GB2433375A

GB2433375A - Caller ID in an internet protocol (IP) based communications network

Info

Publication number: GB2433375A
Application number: GB0525331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Morgan
Original assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-13
Filing date: 2005-12-13
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0525331D0

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method of sender identification in an IP-based communications system, and including step of distributing a sender identifier by way of a data bearer employed within the system. The sender identifier in the present invention performs a similar function to Caller Identification (CLID) in traditional circuit switched telecommunication systems. The sender Identifier may be an image, a sound or a video for example, and is associated with an Internet Protocol (IP) identifier of the user.

Description

1 2433375 Method and Apparatus for Identifying a Source of

Communication Data The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying a source of communication data and, in particular, to such a method and apparatus for identifying the calling, or sending, party to a communications exchange For current standard telecommunications networks arranged for the provision of circuit-switched voice calls, there is functionality, commonly referred to as caller-line-identification, which allows for a specific image, for example a photograph, or a particular audio ringtone, to be displayed/output, depending upon the incoming telephone number of the incoming call. Such an arrangement requires the receiving party to establish an association between such an image/photograph and/or audio ringtone and a likely incoming telephone number within the handset. Then, when the incoming telephone number matches that particular number, the image/photograph or audio able ringtone, associated therewith is displayed/output by the handset so as to indicate the incoming call and thereby immediately identify the sending/calling party However, limitations are experienced in that such for means of providing caller-identifying images and/or ringtones cannot be employed with Internet Protocol ([P) and, in particular, [P Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based applications/services While text-identifiers are known within the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC) enabler, and while, for example, PoC requirements of the OMA define that, Push-to-show services can distribute pictures to another user, such arrangements cannot simply be incorporated into a caller identification arrangement whether or not based upon the traditional approach adopted for circuit-switched voice calls The present invention seeks to provide for a method and related apparatus for identifying the source of communication data and having advantages over known such methods, apparatus and systems According a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sender identification in an IP-based communications system, and including step of distributing a sender identifier by way of a transport mechanism employed within the system All communications products, devices and methods that support the use of the transport mechanism and IP and/or IMS, can advantageously employ the concept of the present invention. In this manner, 1MS based services/applications can allow for a form of sender, or caller, identification within an IP based communications system Preferably, the method includes the step of distributing the sender identifier during device-management provisioning. As an alternative, the sender identifier can be distributed during session set-up and, as appropriate, during IMS registration The sender identifier can be sent as part of, or associated with, a control message or a user-plane message such as, for example, an IMS user-plane message.

Further, the sender-identifier can be distributed as part of the data exchange of an XML Document Managing system (XDM) exchange As used within the IP-based communications system, and in particular within the context of an IMS system, the sender identifier can comprise a multimedia identifier which can include sound, an image, animation or a video clip.

In particular, the data bearer can be employed as part of a so-called Presence, Push-to-X, standard email or a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system It should therefore be appreciated that the method can be provided so to allow for identification as sender in an IP/ilviS-based network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications device for use in an IP-based communications system and having means arranged for including a sender identifier within a transport mechanism employed by the system In particular, the device can be arranged for distributing the sender identifier by way of the transport mechanism during device-management provisioning It should be appreciated that, within the present application, reference to the transport mechanism generally means reference to the data bearer.

As an alternative, the device can be arranged for distributing the sender identifier during session set-up and, in particular, during IMS registration As with the method above, the device can be arranged for distributing the sender identifier as part of a control message or user-plane message or as part of an XDM exchange. Further, the communication device can be arranged to provide for a multimedia sender identifier, which can take the form of a sound file, animation, and/or video clip. Also, the data bearer employed by the system within which the communications device is arranged to operate can comprise part of a Presence, Push-to-X, email or VOIP system Thus, the communication device can be arranged for use with an IP/IMS-based network Yet further, the communication device can be arranged to provide for communication by way of the communications system According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of associating identifying data with a user of 1P-based communication system, including the step associating an IP identifier of the user with the said identifying data.

As will be appreciated from the following, the invention advantageously allows for the association of a multimedia representation with a particular user within an IP-based communication system Advantageously, the method includes the step of associating the identifying data with an IP address or a SIP address Alternatively, the identifying data can be arranged to be associated with a Uniform Resource Identifier (IJRI).

As will be appreciated, the identifying data can be associated with an identifier of any appropriate delivery mechanism for the particular service/application.

In a further example, an IMS presence enabler can be extended to include the identifying data, as indeed can the XDM system.

The method advantageously allows for the provision of an association with a multimedia identifier, which can include sound, animation, and/or a video clip.

