Mesh conferencing
A system for mesh conferencing using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling includes at least three endpoints communicatively coupled to each other via media paths. The media paths are for exchanging media communications between the at least three endpoints. At least one controller is communicatively coupled to each of the at least three endpoints via control paths separate from the media paths. The control paths are for exchanging SIP messages to setup the media communications between the at least three endpoints as a mesh conference. Upon establishment of the mesh conference, each of the at least three endpoints may be configured to send a media stream via one of the media paths to each of the others of the at least three endpoints and to receive a media stream via one of the media paths from each of the others of the at least three endpoints.
1. A method for establishing a mesh conference using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling, comprising:
establishing the mesh conference between a first endpoint, a second endpoint, and a third endpoint using SIP signaling by:
establishing a first call between the first endpoint and the second endpoint using the SIP signaling;
placing the first call on hold using the SIP signaling;
establishing a second call between the second endpoint and the third endpoint using the SIP signaling;
placing the second call on hold;
releasing the first call from hold;
sending a SIP REFER message with a Join parameter and a Mesh parameter from the second endpoint to the third endpoint; and
sending a SIP INVITE message with the Join parameter and the Mesh parameter from the third endpoint to the first endpoint;
wherein during the mesh conference:
the first endpoint receives separate media streams from the second endpoint and the third endpoint and mixes the media streams for output at the first endpoint,
the second endpoint receives separate media streams from the first endpoint and the third endpoint and mixes the media streams for output at the second endpoint, and
the third endpoint receives separate media streams from the first endpoint and the second endpoint and mixes the media streams for output at the third endpoint.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: after establishing the mesh conference between the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint using the SIP signaling, sending a SIP INVITE message from one of the first endpoint, the second endpoint, or the third endpoint to a fourth endpoint to establish a 4-way conference, wherein during the 4-way conference: the first endpoint sends a media stream to a conference bridge and receives a first mixed media stream from the conference bridge, the first mixed media stream including media streams from the second endpoint, the third endpoint, and the fourth endpoint, the second endpoint sends a media stream to the conference bridge and receives a second mixed media stream from the conference bridge, the second mixed media stream including media streams from the first endpoint, the third endpoint, and the fourth endpoint, the third endpoint sends a media stream to the conference bridge and receives a third mixed media stream from the conference bridge, the third mixed media stream including media streams from the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the fourth endpoint, and the fourth endpoint sends a media stream to the conference bridge and receives a fourth mixed media stream from the conference bridge, the fourth mixed media stream including media streams from the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first endpoint, the second endpoint, or the third endpoint is a telephone.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint are telephones.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the media streams include at least one of audio or video communications.
6. A method for joining a telephone call between a first endpoint and a second endpoint using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling, comprising:
sending a SIP INVITE message with a call feature parameter from a third endpoint to the second endpoint;
sending a SIP REFER message with a Join parameter, a Mesh parameter, and the call feature parameter from the second endpoint to the third endpoint; and
sending a SIP INVITE message with the Join parameter, the Mesh parameter, and the call feature parameter from the third endpoint to the first endpoint, wherein after joining the call:
the first endpoint receives a media stream from the second endpoint for output at the first endpoint;
the second endpoint receives a media stream from the first endpoint for output at the second endpoint; and
the third endpoint receives separate media streams from the first endpoint and the second endpoint and mixes the media streams for output at the third endpoint.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the feature parameter is a Monitor parameter for establishing a mesh conference that allows a user of the third endpoint to silently monitor the telephone call between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the third endpoint receiving the media streams from the first endpoint and the second endpoint without providing a media steam to either the first endpoint or the second endpoint.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the feature parameter is a Coach parameter for establishing a mesh conference that allows the third endpoint to send a media stream to the second endpoint but not to the first endpoint, the second endpoint receiving the media stream from the third endpoint and mixing it with the media stream from the first endpoint for output at the second endpoint.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the feature parameter is a Barge parameter that allows the third endpoint to barge in on the telephone call between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the third endpoint sending a media stream to each of the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the first endpoint receiving the media stream from the third endpoint and mixing it with the media stream from the second endpoint for output at the first endpoint, and the second endpoint receiving the media stream from the third endpoint and mixing it with the media stream from the first endpoint for output at the second endpoint.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the first endpoint, the second endpoint, or the third endpoint is a telephone.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint are telephones.
12. The method of claim 6 wherein the media streams from the first endpoint, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint include at least one of audio or video communications.