Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system
A system, method, and device for use in videoconferencing. The method typically includes installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to an IP network, and registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services. Each subscriber typically has a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber. The method further includes storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch, and configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.
1. A videoconferencing services switch adapted for deployment in a global Internet Protocol (IP) network and to communicate with at least one other videoconferencing services switch across the global IP network, the videoconferencing services switch comprising:
a call control module capable of receiving call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks; and
a tunneling services module configured to receive real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints;
wherein the videoconferencing services switch is configured to process videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.
2. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise settings that apply to all calls.
3. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , wherein the tunneling services module is configured to receive encrypted real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.
4. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.
5. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.
6. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.
7. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , further comprising: a repository configured to store the subscriber-specific settings.
8. A method for providing videoconferencing services using videoconferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, each videoconferencing services switch adapted to be linked to at least one other videoconferencing services switch, the method comprising:
receiving endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;
establishing videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and
utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish videoconferencing call connections.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies.
15. A videoconferencing services switch adapted for deployment in a global Internet Protocol (IP) network and configured to communicate with at least one other videoconferencing services switch across the global IP network, the switch comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory device having instructions stored thereon;
wherein the switch is responsive to the instructions and configured to:
receive call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks; and
establish videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints according to subscriber-specific settings.
16. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , wherein the switch is configured to:
establish the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.
17. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber.
18. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the subscriber IP networks is connected to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.
19. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings.
20. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , wherein the videoconferencing services switch is capable of accessing the subscriber-specific settings.
21. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 15 , further comprising a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.
22. A method for providing videoconferencing services using video conferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:
receiving call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;
receiving real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;
managing transfer of the real-time audio and video data streams between the videoconferencing service switches and subscriber IP networks; and
utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish a connection between the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise settings that apply to all calls.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are globally configurable.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings.
26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point.
27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network.
28. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible by the videoconferencing services switches.
29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies.