User device selection

• US 9,372,963 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lau, Priscilla, Li, Mingxing S., Evans, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poltorak, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan, Huan V
• Application Number:
  US13/599,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20140068710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 379/38, 379/45, 379/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

A method may include receiving, at an application server, a session initiation protocol (SIP) message including a public user identifier (ID) associated a user. The public user ID corresponds to a plurality of user devices. The method also includes determining an applicable order of alerting at least one of the plurality of user devices. The method further includes identifying at least one available user device associated with the user, based on a terminal identifier (ID) associated with each at least one available user device. The method includes selecting a user device from the at least one available user device based on the applicable order of alerting. A SIP invite message, including a terminal ID for the selected user device, is generated. The method includes sending the SIP invite message to the selected user device based on the applicable order of alerting, and receiving a response to the SIP invite message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at an application server, a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message including a public user identifier (ID) associated with a user, wherein the public user ID corresponds to a plurality of user devices;

determining whether the SIP invite message is received during a callback period after a user device of the plurality of user devices has placed a call for emergency services, wherein determining whether the SIP invite message is received during the callback period comprises identifying whether the SIP invite message includes an emergency override indicator associated with the public user ID, wherein the emergency override indicator is generated in association with the call for emergency services;

in response to determining that the SIP invite message is received during the callback period;

alerting the user device that placed the call for emergency services; and

in response to determining that the SIP invite message is not received during the callback period;

determining an applicable order of alerting at least one of the plurality of user devices based on a type of call or session associated with the SIP invite message and at least one attribute associated with the plurality of user devices;

identifying at least one available user device associated with the user, based on a terminal identifier (ID) associated with each at least one available user device, wherein a different terminal ID is associated with each at least one available user device;

selecting a user device from the at least one available user device based on the applicable order of alerting;

modifying the SIP invite message by inserting a terminal ID header that includes a terminal ID for the selected user device;

sending the SIP invite message to the selected user device based on the applicable order of alerting; and

receiving a response to the SIP invite message with the terminal ID.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the applicable order of alerting further comprises:

alerting all available user devices at an approximate same time.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the applicable order of alerting further comprises:

alerting a first available user device based on a sequential order of alerts;

waiting up to a predetermined time for a response from the first available user device; and

alerting a next available user device if a rejection or no response is received from the first available user device in the predetermined time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the sequential order of alerts is determined based on a predetermined order of alerts.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one of a video capability, a voice call capability, multimedia capability, text capability, or a chat session capability of the at least one available user device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the terminal ID includes at least one of a device type of the at least one available user device, an Internet protocol address of the at least one available user device, a unique identifier associated with the at least one available user device, or a unique factor associated with one or more of the at least one available user device.

7. An application server device comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of instructions; and

a processor configured to execute instructions in the memory to;

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message including a public user identifier (ID) associated with a user, wherein the public user ID corresponds to a plurality of user devices;

determine whether the SIP invite message is received during a callback period after a user device of the plurality of user devices has placed a call for emergency services, wherein, when determining whether the SIP invite message is received during the callback period, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions in the memory to;

identify whether the SIP invite message includes an emergency override indicator associated with the public user ID, wherein the emergency override indicator is generated in association with the call for emergency services;

when the SIP invite message is received during the callback period;

alert the user device that placed the call for emergency services; and

when the SIP invite message is not received during the callback period;

determine an applicable order of alerting for at least one of the plurality of user devices associated with the user based on a type of call or session associated with the SIP invite message and at least one attribute associated with the plurality of user devices;

identify at least one available user device associated with the user based on a terminal identifier (ID) associated with each at least one available user device, wherein a different terminal ID is associated with each at least one available user device;

select at least one user device from the at least one available user device based on the applicable order of alerting;

modify the SIP invite message by inserting a terminal ID header that includes a terminal ID for the at least one selected user device;

send the SIP invite message to each of the at least one selected user device based on the applicable order of alerting; and

receive a response to the SIP invite message.

8. The application server device of claim 7, wherein, when determining the applicable order of alerting for the at least one user device, the processor is further configured to:

alert all available user devices at an approximate same time.

9. The application server device of claim 7, wherein, when determining the applicable order of alerting for the at least one user device, the processor is further configured to:

alert a first available user device based on a sequential order of alerts;

wait a predetermined time for a response from the first available user device; and

alert a next available user device if a rejection or no response is received from the first available user device in the predetermined time.

10. The application server device of claim 9, wherein the sequential order of alerts is determined based on a type of call session and at least one attribute associated with the at least one available user device, and the at least one attribute includes at least one of a video capability, a voice call capability, multimedia capacity, text capability, or a chat session capability of the at least one available user device.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message including a public user identifier (ID) associated with a user, wherein the public user ID corresponds to a plurality of user devices;

determine whether the SIP invite message is received during a callback period after a user device of the plurality of user devices has placed a call for emergency services, wherein, when determining whether the SIP invite message is received during the callback period, the one or more instructions further cause the processor to;

identify whether the SIP invite message includes an emergency override indicator associated with the public user ID, wherein the emergency override indicator is generated in association with the call for emergency services;

when the SIP invite message is received during the callback period;

alert the user device that placed the call for emergency services; and

when the SIP invite message is not received during the callback period;

determine an applicable order of alerting for at least one of the plurality of user devices associated with the user based on a type of call or session associated with the SIP invite message and at least one attribute associated with the plurality of user devices;

identify at least one available user device associated with the user based on a terminal identifier (ID) associated with each at least one available user device, wherein a different terminal ID is associated with each at least one available user device;

select at least one user device from the at least one available user device based on the applicable order of alerting;

modify the SIP invite message by inserting a terminal ID header that includes a terminal ID for the at least one selected user device;

send the SIP invite message to each of the at least one selected user device based on the applicable order of alerting; and

receive a response to the SIP invite message.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more instructions that cause the processor to determine the applicable order of alerting further comprise:

one or more instructions that cause the processor to alert all available user devices at an approximate same time.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more instructions that cause the processor to determine the applicable order of alerting further comprise:

one or more instructions that cause the processor to;

alert a first available user device based on a sequential order of alerts;

wait up to a predetermined time for a response from the first available user device; and

alert a next available user device if a rejection or no response is received from the first available user device in the predetermined time.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the sequential order of alerts is determined based on a predetermined order of alerts.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the at least one attribute includes at least one of a video capability, a voice call capability, multimedia capability, text capability, or a chat session capability of the at least one available user device.