Further, the method can be arranged for associating identifying data with a user of IP-based communication system arranged to provide for a so-called presence, Push-to-X, email or VoIP system As above, the IP communication system can comprise an IMS based network.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications device for use in an IP-based communications system and including means for associating identifying data with a user of the system, the said means for associating being arranged to associate the identifying data with an IP identifier of the user.

Preferably the device is arranged for associating the identifying data with an IP address or with an SIP address. As an alternative, the device can be arranged for associating the identifying data with a URI, or with any form of identifier or delivery mechanism for the service/application Still further, the device can be arranged for associating the identifying data with an IMS presence enabler, which can be extended to include the said identifying data.

As a further alternative, the communication device can be arranged for use with the XDM systems.

The device can be arranged for associating a multimedia identifier with the use of the system, the multimedia identifier comprising at least one of sound, animation and a video clip.

The communication device can be arranged for use with a network formed within presence, Push-to-X, email, or IP systems.

In particular, the communication device can be arranged for use with an IP/IMS-based network The present invention can also provide for an IP-based communications system provided for the distribution of an identifier of a user of the system, the system being arranged for distribution of the identifier by way of a data bearer thereof It should of course be appreciated that the 1P-based communication system can be arranged for use with communication devices as defined above The invention is described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawing which comprises a schematic representation of a communication system including an example of the present invention As will be appreciated, the present invention extends the caller line identification arrangement known within circuit-switched networks to service/applications employed within an IP-based communication system and, in particular, wherein such services and applications are employed within 1MS, SIP and IP domains A multimedia identifier such as, for example, a photograph, picture, sound file, animation or video data file is arranged to be created and distributed within the IP-based communication network according to the present invention and to be associated with a particular user as described further below As will be appreciated, the multimedia identifier can be sent at the time of data provisioning, or session set-up, or it can be attached to a control or user list.

The multimedia identifier can be associated with the caller, i e originator of the data file, that is the sender, for example through association with the SIP/IP address or URI of the sender.

As discussed above, the present invention allows for the use of a data-bearer within the IP-based system as the transport mechanism and this can achieve a particularly flexible employment of a multimedia identifier as selected by the particular user.

It should also be appreciated that, the multimedia identifier can be routinely selected and altered as required by the user so as, for example, to reflect the passing mood of the user at any particular moment As an example, it should be appreciated that because XML document arrangement system can be extended to allow a user, or group of users, to associate a multimedia identifier in order to uniquely identify them. The multimedia identifier may be changed and configured to support the interests of parties at any point in time. In addition, the present invention allows for association of an individuals' or a group of individuals', service identifier, and typically a URI with the multimedia identifier The XML contact-list or groups can be provisioned into a handset as required by way of device management, or can be established when a contacts-list for the groups are requested during session initiation at which time the XIVIL contacts-list or groups, are to be downloaded and cached in the handset.

Within this particular example, an lilviS Presence enabler can be extended to allow entities to issue multimedia identifiers themselves for either short-lived or long-lived sessions. Additionally, the IMS service user and control-plane messages can be used to send particular multimedia identifiers which, again, can be either used for short or long-lived sessions as determined by the originator Through the example of a PoC system the set-up and distribution of a multimedia identifier can occur as follows For example, during XML group list management, or XML contact creation/establishment or during session establishment when a SIP invites a control-plane, message is sent. As a further alternative, the multimedia identifier can be distributed during a call request, i e. for use on a plane message to indicate the multimedia identifier that is required and that is chosen to represent the sender who has taken the call and requires its identifier to be displayed to other users.

in this context, it will of course be appreciated that a particular user will send the "Floor Request" to the PoC server so as to request the floor so to provide for a talk burst, and that a call signal can be sent by the PoC server to all user equipment that requested the floor, and so as to indicate that the floor has been taken for the communication session Of course, a multimedia identifier can be linked to, and sent via XDM., and sent as part of the user/control plane messages or via any appropriate media-based protocol.

Referring now to the sole figure of the present application, there is illustrated in schematic form, part of and IP-based communication system 10 arranged for operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated within the IP-based communication system 10 is user equipment 12 which can be in the form of a mobile phone handset and which is arranged to access a selection of services 14 provided by the communication network, or which as an alternative could be accessible via the internet The aforesaid selection of services can be provided from a DM server 16, Presence Servers with XDMS 18, 20, shared XDMS server 22, Push-to-X server with XDMS and a VoIP server 26 The user equipment 12 is arranged to access this selection of services 14 by means of an Access Network 28 and S[P/IP Core 30 Within the illustrated example, the user equipment 1 2 can, either singly or in combination, comprise a DM client 32, a Presence User Agent 34, a Watcher User Agent 36, a XDM client 38 a Phone Book 40, a Push-to-X Client function 42, a VoIP client 44 and IMS application or service 46 as required.

