ENHANCEMENT TO SIP FORKING FOR IMPROVED USER SERVICES

• US 20110264824A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Swaminathan, Seetharaman, Venkata Subramanian, Jayaraman
• Application Number:
  US13/057,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264824A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

A method of enhancing SIP forking for offering improved call services in a telecommunication network is disclosed. An endpoint of the network is assigned as a Forking Master for providing improved call services for a user in the same Address of Record (AoR) in the presence of forking. The method of assigning a forking master comprises of user provisioning, updating by the user terminal during registration, subsequent declaration by the user terminal, third-party assignment and network-triggered assignment. An endpoint can take up or relinquish the role of Forking Master by specifying the value ‘true’ or false'"'"' for the forking-master parameter. The Forking Master can be associated with call completion services, presence-based services, call- forwarding interaction, lawful interception, facilities like PBRT and the like.

Claims

1. A method of handling improved call services by assigning at least one endpoint as a Forking Master in a communication network, wherein said Forking Master provides improved call services for an Address of Record (AoR) in the request message in the presence of forking.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Forking Master is assigned by a user.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Forking Master is assigned by updating said user endpoint during registration.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Forking Master is declared by said user endpoint, after registration using at least one of a INVITE and a MESSAGE.

5. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Forking Master is assigned by a third party using at least one of said INVITE and said MESSAGE.

6. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network triggers the assignment of said Forking Master, said method comprising steps of

said network sending said INVITE message to all user endpoints;

said user endpoints sending a response to said network, on receipt of said INVITE message;

said endpoints taking decisions regarding the assignment of said Forking Master.

7. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said endpoint queries the identity of said Forking Master using at least one of REGISTER and said INVITE.

8. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a communication network informs said Forking Master'"'"'s identity using at least one of said INVITE and said MESSAGE to said endpoints.

9. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a contact header field includes said parameter forking-master with an assigned value is included in at least one of a contact header field and a message body.

10. A system to handle improved call services in a communication network, wherein said system adapted to assign at least one endpoint as a Forking Master, wherein said Forking Master provides improved call services for an Address of Record (AoR) in the request message in the presence of forking.

11. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one means adapted to permit a user to assign said Forking Master using at least one of an INVITE and a MESSAGE.

12. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one means adapted to assign said Forking Master by updating said user endpoint during registration using at least one of an INVITE and a MESSAGE.

13. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one means adapted for declaring said Forking Master, after registration.

14. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one means adapted for a third party to assign said Forking Master.

15. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one means adapted for said network to trigger assignment of said Forking Master;

said system further comprising at least one means adapted for

said network to send an INVITE message to all user endpoints;

said user endpoints to send a response to said network, on receipt of said INVITE message;

said endpoints to take decisions regarding the assignment of said Forking Master.

16. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said endpoint includes at least one means adapted to query said Forking Master'"'"'s identity.

17. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication network informs said Forking Master'"'"'s identity to said endpoints.

18. A mobile terminal, said terminal comprising at least one means adapted for

said terminal to act as a Forking Master;

said terminal to invite a second terminal to act as said Forking Master;

said terminal to query identity of said Forking Master; and

said terminal to relinquish role of said Forking Master.