Transitioning between circuit switched calls and video calls

• US 8,704,863 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Santamaria, Justin, McLeod, David, Brown, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US12/886,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1408, 348/14.09, 370/352
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• 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 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Transitioning between an audio only circuit switched call and a video call. A client device, which is currently connected to one or more other client devices through an established audio only circuit switched call, receives input from a user to transition from the audio only circuit switched call to the video call. A video call invitation message is transmitted to the other client devices. The client device receives a video call accept message from the other client devices and begins transmitting video captured by its front facing camera to the other client devices. Responsive to receiving at least a video frame from each of the one or more other client devices, the client device transitions from the audio only circuit switched call to the video call. After transitioning to the video call, the circuit switched call is dropped.

Claims

1. A method performed on a client device for transitioning between a circuit switched audio call established over a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) video call over a second network, the client device including a camera to capture video for the video call, the method comprising:

receiving input from a user of the client device to transition from the established circuit switched audio call to an IP video call, wherein the established circuit switched audio call has a plurality of participants including the user of the client device and a set of one or more remote participants at a set of one or more other client devices;

causing an IP video call invitation message to be transmitted to the set of other client devices of the remote participants;

receiving an IP video call accept message from the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants;

transmitting video captured by the camera of the client device to the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

responsive to receiving at least a video frame from each of the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants, transitioning from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call on the second network while maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call open for participant communication until the IP video call is established, wherein the maintaining audio of the circuit switched audio call includes transmitting live audio data to each of the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants over the circuit switched audio call until completing the transitioning to the IP video call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dropping the circuit switched audio call responsive to successfully transitioning to the video call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that audio is presently being routed through a receiver speaker of the client device, routing audio through a speakerphone speaker of the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a preview of video being captured by the camera of the client device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes performing the following:

displaying video that is being received from the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

changing an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the set of other client devices, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.

7. A non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor, will cause said processor to perform operations for transitioning between a circuit switched audio call established over a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) video call over a second network, the operations comprising:

receiving input from a user of a client device to transition from the established circuit switched audio call to an IP video call, wherein the established circuit switched audio call has a plurality of participants including the user of the client device and a set of one or more remote participants at a set of one or more other client devices;

causing an IP video call invitation message to be transmitted to the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants;

receiving an IP video call accept message from the set of other client devices;

transmitting video captured by a camera of the client device to the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

responsive to receiving at least a video frame from each of the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants, transitioning from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call over the second network while maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call open for participant communication until the IP video call is established wherein maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call includes transmitting live audio data to each of the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants over the circuit switched audio call until completing the transitioning to the IP video call.

8. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

dropping the circuit switched audio call responsive to successfully transitioning to the video call.

9. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to determining that audio is presently being routed through a receiver speaker of the client device, routing audio through a speakerphone speaker of the client device.

10. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying a preview of video being captured by the camera of the client device.

11. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein transitioning from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes performing the following:

displaying video that is being received from the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

changing an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

12. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the set of other client devices, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.

13. A method performed on a client device for transitioning between a circuit switched audio call established over a first network to an Internet Protocol (IP) video call over a second network, the client device including a camera to capture video for the video call, the method comprising:

receiving an IP video call invitation message originated from a client device of a remote participant of the circuit switched audio call;

receiving input from a user to accept the IP video call invitation;

causing an IP video call invitation accept message to be transmitted to the remote participant'"'"'s client device;

transmitting video captured by the camera to the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

responsive to receiving at least a frame of video from the remote participant'"'"'s client device, transitioning from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call on the second network while maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call open for participant communication until the IP video call is established, wherein the maintaining audio of the circuit switched audio call includes transmitting live audio data to the remote participant'"'"'s client device over the circuit switched audio call until the transitioning to the IP video call is complete.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

dropping the circuit switched audio call responsive to successfully transitioning to the video call.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responsive to determining that audio is presently being routed through a receiver speaker of the client device, routing audio through a speakerphone speaker of the client device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a preview of video being captured by the camera.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein transitioning from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes performing the following:

displaying video that is being received from the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

changing an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

establishing a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the participant'"'"'s client device, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.

