Method for switching service process and media server

• US 8,928,913 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eight Deer Ventures LLC (Markman Advisors)
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Dong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madelein A
• Application Number:
  US13/259,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20120127539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/333 Mode signalling or mode changing; Handshaking therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for switching service process and a media server, wherein the method for switching the service process comprises: after a first service process performed together with a facsimile terminal is completed, and when a message, which is sent by an application server and which indicates to carry out a second service process, is received by a media server, the media server switching from the first service process to the second service process; and the facsimile terminal switching from the first service process to the second service process. Therefore, the switching of the facsimile is not limited by the switching control requirements of the media gateway, which is favorable for flexible expansion and interconnection of the facsimile services.

Claims

1. A method for switching service process, comprising:

a media server switching from a first service process to a second service process, after the first service process performed together with a facsimile terminal is completed, and when a message, which is sent by an application server and which indicates to perform a second service process, is received by a media server; and

the facsimile terminal switching from the first service process to the second service process;

wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching from the first service process to the second service process comprises;

the media server informing, according to the received message, the facsimile terminal to switch from the first service process to the second service process; and

the facsimile terminal switching to a channel corresponding to the second service process;

wherein the first service process is an audible speech service process, and the second service process is a facsimile service process;

or the first service process is the facsimile service process, and the second service process is the audible speech service process.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching to the channel corresponding to the second service process comprises:

the media server informing a media gateway to perform a service process switch from the first service process to the second service process; and

the media gateway controlling the facsimile terminal to switch to the channel corresponding to the second service process.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of the media server switching from the first service process to the second service process comprises:

the media server receiving a signaling which carries media description and which is returned by the media gateway after the media gateway controls the facsimile terminal to switch to the channel corresponding to the second service process; and

the media server switching, according to the media description, to a channel corresponding to the second service process.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein before the media server receives the message, the method further comprises:

the facsimile terminal receiving and sending an instruction which indicates to start the second service process; and

the application server receiving the instruction, and sending the message to the media server.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching to a channel corresponding to the second service process comprises:

the facsimile terminal switching, according to the received instruction which indicates to start the second service process, to the channel corresponding to the second service process,

wherein the first service process is an audible speech service process, and the second service process is a facsimile service process;

or the first service process is the facsimile service process, and the second service process is the audible speech service process.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein before the media server receives the message, the method further comprises:

the facsimile terminal receiving and sending an instruction which indicates to start the second service process; and

the application server receiving the instruction, and sending the message to the media server.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching to a channel corresponding to the second service process comprises:

the facsimile terminal switching, according to the received instruction which indicates to start the second service process, to the channel corresponding to the second service process,

wherein the first service process is an audible speech service process, and the second service process is a facsimile service process;

or the first service process is the facsimile service process, and the second service process is the audible speech service process.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the step of the media server switching from the first service process to the second service process comprises:

the media server triggering, according to the received message, the media server to switch from the first service process to the second service process, and switching media resource to a channel corresponding to the second service process; and

the step of the facsimile terminal switching from the first service process to the second service process comprises;

triggering the facsimile terminal to switch from the first service process to the second service process, and the facsimile terminal switching media resource to the channel corresponding to the second service process.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein before the media server receives the message, the method further comprises:

the facsimile terminal receiving and sending an instruction which indicates to start the second service process; and

the application server receiving the instruction, and sending the message to the media server.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching to a channel corresponding to the second service process comprises:

the facsimile terminal switching, according to the received instruction which indicates to start the second service process, to the channel corresponding to the second service process.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first service process is an audible speech service process, and the second service process is a facsimile service process;

or the first service process is the facsimile service process, and the second service process is the audible speech service process.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the media server receives the message, the method further comprises:

the facsimile terminal receiving and sending an instruction which indicates to start the second service process; and

the application server receiving the instruction, and sending the message to the media server.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of the facsimile terminal switching to a channel corresponding to the second service process comprises:

the facsimile terminal switching, according to the received instruction which indicates to start the second service process, to the channel corresponding to the second service process.

14. A media server, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive, after a first service process performed together with a facsimile terminal is completed, a message which is sent from an application server and which indicates to perform a second service process; and

a switching module, configured to switch to a channel corresponding to the second service process according to the message received by the receiving module;

an informing module, configured to inform the facsimile terminal to switch to the channel corresponding to the second service process;

wherein the first service process is an audible speech service process, and the second service process is a facsimile service process;

or the first service process is the facsimile service process, and the second service process is the audible speech service process.