Method of communicating between several terminals

• US 8,886,823 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Bouvet, Bertrand
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuoc
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAND, DAVOUD AMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/311,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/230, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of communicating between at least two devices, comprising in particular the following steps: a step of hooking up a first device and at least one second device, and a step of transferring a first multimedia stream from the first device to the second device, characterized in that it also comprises the following steps: a step of determining, in the course of which it is noted that the first device or a first communication network to which the first device is connected or a second network to which the second device is connected is adapted for the production or transfer of a multimedia stream comprising N channels, and that the second device comprises means for processing a multimedia stream comprising P channels, and a step of trunking a second multimedia stream to the second device, carried out in parallel with the step of transferring the first multimedia stream. The invention also relates to an associated communication system. Application to telephony or videophony over IP.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between at least two devices, comprising:

a step of hooking up a first device and at least one second device,

said first device being connected to a first network,

said at least one second device being connected to a second network,

said first device or said first network or said second network being suitable for production or transfer of a multimedia stream comprising N channels,

said at least one second device comprising means for processing a multimedia stream comprising P channels, where N is less than P; and

a step of transferring a first multimedia stream from the first device to the at least one second device,

wherein the method further comprises a determination step comprising;

determining, on the basis of information received during the step of hooking up, if a trunking of a second multimedia stream, comprising up to P−

N complementary multimedia data, to the second device is possible or not, and

if a result of the determining step is that trunking is possible;

a step of trunking the second multimedia stream to the at least one second device, said step of trunking being carried out in parallel with the step of transferring the first multimedia stream, said second multimedia stream being provided by a server of multimedia resources for transmitting multimedia data.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first multimedia stream or the second multimedia stream comprises data relating to a sound signal and/or to a text and/or to a video signal and/or to an image signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first multimedia stream comprises N channels and the second multimedia stream comprises P minus N channels.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a content of the second multimedia stream is dependent:

on parameters fixed by a user of the first device, and/or

on parameters fixed by a user of the second device,

on parameters fixed by a proprietor of determination means or trunking means used for the implementation of the method.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the determination step is carried out in parallel with the hookup step.

6. The method as claimed in claims 1 wherein the determination step is carried out:

on request of a user of the first device or

on request of a user of the second device.

7. The method as claimed in 1 wherein the determination step is implemented by determination means:

of an application server of the first network or of the second network, or

of access equipment of the second device for accessing the second network, or

of an input element of the second network, or

of the second device.

8. A communication system comprising:

a system for hooking up a first device and at least one second device,

said first device being connected to a first network,

said at least one second device being connected to a second network,

said first device or said first network or said second network being suitable for production or transfer of a multimedia stream comprising N channels,

said at least one second device comprising means for processing a multimedia stream comprising P channels, where N is less than P;

a system for transferring a first multimedia stream between the first device and the at least one second device;

means for determining properties of the first device and of the at least one second device for producing, transferring, receiving or processing a multimedia stream, and

means for trunking a second multimedia stream, comprising up to P−

N complementary multimedia data, provided by a server of multimedia resources, to the at least one second device,

said trunking being carried out in parallel with the step of transferring the first multimedia stream,

said means for trunking being active only if N is less than P.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hookup system and the transfer means comprise elements of a first network to which the first device is connected and/or elements of a second network to which the second device is connected and/or elements for interconnecting the first network and the second network.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the determination means are means:

of an application server of the first network or of the second network or

of access equipment of the second device for accessing the second network, or

of the second terminal.