Conferencing system

• US 9,654,642 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Niemi, Aki
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Christine
• Application Number:
  US14/293,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Administering conferencing resources in a communications system comprising a plurality of user equipments and a server. A first user equipment transmits a first message to the server. The first message comprises a request for a resource configured for sustaining a conference call. The server allocates a network address identifying the resource and transmits a second message comprising the network address to the first user equipment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting from a first user equipment to a server a first message comprising a request for a resource configured to sustain a conference call;

receiving by the first user equipment from the server a second message comprising a network address identifying the resource configured to sustain the conference call which has been allocated by the server;

in response to receiving the second message, transmitting a first request from the first user equipment directly to the resource at the network address;

in response to receiving an acknowledgment of the first request directly from the resource, transmitting from the first user equipment to at least one other user equipment a third message comprising the network address; and

in response to receiving a notification that the resource sends out directly to the at least one other user equipment an acknowledgment of a second request directly sent from the at least one other user equipment, the first user equipment initiating a connection from the first user equipment to the at least one other user equipment via the resource to establish a conference call between the first user equipment and the at least one other user equipment;

wherein the third message comprising the network address is transmitted by direct communication from the first user equipment to the at least one other user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second message specifies that the resource is being allocated a respective address of a corresponding plurality of addresses, the respective address being unique to the conference call at any given time;

and wherein each of the corresponding plurality of addresses are allocated according to a pre-set pattern such that the respective address refers to a resource that is available for the conference call at the given time.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first message comprises a first session initiation protocol invite message.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

sending a second session initiation protocol invite message comprising a dynamic uniform resource identifier to the resource.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second message comprises a session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message comprises a contact header containing the dynamic uniform resource identifier.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving a session initiation protocol 200 OK message from the resource.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the third message comprises a session initiation protocol refer message to the user agent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the session initiation protocol refer message comprises a refer-to header comprising the dynamic uniform resource identifier.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving a session initiation protocol accepted message.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for performing a method when executed on a computer, the method comprising:

transmitting from a first user equipment to a server a first message comprising a request for a resource configured to sustain a conference call;

receiving by the first user equipment from the server a second message comprising a network address identifying the resource configured to sustain the conference call which has been allocated by the server;

in response to receiving the second message, transmitting a first request from the first user equipment directly to the resource at the network address;

in response to receiving an acknowledgment of the first request directly from the resource, transmitting from the first user equipment to at least one other user equipment a third message comprising the network address; and

in response to receiving a notification that the resource sends out directly to the at least one other user equipment an acknowledgment of a second request directly sent from the at least one other user equipment, the first user equipment initiating a connection from the first user equipment to the at least one other user equipment via the resource to establish a conference call between the first user equipment and the at least one other user equipment;

wherein the third message comprising the network address is transmitted by direct communication from the first user equipment to the at least one other user equipment.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the second message specifies that the resource is being allocated a respective address of a corresponding plurality of addresses, the respective address being unique to the conference call at any given time;

and wherein each of the corresponding plurality of addresses are allocated according to a pre-set pattern such that the respective address refers to a resource that is available for the conference call at the given time.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the first message comprises a first session initiation protocol invite message.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for sending a second session initiation protocol invite message comprising a dynamic uniform resource identifier to the resource.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the second message comprises a session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message comprises a contact header containing the dynamic uniform resource identifier.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising receiving a session initiation protocol 200 OK message from the resource.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the third message comprises a session initiation protocol refer message.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the session initiation protocol refer message comprises a refer-to header comprising the dynamic uniform resource identifier.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising receiving a session initiation protocol accepted message.

21. A user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the user equipment to perform at least the following:

transmit to a server a first message comprising a request for a resource configured to sustain a conference call;

receive from the server a second message comprising a network address identifying the resource configured to sustain the conference call which has been allocated by the server;

in response to receiving the second message, transmit a first request directly to the resource at the network address;

in response to receiving an acknowledgment of the first request directly from the resource, transmit to at least one other user equipment a third message comprising the network address; and

in response to receiving a notification that the resource sends out directly to the at least one other user equipment an acknowledgment of a second request directly sent from the at least one other user equipment, initiate a connection to the at least one other user equipment via the resource to establish a conference call between the user equipment and the at least one other user equipment;

wherein the third message comprising the network address is transmitted by direct communication from the first user equipment to the at least one other user equipment.

22. The user equipment of claim 21 wherein the second message specifies that the resource is being allocated a respective address of a corresponding plurality of addresses, the respective address being unique to the conference call at any given time;

and wherein each of the corresponding plurality of addresses are allocated according to a pre-set pattern such that the respective address refers to a resource that is available for the conference call at the given time.

23. The user equipment of claim 21 wherein the first message comprises a first session initiation protocol invite message.

24. The user equipment of claim 23 wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the user equipment to send a second session initiation protocol invite message comprising the dynamic uniform resource identifier to the resource.

25. The user equipment of claim 21 wherein the second message comprises a session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message.

26. The user equipment of claim 25 wherein the session initiation protocol 3xx redirection message comprises a contact header containing a dynamic uniform resource identifier.

27. The user equipment of claim 21 wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the user equipment to receive a session initiation protocol 200 OK message from the resource.

28. The user equipment of claim 26 wherein the third message comprises a session initiation protocol refer message.

29. The user equipment of claim 28 wherein the session initiation protocol refer message comprises a refer-to header comprising the dynamic uniform resource identifier.

30. The user equipment of claim 29 wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the user equipment to receive a session initiation protocol accepted message.