Methods for establishing peer-to-peer communications using distributed call ledgers
An example method of blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer communications is provided. The method is implemented in a communications system employing a peer-to-peer call network to provide communications capabilities between endpoints (nodes) of the call network. The system supports a distributed ledger system which enables the propagation of signaling data to initiate communications between nodes and for recording call data to provide an open, tamper-resistant log of activity on the network. Further, the system supports decentralized applications executable at nodes of the call network to customize call handling based on user preferences. In particular, the system may further support a distributed file system associated with the call network to store internal state data of the decentralized applications. The decentralized applications may thus be executed on individual, relevant nodes of the call network (i.e. relevant to the communications channel). Further, the decentralized applications provide customizable, programmable call handling management within the system.
1. A method at a source node in a peer-to-peer call network, the method comprising:
generating an initiation request to initiate a communications channel between the source node and a destination node in the peer-to-peer call network, the initiation request including signaling data for the source node to allow the destination node to establish a signaling channel;
in response to generating the initiation request, obtaining, from a distributed file network, internal state data for the source node, the internal state data defining call control logic for the source node;
triggering a decentralized application to manage the communications channel;
committing the initiation request as a transaction to a local copy of a distributed call ledger stored at the source node;
broadcasting the transaction to the peer-to-peer call network to update the distributed call ledger to propagate the transaction to the destination node; and
when the signaling channel between the source node and the destination node has been established, establishing a peer-to-peer media channel between the source node and the destination node, wherein the signaling channel and the media channel form the communications channel between the source node and the destination node; and
managing, via the decentralized application, the call control logic of the communications channel for the source node based on the internal state data.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a termination request to terminate the communications channel between the source node and the destination node, the termination request configured to trigger the destination node to terminate the signaling channel;
committing the termination request as a further transaction to the local copy of the distributed call ledger stored at the source node;
broadcasting the further transaction to the peer-to-peer call network to update the distributed call ledger to propagate the further transaction to the destination node; and
when the signaling channel has been terminated, terminating the media channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
requesting, from a distributed hash table stored on the peer-to-peer call network, an identifier of the destination node; and
sending, with the initiation request, an initiation signal to the peer-to-peer call network to be propagated to the destination node, the initiation signal to trigger a corresponding decentralized application at the destination node based on the identifier of the destination node.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to generating the initiation request, obtaining an identifier for a user of the source node;
requesting, from a distributed identity ledger, an identity key for the user of the source node; and
verifying, based on the identifier and the identity key, an identity of the user.
5. A method in a destination node in a peer-to-peer call network, the method comprising:
receiving, from the peer-to-peer call network, an update for a distributed call ledger stored at the destination node;
extracting, from the update, an initiation transaction including an initiation request to initiate a communications channel between a source node and the destination node, the initiation request including signaling data for the source node;
in response to the initiation request, obtaining from a distributed file network, internal state data for the destination node, the internal state data defining call control logic for the destination node;
triggering a decentralized application to manage the communications channel;
establishing a signaling channel between the source node and the destination node based on the signaling data for the source node; and
establishing a peer-to-peer media channel between the source node and the destination node, wherein the signaling channel and the media channel form the communications channel; and
managing, via the decentralized application, the call control logic of the communications channel for the destination node based on the internal state data.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
responsive to establishing the communications channel, committing a channel transaction to a local copy of the distributed call ledger stored at the destination node, the channel transaction including an indication of the established communications channel; and
broadcasting the channel transaction to the peer-to-peer call network to update the call ledger.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving a termination request to terminate the communications channel between the source node and the destination node; and
responsive to receiving the termination request, terminating the signaling channel and the media channel.
8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving, with the initiation request, an initiation signal to trigger the decentralized application at the destination node; and
wherein the decentralized application is configured to control the destination node to establish the signaling channel between the source node and the destination node based on the signaling data for the source node.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a client node, wherein execution of the instructions configures the processor to:
generate an outgoing initiation request to initiate a first communications channel between the client node and a first end node, the outgoing initiation request including signaling data for establishing a first signaling channel between the client node and the first end node;
commit the outgoing initiation request as a transaction to a local copy of a distributed call ledger stored at the source node;
broadcast the transaction to a peer-to-peer call network of the client node to propagate the outgoing initiation request to the first end node;
in response to the initiation request, obtain from a distributed file network, internal state data for the client node, the internal state data defining call control logic for the client node;
triggering a decentralized application to manage the communications channel; and
establish a first media channel between the client node and the first end node, the first media channel and the first signaling channel forming the first communications channel; and
manage, via the decentralized application, the call control logic of the communications channel for the client node based on the internal state data.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to:
receive, from the peer-to-peer call network, an update for the call ledger;
extracting, from the update, an initiation transaction including an incoming initiation request to initiate a second communications channel between the client node and a second end node;
responsive to the incoming initiation request, establishing a second signaling channel between the client node and the second end node based on signaling data for the second end node from the initiation request; and
establishing a second media channel between the client node and the second end node, the second media channel and the second signaling channel forming the second communications channel.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to, responsive to receiving a termination request to terminate the second communications channel between the client node and the second end node:
terminate the second signaling channel; and
terminate the second media channel.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to:
commit transactions indicative of a status of the first communications channel to a local copy of a distributed call ledger stored at the client node; and
broadcast the transaction to update the call ledger.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to trigger a billing event based on the transactions indicative of the status of the first communications channel.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to, prior to generating the outgoing initiation request;
obtain an identifier for a user;
obtain, from a distributed identity ledger, a public key associated with the identifier;
send a token for signing by the user; and
verify the signed token based on the public key.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further configures the processor to, to manage the call control logic:
retrieve, from a distributed hash table, node identities of the distributed file network corresponding to nodes storing the internal state data for the client node;
obtain, from the nodes corresponding to the node identities, the internal state data for the client node; and
execute the decentralize application at the client node based on the internal state data for the client node.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the call control logic comprises one or more of; voice controls and call wafting configurations.