that is associated with the SIP message.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station in a real-time communication session.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the SIP message comprises duration information relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the duration information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the SIP message comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the repetition cycle.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a server device configured to;

embed a script file into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, the script file defining a sequence of a plurality of audio announcements; and

transmit the SIP message to an announcement server.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the script file comprises control information relating to transmission of the plurality of audio announcements.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the control information comprises duration information that defines a time period for playback of the plurality of audio announcements.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the control information defines a repetition cycle of the plurality of audio announcements.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of audio announcements.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

embedding, with a server device, a script file into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, the script file defining a sequence of a plurality of audio announcements; and

transmitting, with the server device, the SIP message to an announcement server.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the script file comprises control information relating to transmission of the plurality of audio announcements.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the control information comprises duration information that defines a time period for playback of the plurality of audio announcements.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the control information defines a repetition cycle of the plurality of audio announcements.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of audio announcements.

34. A method comprising:

embedding into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, with a server device, a reference to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback, and

transmitting, with the server device, the SIP message to an announcement server device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising embedding into the SIP message, with the server device, duration information that defines a duration of playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising embedding into the SIP message, with the server device, information that defines a repetition cycle of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein embedding the reference to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback comprises embedding into the session initiation protocol (SIP) message, with the server device, a hyperlink to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

embedding into a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, with a server device, a reference to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback, and

transmitting, with the server device, the SIP message to an announcement server device.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 39, further comprising embedding into the SIP message, with the server device, duration information that defines a duration of playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

42. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 39, further comprising embedding into the SIP message, with the server device, information that defines a repetition cycle of the at least one pre-recorded announcement.

43. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein embedding the reference to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback comprises embedding into the session initiation protocol (SIP) message, with the server device, a hyperlink to the at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, by a server device, a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a script file, the script filing defining a playback sequence for a plurality of announcements;

retrieving, by the server device, the plurality of announcements; and

transmitting, by the server device, the plurality of announcements to an end user station associated with the SIP message, the plurality of announcements being transmitted to the end user station based on the defined playback sequence.

45. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

46. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the script file comprises duration information relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein transmitting the plurality of announcements comprises transmitting the plurality of announcements based on the duration information.

47. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the script file comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein transmitting the plurality of announcements comprises transmitting the plurality of announcements based on the repetition cycle.

48. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of announcements, and

wherein retrieving the plurality of announcements comprises accessing the identified storage locations.

49. An apparatus comprising:

a server device configured to

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a script file, the script file defining a playback sequence for a plurality of announcements;

retrieve the plurality of announcements; and

transmit the plurality of announcements to an end user station associated with the SIP message, the plurality of announcements being transmitted to the end user station based on the defined playback sequence.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the script file comprises duration information relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein the server device configured to transmit the plurality of announcements comprises the server device configured to transmit the plurality of announcements based on the duration information.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the script file comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the plurality of announcements, and

wherein the server device configured to transmit the plurality of announcements comprises the server device configured to transmit the plurality of announcements based on the repetition cycle.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the script file comprises identification information relating to storage locations for the plurality of announcements, and

wherein the server device configured to retrieve the plurality of announcements comprises the server device configured to access the identified storage locations.

54. A method comprising:

receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a hyperlink to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback;

accessing the hyperlink to retrieve the at least one prerecorded announcement; and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to an end user station that is associated with the SIP message.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station in a real-time communication session.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein:

the SIP message comprises duration information relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the duration information.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein:

the SIP message comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises transmitting the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the repetition cycle.

59. An apparatus comprising:

a server device configured to;

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a hyperlink to at least one pre-recorded announcement to playback;

access the hyperlink to retrieve the at least one prerecorded announcement; and

transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement to an end user station that is associated with the SIP message.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the server device configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station comprises the server configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement to the end user station in a real-time communication session.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP INVITE message.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

the SIP message comprises duration information relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

the server device configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises the server device configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the duration information.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

the SIP message comprises information identifying a repetition cycle relating to the playback of the at least one pre-recorded announcement, and

the server device configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement comprises the server device configured to transmit the at least one pre-recorded announcement based on the repetition cycle.