Supporting enhanced media communications using a packet-based communication link

• US 8,873,561 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tighe, James R., Hahn, Paul S., Platt, Richard B., McFarland, Rowan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moutaouakil, Mounir
• Application Number:
  US10/810,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20050041603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,868 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.2, 370/352, 370/389, 370/464, 370/254, 370/255, 370/353, 370/354, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/251 Cut-through or wormhole routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/561 by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method for supporting communications includes establishing a packet-based audio communication link with a remote device and informing a local computing device of the audio communication link. A message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote device is received from the local computing device and tunneled in the audio communication link to the remote device. A tunneled response in the audio communication link is received from the remote device and forwarded to the local computing device. The response identifies the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote device.

Claims

1. A method for supporting communications comprising:

establishing, before a communication link between a local computing device and a remote computing device is established, a packet-based audio communication link between a local telephony device and a remote telephony device, wherein the local telephony device is coupled to the local computing device and the remote telephony device is coupled to the remote computing device;

informing the local computing device coupled to the local telephony device of the audio communication link;

receiving a message from the local computing device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device;

tunneling the message in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device;

receiving a tunneled response in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device; and

forwarding the response to the local computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the local computing device, whether the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include a particular enhanced media capability; and

communicating enhanced media packets to the remote computing device in response to determining that the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include the particular enhanced media capability.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the video packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises communicating the video packets in a second communication link to the remote computing device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving enhanced media packets from the remote computing device and automatically displaying, at the local computing device, at least one enhanced media window in response to receiving the enhanced media packets from the remote computing device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is an instant-messaging capability, the enhanced media packets are instant-messaging packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the instant-messaging packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

halting communications on the audio communication link; and

informing the local computing device of the halting of communications on the audio communication link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein halting communications on the audio communication link occurs after receiving an instruction from a user, the instruction selected from a plurality of options comprising hold, transfer, and mute.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio communication link uses Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).

10. A system supporting communications comprising:

a packet-based telephony device; and

a local computing device coupled to the telephony device;

wherein the telephony device is operable to;

establish, before a communication link between a local computing device and a remote computing device is established, an audio communication link with a remote telephony device;

inform the local computing device of the audio communication link;

receive a message from the local computing device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device;

tunnel the message in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device;

receive a tunneled response in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device; and

forward the response to the local computing device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the local computing device is further operable to generate the message, to receive the response, to determine whether the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include a particular enhanced media capability, and to communicate enhanced media packets to the remote computing device in response to determining that the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include the particular enhanced media capability.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the video packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises communicating the video packets in a second communication link to the remote computing device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the telephony device is further operable to receive enhanced media packets from the remote computing device and the local computing device is further operable to automatically display at least one enhanced media window in response to receiving the enhanced media packets from the remote computing device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is an instant-messaging capability, the enhanced media packets are instant-messaging packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the instant-messaging packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the telephony device is further operable to halt communications on the audio communication link and to inform the local computing device of the halting of communications on the audio communication link.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein halting communications on the audio communication link occurs after receiving an instruction from a user, the instruction selected from a plurality of options comprising hold, transfer, and mute.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the audio communication link uses Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).

19. An apparatus supporting communications comprising:

an interface operable to couple to a local computing device and a packet network; and

a controller coupled to the interface, the controller operable to establish, before a communication link between the local computing device and a remote computing device is established, a packet-based audio communication link with a remote telephony device, to inform the local computing device of the audio communication link, to receive a message from the local computing device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device, to tunnel the message in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device, to receive a tunneled response in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device, and to forward the response to the local computing device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is further operable to tunnel enhanced media packets between the local computing device and the remote computing device in the audio communication link.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a user interface operable to receive an instruction from a user, the instruction selected from a plurality of options comprising hold, transfer, and mute; and

wherein

the controller is further operable to halt communications on the audio communication link in response to the instruction and to inform the local computing device of the halting of communications on the audio communication link.

22. An apparatus supporting communications comprising:

an interface operable to couple to a packet-based telephony device; and

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor operable to receive a message from the telephony device identifying an audio communication link associating the telephony device with a remote computing device established before a communication link between the local computing device and a remote computing device is established, to generate a request for identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device, to receive a response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device, to determine whether the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include a particular enhanced media capability, and to communicate enhanced media packets to the remote computing device in response to determining that the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include the particular enhanced media capability.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the video packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises communicating the video packets in a second communication link to the remote computing device.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a user interface operable to display images; and

wherein

the processor is further operable to receive enhanced media packets from the remote computing device and to automatically display at least one enhanced media window using the user interface in response to receiving the enhanced media packets from the remote computing device.

26. A system supporting communications comprising:

a packet-based telephony device; and

a local computing device coupled to the telephony device;

wherein the telephony device is operable to;

establish, before a communication link between a local computing device and a remote computing device is established, an audio communication link with a remote telephony device;

receive a tunneled message in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the local computing device;

forward the message to the local computing device;

receive a response from the local computing device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the local computing device; and

tunnel the response in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device; and

wherein the local computing device is further operable to receive the message, to generate the response, to receive enhanced media packets from the remote computing device, and to automatically display at least one enhanced media window in response to receiving the enhanced media packets from the remote computing device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the enhanced media packets are video packets and the enhanced media window displays video images.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions, the instructions operable when executed to:

establish, before a communication link between a local computing device and a remote computing device is established, a packet-based audio communication link with a remote telephony device, wherein the local telephony device is coupled to the local computing device and the remote telephony device is coupled to the remote computing device;

inform the local computing device of the audio communication link;

receive a message from the local computing device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device;

tunnel the message in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device;

receive a tunneled response in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device; and

forward the response to the local computing device.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28, the instructions further operable when executed to:

determine, at the local computing device, whether the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include a particular enhanced media capability; and

communicate enhanced media packets to the remote computing device in response to determining that the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device include the particular enhanced media capability.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises tunneling the video packets in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the particular enhanced media capability is a video capability, the enhanced media packets are video packets, and communicating the enhanced media packets to the remote computing device comprises communicating the video packets in a second communication link to the remote telephony device.

32. A device for supporting communications comprising:

means for establishing, before a communication link between a local computing device and a remote computing device is established, a packet-based audio communication link with a remote telephony device, wherein the local telephony device is coupled to the local computing device and the remote telephony device is coupled to the remote computing device;

means for informing the local computing device of the audio communication link;

means for receiving a message from the local computing device, the message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device;

means for tunneling the message in the audio communication link to the remote telephony device;

means for receiving a tunneled response in the audio communication link from the remote telephony device, the response identifying the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote computing device; and

means for forwarding the response to the local computing device.