초록 ▼

In a telecommunications system (8) that comprises communications endpoints (14-15), communications resources (18-20), a communications server (10) that includes a media manager (21), and a network (12) that interconnects them all, a first endpoint (14) provides the media manager with an offer of a c

In a telecommunications system (8) that comprises communications endpoints (14-15), communications resources (18-20), a communications server (10) that includes a media manager (21), and a network (12) that interconnects them all, a first endpoint (14) provides the media manager with an offer of a connection to a second endpoint (15) that specifies attributes desired for the connection by the first endpoint. The media manager registers the request and forwards it to the second endpoint. When the second endpoint responds with an acceptance of the connection that specifies attributes desired for the connection by the second endpoint, the media manager compares the registered offer with the received acceptance to determine any resources that are needed to bridge any differences between their attributes and to effect the connection. The media manager then marshals any needed resources for the connection, sends a modified acceptance to any marshaled resource telling it the address of the second endpoint to connect to, sends a modified acceptance to the first endpoint that tells it the address of any marshaled resource, or of the second endpoint in the absence of any marshaled resource, to connect to, and leaves it up to the endpoints and marshaled resources to interact with the network to effect the connection through the network. The media manager can therefore provide centralized call control for substantially any network, and can treat all networks generically and leave it up to the endpoints to deal with the particulars of any specific network. Communications between multiple such telecommunications systems (8, 9) can also be effected thereby.

대표청구항 ▼

[ The invention claimed is:] [12.] A method of managing communications connections in a telecommunications system that includes a plurality of communications endpoints, a set of communications resources, a communications medium interconnecting the endpoints and the resources, and a communications-co

[ The invention claimed is:] [12.] A method of managing communications connections in a telecommunications system that includes a plurality of communications endpoints, a set of communications resources, a communications medium interconnecting the endpoints and the resources, and a communications-connection manager, the method comprising the steps of:sending an offer of a communication between a first and a second endpoint and attributes of the communication desired by the first endpoint from the first endpoint to the manager;in response to receipt of the offer by the manager, sending the offer from the manager to the second endpoint;in response to receipt of the offer by the second endpoint, sending an acceptance of the offer and attributes of the communication desired by the second endpoint from the second endpoint to the manager;in response to receipt of the acceptance by the manager, determining at the manager any resource that is required to bridge any differences between the attributes of the offer and the attributes of the acceptance and to effect the communication;in response to the determination, marshaling any determined resource for the communication by the manager;in response to the marshaling, sending instructions for one of the first endpoint and the second endpoint to set up the communication between the one endpoint and another of the first endpoint and the second endpoint through any marshaled resources from the manager to the one endpoint; andin response to receipt of the instructions by the one endpoint, the one endpoint setting up the communication between the first and second endpoints through any marshaled resource on the medium according to the received instructions.