Method and apparatus for providing common intelligent value-added service protocols for accessing value-added services by all multimedia application protocols

Abstract

A novel method of and system for providing common value-added services for two-way point-to-point, multi-point-to-multi-point, point-to-multi-point, and/or multi-point-to-point real-time communications using various communication protocols. The present invention provides common value-added service protocols for receiving a request from a first of a multiple of communication protocol sources for a first value-added service using the first common value-added service protocol, and providing the requested first value-added service to the first communication protocol source using the first common value-added service protocol. The present invention further includes receiving a request from a second of the multiple communication protocol sources for the first value-added service using the first common value-added service protocol, and providing the requested first value-added service to the second communication protocol source using the first common value-added service protocol.

1 . A method comprising: 
 for a two-way multimedia communication: 
 providing a first value-added service to a first entity responsive to a first received request from said first entity, said first received request from said first entity made using a first common value-added service protocol, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicate information regarding a value-added service selected from a Policy service, a Security service, a Billing/Accounting service, and a Visitor/Home Location service, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicatively interface with H.323 protocol, H.310 protocol, and H.324 protocol.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing said first value-added service to a second entity responsive to a received request from said second entity, said received request from said second entity made using said first common value-added service protocol.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing said first value-added service to a second entity responsive to a received request from said second entity, said received request from said second entity made using said first common value-added service protocol, said first received request from said first entity and said received request from said second entity identical in format at an application layer level, said first received request from said first entity and said received request from said second entity different in format at a transport layer level.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a second value-added service to said first entity responsive to a second received request from said first entity, said second received request from said first entity made using a second common value-added service protocol, said second common value-added service protocol adapted to communicate information regarding a value-added service selected from a Policy service, a Security service, a Billing/Accounting service, and a Visitor/Home Location service.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a second value-added service to said first entity responsive to a second received request from said first entity, said second received request from said first entity made using a second common value-added service protocol, said second common value-added service protocol different from said first common value-added service protocol.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a second value-added service to said first entity responsive to a second received request from said first entity.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first entity is a user terminal.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first entity is a media gateway controller.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first entity is a gatekeeper.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first entity is a multi-point control unit.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first entity is a gateway.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first common value-added service protocol is a policy service protocol.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first common value-added service protocol is a directory service protocol.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first common value-added service protocol is a security service protocol.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first common value-added service protocol is a billing/accounting service protocol.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first common value-added service protocol is a visitor/home location service protocol.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said two-way multimedia communication is a point-to-point communication.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said two-way multimedia communication is a multi-point-to-multi-point communication.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said two-way multimedia communication is a point-to-multi-point communication.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said two-way multimedia communication is a multi-point-to-point communication.  
   
   
       21 . A machine-readable medium having stored therein a computer program, which when executed performs steps comprising: 
 for a two-way multimedia communication: 
 providing a first value-added service to a first entity responsive to a first received request from said first entity, said first received request from said first entity made using a first common value-added service protocol, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicate information regarding a value-added service selected from a Policy service, a Security service, a Billing/Accounting service, and a Visitor/Home Location service, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicatively interface with H.323 protocol, H.310 protocol, and H.324 protocol.  
   
   
   
       22 . A system comprising: 
 a value-added service server, said value-added service server configured to execute a computer program; and    said computer program, said computer program configured to: 
 provide a first value-added service to a first entity responsive to a first received request from said first entity, said first received request from said first entity made using a first common value-added service protocol, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicate information regarding a value-added service selected from a Policy service, a Security service, a Billing/Accounting service, and a Visitor/Home Location service, said first common value-added service protocol adapted to communicatively interface with H.323 protocol, H.310 protocol, and H.324 protocol.