Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system
View Patent ↗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;
a tunneling services module configured to receive real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and
a policy engine capable of being configured to enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.
2. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 1 , 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.
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 6 , further comprising:
a repository of 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;
setting-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and
enforcing policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
setting-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the videoconferencing services switches direct the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point.
11. 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.
12. The method of claim 8 , 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.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings at each videoconferencing services switch.
16. 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, the memory device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the switch to:
receive endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;
set-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and
enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.
17. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the switch to:
set-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.
18. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 , 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.
19. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 , 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.
20. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.
21. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 16 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.
22. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 21 , further comprising:
a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.
23. 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, the memory device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the switch to:
receive call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;
set-up videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and
enforce policies on videoconferencing calls based on subscriber-specific settings.
24. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 , wherein the instructions further cause the switch to:
set-up the videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints.
25. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 , 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.
26. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 , 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.
27. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 26 where the NAT device is implemented as part of a firewall.
28. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings include network address translation (NAT) settings.
29. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are stored at a location accessible to the videoconferencing services switch.
30. The videoconferencing services switch of claim 29 , further comprising:
a repository of the subscriber-specific settings.