Dynamic device pairing with control session establishment

• US 8,867,717 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Ezell, Joel M., Hou, Ming, Durney, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US13/794,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/221.08, 379/229
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/257 remote control of substation user interface for telephonic services, e.g. by ISDN stimulus, ADSI, wireless telephony application WTA, MExE or BREW
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control

Abstract

A communication system, method, and components are described. Specifically, a communication method is disclosed which enables a media device and control device to be dynamically paired to one another and a control link call to be established between the media device and the control device. The control link call can be utilized to permit the media device to be controlled by the control device while the media device exchanges media with a communication device operated by another user.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a communication session between a first user and a second user, the method comprising:

receiving a first call-establishment message, the first call-establishment message being at least one of generated by and directed toward a media device;

in response to receiving the first call-establishment message, determining that the media device is paired with a control device associated with the first user;

temporarily establishing a control link call between the media device and the control device; and

enabling the media device to be controlled by the control device via the control link call while the media device exchanges media with a communication device operated by the second user, wherein the control link call is established by transmitting a second call-establishment message to the control device, the second call-establishment message corresponding to a type of message that enables the control device to establish a media session to itself.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second call-establishment message is transmitted to the control device with a Session Description Protocol (SDP) Offer containing a parameter of inactive.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting an Out-Of-Dialog REFER (OOD-REFER) message to the control device to establish the control link call.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the OOD-REFER message comprises an answer call directive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first call-establishment message comprises an INVITE message and the second call-establishment message comprises an INVITE message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media device generated the first call-establishment message, wherein determining the media device is paired with the control device comprises comparing an asserted identity of the media device with a list of control devices that are paired with media devices.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying the first call-establishment message to comprise an asserted identity of the first user; and

sequencing one or more applications in accordance with preferences of the first user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first call-establishment message is directed toward the media device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a redirect message back to the communication device operated by the second user, the redirect message causing the communication device operated by the second user to generate and transmit a new INVITE message that targets the first user rather than the media device;

receiving the new INVITE message from the communication device operated by the second user; and

sequencing one or more applications on behalf of the first user based on information contained in the new INVITE message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control link call is terminated when a media channel between the communication device operated by the second user and the media device is terminated.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media exchanged between the media device and the communication device operated by the second user comprises at least one of audio, video, and text and wherein the media is exchanged via at least one of a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) session and Secure RTP (SRTP) session.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions that are executable by a processor to facilitate a communication session between a first user and a second user, the instructions comprising:

instructions configured to receive a first call-establishment message, the first call-establishment message being at least one of generated by and directed toward a media device;

instructions configured to, in response to receiving the first call-establishment message, determine that the media device is paired with a control device associated with the first user; and

instructions configured to enable a temporary establishment of a control link call between the media device and the control device, thereby permitting the media device to be controlled by the control device via the control link call while the media device exchanges media with a communication device operated by the second user, wherein the control link call is established by transmitting a second call-establishment message to the control device, the second call-establishment message corresponding to a type of message that enables the control device to establish a media session to itself.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second call-establishment message is transmitted to the control device with a Session Description Protocol (SDP) Offer containing a parameter of inactive.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, the instructions further comprising:

instructions configured to transmit an Out-Of-Dialog REFER (OOD-REFER) message to the control device to establish the control link call.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the OOD-REFER message comprises an answer call directive.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first call-establishment message comprises an INVITE message and the second call-establishment message comprises an INVITE message.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the media device generated the first call-establishment message, wherein determining the media device is paired with the control device comprises comparing an asserted identity of the media device with a list of control devices that are paired with media devices.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, the instructions further comprising:

instructions configured to modify the first call-establishment message to comprise an asserted identity of the first user; and

instructions configured to sequence one or more applications in accordance with preferences of the first user.

20. The application server of claim 18, wherein the SIP message comprises a Session Description Protocol (SDP) Offer containing a parameter of inactive and wherein the dynamic device pairing application is further configured to transmit an Out-Of-Dialog REFER (OOD-REFER) message to the control device to establish the control link call, the OOD-REFER message comprising an answer call directive.

19. An application server, comprising:

a processor; and

memory including a dynamic device pairing application in the form of processor-executable instructions, the dynamic device pairing application configured to, when executed by the processor, dynamically pair a control device and a media device for a first user during a communication session with a second user operating a third communication device, the dynamic device pairing application configured to receive a first call-establishment message, the first call-establishment message being at least one of generated by and directed toward a media device, in response to receiving the first call-establishment message, determine that the media device is paired with a control device associated with the first user, and then enable a temporary establishment of a control link call between the media device and the control device, thereby permitting the media device to be controlled by the control device via the control link call while the media device exchanges media with a communication device operated by the second user, wherein the control link call is established through the application server in response to the application server receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message having one or more parameters that cause the control link call to be established instead of causing media to be delivered to the control device.