Ancillary data support in session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging

• US 20090147775A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• 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: Zhu, Yinjun, Marshall, Roger S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

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 Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session, comprising:

a first communication path to receive a SIP message from an initiator of said SIP message;

a proxy module to associate auxiliary information identified in a SIP header of said SIP message with said received SIP message; and

a second communication path to a recipient of said SIP message;

wherein, aside from the association to said auxiliary information, said SIP message further includes current location information relating to a current position of said initiator.

2. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein said SIP header comprises:

a content pointer element to a SIP Message body part.

3. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 2, wherein said content pointer element comprises:

a content identifier.

4. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein said SIP header comprises:

a universal resource identifier (URI) relating to an IP address of said associated auxiliary information.

5. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said SIP message is an emergency call.

6. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is audio relating to said SIP message.

7. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is video relating to said SIP message.

8. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is textual data.

9. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data provides a universal resource locator (URL) of a web site containing information relating to said SIP message.

10. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a SIP session according to claim 1, wherein:

said sender of said SIP message is a wireless device.

11. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session, comprising:

a first communication path to receive a SIP message from an initiator of said SIP message;

proxy means for associating auxiliary information identified in a SIP header of said SIP message with said received SIP message; and

a second communication path to a recipient of said SIP message;

wherein, aside from said association to said auxiliary information, said SIP message further includes current location information relating to a current position of said initiator.

12. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein said SIP header comprises:

a content pointer element to a SIP Message body part.

13. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 12, wherein said content pointer element comprises:

a content identifier.

14. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein said SIP header comprises:

a universal resource identifier (URI) relating to an IP address of said associated auxiliary information.

15. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said SIP message is an emergency call.

16. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is audio relating to said SIP message.

17. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is video relating to said SIP message.

18. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data is textual data.

19. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said hosted auxiliary data provides a universal resource locator (URL) of a web site containing information relating to said SIP message.

20. Apparatus for facilitating inclusion of auxiliary data along with location in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session according to claim 11, wherein:

said sender of said SIP message is a wireless device.