US6018360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of switching a call to a multipoint conference call in a H.323 communication compliant environment
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1998-09-09
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2018-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of switching a call to a multipoint conference call includes sending a message (201) from a first terminal (105-T1) to a gatekeeper (102) which provides address translation and control access to a shared network medium (101). The call is initially established as a point to point communication between first terminal (101) and a second terminal (105-TN) over shared network medium (101) while complying with H.323 standard. Message (201) contains a request for the multipoint conference call. The method furthermore includes selecting a multipoint control unit (104) connected to shared network medium (101) to allocate resources for the multipoint conference call, and then switching the call to the multipoint conference call via the allocated resources. Thereby, the initial call is switched to a multipoint conference call without interrupting the initial call.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall R. Stewart
- 👤 Qiaobing Xie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04N7/152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of switching a point to point call to a multipoint conference call in a H.323 communication compliant environment comprising the steps of: sending a message from a first terminal to a gatekeeper which provides address translation and control access to a shared network medium over which said point to point call is initially established between said first terminal and a second terminal, wherein said message contains a request for said multipoint conference call; selecting a multipoint control unit connected to said shared network medium to provide capability for said multipoint conference call; switching said point to point call to said multipoint conference call without interrupting said point to point call; sending a message from said gatekeeper to said second terminal informing said second terminal of said request.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of switching a point to point call to a multipoint conference call in a H.323 communication compliant environment comprising the steps of: sending a message from a first terminal to a gatekeeper which provides address translation and control access to a shared network medium over which said point to point call is initially established between said first terminal and a second terminal, wherein said message contains a request for said multipoint conference call; selecting a multipoint control unit connected to said shared network medium to provide capability for said multipoint conference call; switching said point to point call to said multipoint conference call without interrupting said point to point call; sending a message from said gatekeeper to said second terminal informing said second terminal of said request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of rejecting said multipoint conference call by said second terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of accepting said multipoint conference call by said second terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said selecting said multipoint control unit is by said gatekeeper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating to said multipoint control unit H.245 channel parameters associated with said point to point call before said switching said point to point call to said multipoint conference call step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said shared network medium is a local area network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of switching a point to point call to a multipoint conference call in a H.323 communication compliant environment comprising the steps of: establishing a communication between a first terminal and a multipoint control unit connected to a shared network to provide resources for said multipoint conference call, said point to point call is initially established over said shared network medium as a point to point communication between said first terminal and a second terminal, wherein said communication includes a request for said multipoint conference call and an acknowledgment of availability of resources for said multipoint conference call; sending a message from said first terminal to said second terminal informing said second terminal of the address location of said multipoint control unit on said shared network medium; exchanging messages between said second terminal and said multipoint control unit requesting and acknowledging information associated with said resources for said multipoint conference call; switching said point to point call to said multipoint conference call without interrupting said point to point call; wherein said exchanging messages between said second terminal and said multipoint control unit further includes information associated with H.245 parameters.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of switching a point to point call to a multipoint conference call in a H.323 communication compliant environment comprising the steps of: establishing a communication between a first terminal and a multipoint control unit connected to a shared network to provide resources for said multipoint conference call, said point to point call is initially established over said shared network medium as a point to point communication between said first terminal and a second terminal, wherein said communication includes a request for said multipoint conference call and an acknowledgment of availability of resources for said multipoint conference call; sending a message from said first terminal to said second terminal informing said second terminal of the address location of said multipoint control unit on said shared network medium; exchanging messages between said second terminal and said multipoint control unit requesting and acknowledging information associated with said resources for said multipoint conference call; switching said point to point call to said multipoint conference call without interrupting said point to point call; wherein said exchanging messages between said second terminal and said multipoint control unit further includes information associated with H.245 parameters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising a step of sending a message from said first terminal to said second terminal informing said second terminal of said request.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising a step of sending a message from said second terminal accepting said multipoint conference call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising a step of sending a message from said second terminal rejecting said multipoint conference call.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of terminating said communication.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said communication further includes communication of information associated with H.245 parameters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |