Identifying network entities in a peer-to-peer network

• US 9,712,667 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Genband US LLC (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zilberman, Boaz, Nerst, Alex, Shechter, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): ZAND, DAVOUD AMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/307,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,681 Days
• Field of Search: 709217, 709218, 709219, 709245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A method and a system for identifying a network entity within a first communication network, using an entity identification data of the network entity in a second communication network. More particularly but not exclusively, identifying a network entity within a peer-to-peer communication network, using an entity identification data of the network entity in an underlying conventional communication network.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a first network entity within a first communication network, said method executed by a processor of a network device, said method comprising:

receiving an entity identification data of said first network entity in a second communication network, said first and second communication networks having a different entity identification convention, said first communication network being a peer-to-peer network;

using said entity identification data of said first network entity in said second communication network as an identity of said first network entity in said first communication network, wherein said entity identification data, when used in said first communication network, comprises the same form of said entity identification data when used in said second communication network;

inviting a second network entity to the first communication network through an invite sent to the second network entity over said second communication network;

receiving an acknowledgement to said invite from said second network entity over said first communication network; and

downloading to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein.

2. A method for identifying a first network entity according to claim 1 wherein said first communication network and said second communication network at least partially overlap.

3. A method for identifying a first network entity according to claim 1 wherein said first network entity is a member of both said first communication network and said second communication network.

4. A method for identifying a first network entity according to claim 1 wherein said first network entity is at least one of a network node, a network device, a network terminal, and a network entity identification device.

5. A method for identifying a first network entity according to claim 1 wherein said second communication network is at least one of a telephone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a mobile telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a data communication network, and an IP network.

6. A method for identifying a first network entity according to claim 1 wherein said entity identification data is at least one of:

a telephone number, a directory number (DN), NDN, a mobile station ISDN, a Mobile Station International ISDN Number, a Mobile Systems International Subscriber Identity Number, MSISDN, an international mobile subscriber identification, International Mobile Station Identity, and IMSI.

7. A method for identifying a peer in a peer-to-peer network, said method executed by a processor of a network device, said method comprising:

receiving an entity identification data of a first network entity in a telephone network selected from a group consisting of;

public switched telephone network (PSTN) and public land mobile network (PLMN);

using said entity identification data of said first network entity in said telephone network to identify said peer in said peer-to-peer network;

inviting a second network entity to the peer-to-peer network through an invite sent to the second network entity over the telephone network;

receiving an acknowledgement to said invite from said second network entity over said peer-to-peer network; and

downloading to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein.

8. A method for identifying an addressable peer in a peer-to-peer network, said method comprising:

receiving, at an addressing peer, an entity identification data of said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network, said addressing peer also being a first network entity in a communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network;

receiving an entity identification data of a second network entity in said network other than said peer-to-peer communication network, said second network entity also being said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network;

inviting a second network entity to the peer-to-peer network, the inviting comprising sending an invitation message from said first network entity to said second network entity via said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network and using said identification data of said second network entity in said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network;

receiving acknowledgement message, by said addressing peer from said addressable peer via said peer-to-peer network, said acknowledgement message acknowledging said invitation message;

associating, in said addressing peer said addressable peer with said entity identification data to enable identification of said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network using said entity identification data of said second network entity in said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network; and

downloading to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein.

9. A network device operative to communicate with network entities in a first communication network, said network device comprising a memory and a data processor to:

receive an entity identification information uniquely identifying a network entity in a second communication network;

communicate in said first communication network with said network entity, said communication module also operative to identify said network entity in said first communication network according to said entity identification information of said network entity in said second communication network, wherein said first and second communication networks having a different entity identification convention, and wherein said entity identification data, when used in said first communication network, comprises the same form of said entity identification data when used in said second communication network; and

invite another network device to the first communication network by sending an invite to the other network device over said second communication network;

receive an acknowledgement to said invite from the other network device over said first communication network; and

download to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein;

wherein said first communication network is a peer-to-peer network.

10. A network device according to claim 9 wherein said second communication network is at least one of:

a telephone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public land mobile network (PLMN) a mobile telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a data communication network, an IP network, the Internet, and a peer-to-peer network.

11. A network device according to claim 9 wherein said network entity is at least one of a network node, a network device, a network terminal, and a network entity identification device.

12. A network device according to claim 9 wherein said entity identification data is at least one of:

a telephone number, a directory number (DN), NDN, a mobile station ISDN, a Mobile Station International ISDN Number, a Mobile Systems International Subscriber Identity Number, MSISDN, an international mobile subscriber identification, International Mobile Station Identity, IMSI, and a nickname in a peer-to-peer network.

13. A system for identifying an addressable peer in a peer-to-peer network, said system comprising:

an addressing peer, being a peer in said peer-to-peer network, and also being a first network entity in a communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network, said addressing peer comprising a data processor to;

receive a first entity identification data of said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network;

receive a second entity identification data of a second network entity in said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network, said second network entity also performing as said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network;

invite said second network entity to said peer-to-peer communication network, wherein to invite said second network entity, the data processor is to send an invitation message via said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network to said second network entity;

receive an acknowledgement message via said peer-to-peer network from said second network entity, said acknowledgement message acknowledging said invitation message;

identify said addressable peer according to said second entity identification data; and

download to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer-readable program code embodied in said computer-readable storage medium,

wherein the computer-readable program code is configured to cause a programmable processor of a network device to

receive an entity identification data of a network entity in a first communication network;

identify said network entity in a second communication network using said entity identification data of said network entity in said first communication network, said first and second communication networks having a different entity identification convention;

invite another network device to the first communication network, wherein to invite the other network device, the computer-readable program code is further configured to cause the network device to send an invite to the other network device over said first communication network, the invite inviting the other network device to the first communication network;

receive an acknowledgement to said invite from the other network device over said second communication network; and

download to said other network device, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the other network device embedded therein.

15. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said second communication network is a peer-to-peer network.

16. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said first communication network and said second communication network at least partially overlap.

17. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said network entity is a member of both said first communication network and said second communication network.

18. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said network entity is at least one of a network node, a network terminal, and a network entity identification device.

19. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said first communication network is a network other than a peer-to-peer network.

20. A computer program product according to claim 14 wherein said second communication network is at least one of a telephone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a mobile telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a data communication network, an IP network, the Internet, and a peer-to-peer network.

21. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer-readable program code embodied in said computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable program code is configured to cause a programmable processor of a network device to

receive an entity identification data of a network entity in a telephone network; and

use said entity identification data of said network entity in said telephone network to identify said network device in a peer-to-peer network, said telephone network and said peer-to-peer network having a different entity identification convention;

invite another network device to the peer-to-peer network, wherein to invite the other network device, the computer-readable program code is further configured to cause the network device to send an invite to the other network device over said telephone network, the invite inviting the other network device to the first communication network; and

receive an acknowledgement to said invite from the other network device over said peer-to-peer network; and

download to said other network device, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the other network device embedded therein.

22. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer-readable program code embodied in said computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable program code is configured to cause a programmable processor of a network device to

receive, at an addressing peer, an entity identification data of an addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network, said addressing peer also being a first network entity in a communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network;

receive an entity identification data of a second network entity in said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network;

said second network entity also being said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network;

invite the second network entity to the peer-to-peer network, wherein to invite the second network entity, the computer-readable program code is further configured to cause the network device to send an invitation message from said first network entity to said second network entity via said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network, the invitation message inviting the second network entity to the first communication network;

receive acknowledgement message, by said addressing peer from said addressable peer via said peer-to-peer network, said acknowledgement message acknowledging said invitation message; and

associate, in said addressing peer said addressable peer with said entity identification data to enable identification of said addressable peer in said peer-to-peer network using said entity identification data of said second network entity in said communication network other than said peer-to-peer communication network; and

download to said second network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second network entity embedded therein.

23. A communication method executed by a processor of a first network entity, said method comprising:

sending a request to register in a first communication network, said request sent from the first network entity to a second network entity via a second communication network using identification data identifying said second network entity in said second communication network, the request comprising an identifier for the first network entity, the first communication network being a peer-to-peer network;

receiving a message from the second network entity, said message sent via said second communication network using said identification data identifying said second network entity in said second communication network;

downloading executable client software from a registration server, the client software having the identifier for the first network entity embedded therein; and

establishing communication via said first communication network.

24. A communication method executed by a processor of a network entity, said method comprising:

sending a request to register the network entity in a first communication network, said request sent to a server of said first communication network and comprising an identity of said network entity in a second communication network, the first communication network being a peer-to-peer network;

receiving a message from said server of said first communication network, said message sent via said second communication network using said identification data identifying said second network entity in said second communication network;

downloading to the network entity, executable client software from the server, the client software being pre-customized for the network entity, the client software having the identity for the network entity embedded therein; and

establishing communication, by said network entity, via said first communication network.

25. A communication method executed by a processor of a network device, said method comprising:

sending a request to respond in a first communication network, the request including an invite to join the first network, said request sent from a first network entity to a second network entity via a second communication network using identification data identifying said second network entity in said second communication network, the first communication network being a peer-to-peer network; and

receiving, via said first communication network, said response from said second network entity;

downloading to said first network entity, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having the identifier for the first network entity embedded therein.

26. A method for facilitating communication, the method comprising:

receiving, via a first communications network, a request from a first communications device to communicate with a second communications device via said first communications network, the first communication network being a peer-to-peer network,

wherein said request includes an identifier identifying said second communications device within a second communications network, and

wherein said identifier does not identify said second communications device within said first communications network;

sending, via said second communications network, a communication to said second communications device, wherein said communication requests that said second communications device join said first communications network and communicate via said first communications network; and

facilitating communication between said first communications device and said second communications device via said first communications network;

downloading to said second communications device, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having an identifier for the second communications device embedded therein.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said communication sent to said second communications device comprises an invitation to said second communications device to communicate with said first communication device via said first communications network.

28. A network device comprising a processor for performing the steps of:

receiving, via a first communications network, a request from a first communications device to communicate with a second communications device via said first communications network, the first communications network being a peer-to-peer network,

wherein said request includes an identifier identifying said second communications device within a second communications network, and

wherein said identifier does not identify said second communications device within said first communications network;

sending, via said second communications network, a communication to said second communications device, wherein said communication requests that said second communications device join said first communications network and communicate via said first communications network;

receiving, via said first communications network, a response from said second communications device; and

facilitating communication between said first communications device and said second communications device via said first communications network; and

downloading to said second communications device, executable client software from a registration server, the client software having the identifier for the second communications device embedded therein.