Further user equipment can comprise a mobile phone handset (not shown) and its associated IP, URI, or IMS service/application identifier, and which according to the present invention can be arranged such that the identifier is associated with a particular multimedia identifier which is thought most appropriate to identify the user at any particular point in time.

The multimedia identifier selected, whether an image, video clip or audio file, can be used, stored and conveyed by one or more of the various IMS (IP/SIP) applications/services such as those listed as the services 14 and sent to the receiving user equipment as appropriate As appreciated, the flexibility of the present invention allows for a user repeatedly to select a multimedia identifier that is considered best represents the user at any particular point in time and the multimedia content, and its associated attributes, will then be associated with the user to identify himlherself during any subsequent long, or short-lived session/association In particular, the multimedia identifier/attributes can be associated with the user by way of the IP address, the T.JRI (S1P/IP) or any unique IIMS application/service identifier as discussed above.

Current and future IP-based and IMS applications allow for the user to convey this multimedia identifier at any point in time, in particular by way of the XDM exchange, IMS applications session initiation, via control-plane or via user-plane control messages and during device management provisioning The present invention can be provided in relation to any appropriate application/service such as Presence, Push-to-X, email, VoIP surfaces As appreciated, the present invention advantageously allows for the association of a multimedia representation with a user while also subsequently allowing that user to set preferences and send them to other users, as appropriate, when a communication session occurs between the two users Through the advantageous linking of the IMS URI, or other applicationlservice with a multimedia identifier, the advantageously offered by the present invention can be achieved, and further flexibility offered, advantageously within the IP domain.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A method of sender identification in an IP-based communications system, and including step of distributing a sender identifier by way of a data bearer employed within the system.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 and including distributing the sender identifier during device management provisioning.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sender identifier is distributed during one of session set-up and, during IMS registration.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sender identifier is sent as part of one of a control message or a user-plane message.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sender-identifier is distributed as part of the data exchange of an XML Document Managing system exchange.

6. A method as claimed in any one or more of Claims Ito 5, wherein the sender identifier comprises a multimedia identifier including at least one of a sound, image, video and animation file 7. A method as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the data bearer is employed as part of one of a Presentce, Push-to-X, email or one of VoIP system.

8. A communications network device for use in an IP-based communications system and having means arranged for including a sender identifier within a data bearer employed by the system.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 and arranged for distributing the sender identifier by way of a data bearer during device-management provisioning.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 8, and arranged such that the sender identifier is distributed during at least one of session set-up, IMS registration, as part of the control messaging or user-plane message or as part of an XDM exchange.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 8, 9 or 1 0, wherein the sender identifier comprises a multimedia sender identifier, comprising one of a sound file, image file, video of animation file.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, and arranged for use in relation to a method as claimed in Claim 7.

13. A method of associating identifying data with a user of an IP-hased communication system, including the step of associating an IP identifier of the user with the said identifying data.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 and including the step of associating the identifying data with one of an IP address or an SIP address.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 13 and including the step of associating the identifying data with a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

16. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein an 1MS presence enabler is extended to include the identifying data.

17. A method as claimed in Claim 13 and for one in relation to an XDM system.

18. A method as claimed in Claim 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 wherein the identifying data comprises a of a multimedia identifier.

19. A method as claimed in any one or more of in Claims 13 to 18, and including associating identifying data with a user of an IP-based communication system arranged to provide one of a so-called presence, Push-to-X, email or VoIP system.

20. A method as claimed in any one or more of Claim 13 to 19 and for use in a IMS network.

21. A communications device for use in an IP-based communications system and including means for associating identifying data with a user of the system, the said means for associating being arranged to associate the identifying data with an IP identifier of the user.

22. A device as claimed in Claim 21 and arranged for operation in accordance with the method of any one or more of Claims 13 to 20.

23. An IP-hased communications system provided for the distribution of an identifier of a user of the system, the system being arranged for distribution of the identifier by way of a data bearer thereof.

24. A system as claimed in Claim 23 and arranged for use with a communications network device as claimed in any one or more of Claims 8 to 12, and with a communications device as claimed in Claim 21 or22.

25. A method of sender identification in a TP-based communications system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

26. A communication device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

27. A method of associating identifying data with a user of an IP-based communication system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

28. An IP-based communication system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.