Method and System to Add Video Capability to any Voice over Internet Protocol (Vo/IP) Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Phone
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 of supporting backward compatibility of networked endpoint devices comprising:
receiving, at an add-on device, a message from a first endpoint device directed to a second endpoint device wherein the message indicates support of a first set of one or more capabilities and support of a second set of one or more capabilities;
modifying the message at the add-on device by removing information about the 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 second endpoint device;
altering attributes of the message to make the message appear to other devices that the message originated at the add-on device;
altering control attributes of the message to be consistent with the removing of information; and
transmitting the modified message from the add-on device to the second endpoint device.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second endpoint device comprises an audio-only device.
3 . The method of claim 2 where the audio-only device supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second endpoint device supports H.323 protocol.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising video data.
6 . The method of claim 4 wherein the second endpoint device comprises an audio-only phone.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising electronic whiteboard capabilities.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first endpoint device is configured for identifying the add-on device as an outbound recipient of a data stream from the endpoint device.
9 . A method comprising:
receiving, at an add-on device, a message directed to a SIP endpoint wherein the message supports a first set of one or more capabilities and a second set of one or more capabilities;
modifying the message at the add-on device by removing information about the 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 SIP endpoint device;
altering attributes of the message to make the message appear to other devices that the message originated at the add-on device;
altering control attributes of the message in accordance with the removing of information; and
transmitting the modified message from the add-on device to the SIP endpoint device.
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 video data.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the SIP endpoint device is an audio-only phone.
13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the additional capability includes support for data streams comprising electronic whiteboard capabilities.
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, supports a second set of one or more capabilities, and identifies a specific destination;
modify the message to remove 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 a second endpoint device at the specific destination;
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 removal of information; and
transmit the modified message from the add-on device to the second endpoint device.
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 capable of augmenting the capabilities of one or more endpoint devices coupled to the network.
20 . The add-on device of claim 19 wherein the video device comprises a video input device.