Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system

• US 9,253,444 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2015
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Jang, Saqib, Kent, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US14/638,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/256 NAT traversal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 : Simulation, emulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 : Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 : Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system, method, and device for use in videoconferencing. The method typically includes installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to an IP network, and registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services. Each subscriber typically has a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber. The method further includes storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch, and configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.

Claims

1. A videoconferencing services switch adapted for deployment in a global Internet Protocol (IP) network and to communicate with at least one other videoconferencing services switch across the global IP network, the videoconferencing services switch comprising:

a call control module capable of receiving call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;

a tunneling services module configured to receive encrypted real-time audio and video data streams from the subscriber IP networks having the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and

a policy engine capable of being configured to enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.

2. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.

3. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.

4. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 3, wherein the NAT device is implemented as part of a firewall.

5. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 2, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

6. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 2, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.

7. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 6, further comprising:

a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.

8. A method for providing videoconferencing services using videoconferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, each videoconferencing services switch adapted to be linked to at least one other videoconferencing services switch, the method comprising:

receiving endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;

managing transfer of encrypted real-time audio and video data streams between the subscriber IP networks having the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and

enforcing policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the videoconferencing services switches direct the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the NAT device is implemented as part of a firewall.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings at each videoconferencing services switch.

16. A videoconferencing services switch adapted for deployment in a global Internet Protocol (IP) network and configured to communicate with at least one other videoconferencing services switch across the global IP network, the switch comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory device, the memory device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the switch to;

receive endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;

manage transfer of encrypted real-time audio and video data streams between the subscriber IP networks having the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and

enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.

17. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.

18. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.

19. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 18, wherein the NAT device is implemented as part of a firewall.

20. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 17, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

21. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 17, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.

22. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 21, further comprising:

a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.

23. A videoconferencing services switch adapted for deployment in a global Internet Protocol (IP) network and configured to communicate with at least one other videoconferencing services switch across the global IP network, the switch comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory device, the memory device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the switch to;

receive call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;

receive encrypted real-time audio and video data streams from the subscriber IP networks having call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and

enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.

24. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.

25. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.

26. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 25 where the NAT device is implemented as part of a firewall.

27. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 24, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

28. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 24, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.

29. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 28, further comprising:

a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.