Method and system to add video capability to any voice over internet protocol (Vo/IP) session initiation protocol (SIP) phone
View Patent ↗Systems and methods of configuring an add-on device to augment the capability of existing endpoint infrastructure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a video add-on device is configured to receive, augment or downgrade, and forward messages for an existing SIP audio-only phone. The video add-on device in this embodiment can receive messages from the existing SIP audio-only phone and augment the messages with information regarding the additional video capabilities being provided. The messages can then be forwarded to an infrastructure SIP Proxy/Registrar for further routing. From the perspective of the infrastructure SIP Proxy/Registrar and other network attached devices the outbound messages from the video add-on device appear as if they originated from the video add-on device, other devices will not be directly aware of the existing SIP audio phone providing its designed function. Utilizing devices similar to the disclosed video add-on device may allow incremental corporate network endpoint upgrades.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first add-on device, a message from an endpoint device wherein the message indicates support of a first set of one or more capabilities;
augmenting the message at the first add-on device to include information about a second set of capabilities, the second set of capabilities including an additional capability supported by the first add-on device, the additional capability not supported by the endpoint device;
altering attributes of the message to make the message appear to other devices that the message originated at the first add-on device;
altering control attributes of the message to be consistent with the included information; and
forwarding the augmented message toward its specified destination.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising video data.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising electronic whiteboard capabilities.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the endpoint device has been configured to identify the first add-on device as an outbound recipient of a data stream from the endpoint device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the endpoint device is an audio-only phone.
6. The method of claim 5 where the audio-only phone supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the endpoint device supports H.323 protocol.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the endpoint device is an audio-only phone.
9. A method comprising:
configuring attributes of a SIP endpoint device, the attributes related to identifying a SIP Proxy/Registrar server;
receiving, at a first add-on device, a message from the SIP endpoint wherein the message supports a first set of one or more capabilities;
augmenting the message at the first add-on device to include information about a second set of capabilities, the second set of capabilities including an additional capability supported by the first add-on device, the additional capability not supported by the SIP endpoint device;
altering attributes of the message to make the message appear to other devices that the message originated at the first add-on device;
altering control attributes of the message to be consistent with the included information; and
forwarding the augmented message toward its specified destination.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the SIP endpoint device is an audio-only phone.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising electronic whiteboard capabilities.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising video data.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the SIP endpoint device is an audio-only phone.
14. An add-on device comprising:
a network interface communicatively coupled to a network; and
a programmable control device communicatively coupled to the network interface and programmed to:
receive a message from an endpoint device wherein the message supports a first set of one or more capabilities and identifies a specific destination;
augment the message to include information about a second set of capabilities, the second set of capabilities including an additional capability supported by the add-on device, the additional capability not supported by the endpoint device;
alter attributes of the message to make the message appear to other devices that the message originated at the add-on device;
alter control attributes of the message to be consistent with the included information; and
forward the augmented message along the network toward its specified destination.
15. The add-on device of claim 14 wherein the add-on device supports the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
16. The add-on device of claim 14 wherein the add-on device supports the H.323 protocol.
17. The add-on device of claim 14 wherein the second set of capabilities comprises video data capabilities.
18. The add-on device of claim 14 wherein the second set of capabilities comprises electronic whiteboard capabilities.
19. The add-on device of claim 14 further comprising:
a video device for augmenting the capabilities of the endpoint device.
20. The add-on device of claim 19 wherein the video device comprises a video input device.
21. The add-on device of claim 19 wherein the video device comprises a video output device.
22. The add-on device of claim 14 wherein the programmable control device is further programmed to:
receive a second message, the second message identifying the add-on device as a specific destination;
process the second message to remove information about the second set of capabilities;
alter address information in the second message to indicate the endpoint as a specified destination;
alter control attributes of the second message to be consistent with the removed information; and
forward the processed and altered second message along the network toward the endpoint.
23. The add-on device of claim 22 wherein the second set of capabilities comprises video data capabilities.
24. The add-on device of claim 22 wherein the second set of capabilities comprises electronic whiteboard capabilities.