19. A non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of a client device that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor of the client device, will cause said processor to perform operations for transitioning between a circuit switched audio call established over a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) video call over a second network, the operations comprising:

receiving an IP video call invitation message originated from a client device of a remote participant of the circuit switched audio call;

receiving input from a user to accept the video call invitation;

causing an IP video call invitation accept message to be transmitted to the remote participant'"'"'s client device;

transmitting video captured by a camera of the client device to the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

responsive to receiving at least a frame of video from the remote participant'"'"'s client device, transitioning from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call on the second network while maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call open for participant communication until the IP video call is established, wherein the maintaining the audio of the circuit switched audio call includes transmitting live audio data to the remote participant'"'"'s client device over the circuit switched audio call until the transitioning to the IP video call is complete.

20. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

dropping the circuit switched audio call responsive to successfully transitioning to the video call.

21. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to determining that audio is presently being routed through a receiver speaker of a client device, changing an audio route to route audio through a speakerphone speaker of the client device.

22. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying a preview of video being captured by the camera.

23. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein transitioning from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes performing the following:

displaying video that is being received from the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

changing an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

24. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the participant'"'"'s client device, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.

25. A client device to transition between a circuit switched audio call established over a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) video over a second network, the client device comprising:

a camera to capture video for the IP video call;

a wireless transceiver to communicate with other client devices;

a memory to store program code;

a processor coupled with the memory to process the program code to;

receive input from a user of the client device to transition from the established circuit switched audio call to an IP video call, wherein the established circuit switched audio call has a plurality of participants including the user of the client device and a set of one or more remote participants at a set of one or more other client devices;

cause an IP video call invitation message to be transmitted to the set of other client devices of the remote participants;

receive a video call accept message from the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants;

transmit video captured by the camera to the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

responsive to receipt of at least a video frame from each of the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants, transition from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call on the second network while live audio data is continuously transmitted to the set of one or more remote participants over the circuit switched audio call until the transition to the IP video call is complete.

26. The client device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further to:

drop the circuit switched audio call responsive to a successfully transition to the video call.

27. The client device of claim 25, further comprising:

a receiver speaker to provide an output audio signal;

a speakerphone speaker to provide an output audio signal;

wherein the processor is further to, responsive to a determination that audio is presently being routed through the receiver speaker, route audio through the speakerphone speaker.

28. The client device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further to:

display a preview of video being captured by the camera of the client device on the display.

29. The client device of claim 25, wherein the processor to transition from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes the processor to:

display video that is being received from the set of other client devices of the set of remote participants; and

change an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

30. The client device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further to:

establish a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the set of other client devices, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.

31. A client device to transition between a circuit switched audio call over a first network and an Internet Protocol (IP) video call over a second network, the client device comprising:

a camera to capture video for the video call;

a wireless transceiver to communicate with other client devices;

a memory to store program code;

a processor coupled with the memory to process the program code to;

receive an IP video call invitation message originated from a client device of a remote participant of the circuit switched audio call;

receive input from a user to accept the video call invitation;

cause an IP video call invitation accept message to be transmitted to the remote participant'"'"'s client device;

transmit video captured by the camera to the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

responsive to receipt of at least a frame of video from the remote participant'"'"'s client device, transition from the circuit switched audio call on the first network to the IP video call on the second network while live audio data is continuously transmitted to the remote participant'"'"'s client device over the circuit switched audio call until the transition to the IP video call is complete.

32. The client device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further to:

drop the circuit switched audio call responsive to a successful transition to the video call.

33. The client device of claim 31, further comprising:

a receiver speaker to provide an output audio signal;

a speakerphone speaker to provide an output audio signal;

wherein the processor is further to, responsive to a determination that audio is presently being routed through the receiver speaker, route audio through the speakerphone speaker.

34. The client device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further to display a preview of video being captured by the camera.

35. The client device of claim 31, wherein the processor to transition from the circuit switched audio call to the video call includes the processor to:

display video that is being received from the remote participant'"'"'s client device; and

change an audio route from the circuit switched audio call to the video call.

36. The client device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further to:

establish a peer to peer (P2P) connection with the participant'"'"'s client device, wherein the video is transmitted over the P2P connection.