Granted Patent B1

US 7,432,951 · App. 10/825,548 · Granted Oct 7, 2008

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. A computational component for performing a method, the method comprising:

in response to an initiation of a telephony communication between a first communication endpoint and a second communication endpoint over a first communication channel, determining whether said second communication endpoint is video communication enabled, wherein said first communication endpoint is video enabled, wherein the first communication endpoint includes a telephone functionality that does not itself provide any video functionality, a video functionality that is separate from said telephony functionality, and a first integrator application, wherein the second communication endpoint includes a telephony functionality that does not itself provide any video functionality, a video functionality that is separate from said telephony functionality, and a second integrator application, wherein said determining whether said second communication endpoint is video communication enabled is performed by said first integrator application; and

in response to determining that said second communication endpoint is video enabled, said first integrator application initiating a video communication between said first communication endpoint and said second communication endpoint over a second communication channel, and said second integrator application activating a video device associated with the second communication endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said initiating a telephony communication comprises establishing audio telephony communications between said first communication endpoint and said second communication endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said initiating a telephony communication comprises dialing a telephone number associated with said second communication endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining whether said second communication endpoint is video communication enabled comprises contacting a central authority, wherein said central authority returns an address for video communication associated with a second communication endpoint that is video communication enabled.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said central authority comprises a central dial plan server.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said address for video communication comprises an Internet protocol address associated with said second communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second communication endpoint initiates said telephony communication.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first communication endpoint includes a general purpose computer and a telephone interconnected to said general purposed computer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first communication endpoint includes a general purpose computer running application programming implementing a soft telephone.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said computational component comprises a computer readable storage medium containing instructions for performing the method.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said computational component comprises a logic circuit.

12. A method for enabling video-telephony integration, comprising:

initiating an audio communication between first and second communication endpoints over an audio communication channel;

determining by a first integrator application running on said first communication endpoint whether both of said first and second endpoints are video capable; and

in response to determining that both of said first and second endpoints are video capable, establishing a video communication channel between said first and second communication endpoints, wherein said video communication channel is separate from said audio communication channel, and wherein the video communication capability of said second endpoint is activated by a second integrator application running on said second communication endpoint.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein an audio communication capability of said first communication endpoint is provided in connection with an audio application and wherein a video communication capability of said first communication device is provided in connection with a video application, and wherein said audio application is separate from said video application.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein an integrator application at least one of monitors and receives information from said audio application, and wherein said integrator application instructs said video application to provide video communication functions in response to said determining that both of said first and second communication endpoints are video capable.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said determining whether both of said first and second endpoints are video capable comprises contacting a communication authority.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said communication authority maintains data regarding video communication capabilities and addresses associated with communication endpoints.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein an integrator application establishes a data communication channel between said first communication endpoint and said communication authority.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein said video communication channel does not carry audio data.

19. A video and telephony system, comprising:

a video dial plan record;

a first communication device, including:

a first telephony device;

a first telephony application associated with said first telephony device;

a first video device;

a first video application associated with said first video device;

a first integrator application, wherein said first integrator application queries said video dial plan record in response to an indication from said first telephony application that a telephone communication has been established with a second communication device for information regarding video capabilities of said second communication device, and wherein said first integrator application causes said first video application to establish video communication with said second communication endpoint in response to receiving an indication from said video dial plan record that said second communication device is video capable, and wherein said telephone communication is carried by a channel that is separate from a channel carrying said video communication;

a second communication device, including:

a second telephony device;

a second telephone application associated with said second telephony device;

a second video device;

a second video application associated with said second video device;

a second integrator application, wherein said second integrator application activates said second video application in response to said first integrator application causing said first video application to establish video communication with said second communication endpoint.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

at least a first communications network;

a second communication device, wherein an audio communication channel is established between said first communication device and said second communication device over said first communication network, and wherein a video communication channel is established over one of said first communication network and a second communication network.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein a communication channel is established between said first communication and said video dial plan record.

22. An integrated video-telephony system, comprising:

communication network means;

first communication endpoint means including:

first means for supporting audio communications;

first means for supporting video communications;

first means for integrating operation of said first means for supporting audio communications and said first means for supporting video communications, wherein said means for integrating cause said first means for supporting video communications to establish a video communication channel to complement a separate audio communication channel;

second communication endpoint means, including:

second means for supporting audio communications;

second means for supporting video communications;

second means for integrating operation of said first means for supporting audio communications and said first means for supporting video communications, wherein said first means for integrating establishes said video communication channel to complement a separate audio communication channel, wherein said audio communication channel is established between at least two communication endpoint means that each have video communication capabilities, and wherein said second means for integrating activates said second means for supporting video communications in response to said first means for integrating establishing said video communication channel.

23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising:

means for storing communication device video capability data.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein said means for supporting audio communications comprise a telephony application and a telephone.

25. The system of claim 22 , wherein said means for supporting video communications comprise a video application, a video camera, and a video display.

26. The system of claim 22 , further comprising means for interconnecting to a communication network, wherein said audio communication channel and said video communication channel are established through said means for interconnecting to a communication network.

Assignments (18)