Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system

• US 9,419,939 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Margalla Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Jang, Saqib, Kent, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US14/929,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 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 real-time audio and video data streams from 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 the tunneling services module is configured to receive encrypted real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.

4. 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.

5. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

6. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1, 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;

setting-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between 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 further comprising:

setting-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

14. The method of claim 8, 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;

set-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between 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 instructions further cause the switch to:

set-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

21. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16, 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;

set-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the 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 instructions further cause the switch to:

set-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.

25. 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.

26. 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.

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

28. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23, wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.

29. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23, wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.

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

a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.