Ancillary data support in session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging

• US 9,538,352 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Marshall, Roger S., Zhu, Yinjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le
• Application Number:
  US14/834,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/39 Globally routable user-agent uniform resource identifier [GRUU] for the session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A SIP ancillary data server provides host to auxiliary data for an emergency SIP session (call) uniquely referred to in a transported SIP header. In a manner similar to how location is represented in an emergency call, a SIP header is extended. The extended SIP Header contains one of two possible types of content elements: either (a) a content pointer element to a SIP Message body part (a “cid:”, or content identifier); or (b) an <information_URI> (a.k.a, “info_URI” in this document).

Claims

1. A method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session, comprising:

intercepting, at a physical SIP proxy server, a SIP message from an initiator device addressed to a recipient device;

extending a header of said received SIP message to include current location information of said initiator device;

further extending said header of said received SIP message to include a content pointer referencing an external source device containing ancillary information associated with said received SIP message; and

routing said SIP message with said extended header on to said recipient device.

2. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said SIP message is an emergency text message.

3. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said recipient device is a public safety answering point (PSAP).

4. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a photo.

5. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is live streaming video.

6. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a hosted media file.

7. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a medical history file.

8. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said received SIP message corresponds to an emergency Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) call.

9. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 1, wherein:

said initiator device of said SIP message is a wireless phone.

10. A method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session, comprising:

intercepting, at a physical SIP proxy server, a SIP message from an initiator device addressed to a recipient device;

extending a header of said received SIP message to include current location information of said initiator device;

further extending said header of said received SIP message to include a universal resource indicator (URL) referencing an external source device containing ancillary information associated with said received SIP message; and

routing said SIP message with said extended header on to said recipient device.

11. A method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, comprising:

a form of said uniform resource identifier is <

information_URI>

.

12. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said SIP message is an emergency text message.

13. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said recipient device is a public safety answering point (PSAP).

14. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a photo.

15. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is live streaming video.

16. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a hosted media file.

17. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said ancillary information referenced at said external source device is a medical history file.

18. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said received SIP message corresponds to an emergency Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) call.

19. The method of including ancillary information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 10, wherein:

said initiator device of said SIP message is a wireless phone.