SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL (SIP) IDENTIFICATIONS (IDs) TO USER AGENTS

Abstract

A communications system includes a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) user agent. A server communicates with the SIP user agent and allocates an SIP ID for the user agent for subsequent communications using SIP. A database can be associated with the server and contain data relating to free SIP ID's that can be allocated to the SIP user agent and allocated SIP ID's.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of using a server and a database associated therewith containing data related to free Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ID's and allocated SIP ID's, the method comprising:
 determining a free SIP ID for allocation to a communications device;   moving the determined SIP ID to the allocated SIP ID's; and   returning the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's for re-allocation.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising determining when the communications device has completed a SIP communication session before returning the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising allocating a unique identifier for the communications device. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising allocating a SIP ID associated with an IP address, PIN number, or email address of the communications device. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the server is operative as a SIP registrar server. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the communications device comprises a portable communications device. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the communications device comprises one of a hardware or a software agent as a user agent. 
     
     
         45 . An electronic device comprising:
 a server and a database associated therewith containing data related to free Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ID's and allocated SIP ID's;   said server and database configured to
 determine a free SIP ID for allocation to a communications device, 
 move the determined SIP ID to the allocated SIP ID's, and 
 return the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's for re-allocation. 
   
     
     
         46 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server and database are configured to determine when the communications device has completed a SIP communication session before returning the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's. 
     
     
         47 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a unique identifier for the communications device. 
     
     
         48 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a SIP ID associated with an IP address, PIN number, or email address for the communications device. 
     
     
         49 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server is operative as a SIP registrar server. 
     
     
         50 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein the communications device comprises a portable communications device. 
     
     
         51 . An electronic device comprising:
 a server and a database associated therewith containing data related to free Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ID's and allocated SIP ID's;   said server and database configured to
 determine a free SIP ID for allocation to a portable communications device, 
 move the determined SIP ID to the allocated SIP ID's, 
 determine when the portable communications device has completed a SIP communication session, and 
 return the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's for re-allocation after determining when the portable communications device has completed the SIP communication session. 
   
     
     
         52 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a unique identifier for the communications device. 
     
     
         53 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a SIP ID associated with an IP address, PIN number, or email address for the communications device. 
     
     
         54 . The electronic device according to  claim 45 , wherein said server is operative as a SIP registrar server. 
     
     
         55 . A communication system comprising:
 a plurality of communications devices; and   a server and a database associated therewith containing data related to free Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ID's and allocated SIP ID's;   said server and database configured to
 determine a free SIP ID for allocation to a given communications device from among the plurality thereof, 
 move the determined SIP ID to the allocated SIP ID's, and 
 return the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's for re-allocation. 
   
     
     
         56 . The communication system according to  claim 55 , wherein said server and database are configured to determine when the given communications device has completed a SIP communication session before returning the moved SIP ID to the free SIP ID's. 
     
     
         57 . The communication system according to  claim 55 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a unique identifier for the given communications device. 
     
     
         58 . The communication system according to  claim 55 , wherein said server and database are configured to allocate a SIP ID associated with an IP address, PIN number, or email address for the given communications device. 
     
     
         59 . The communication system according to  claim 55 , wherein said server is operative as a SIP registrar server. 
     
     
         60 . The communication system according to  claim 55 , wherein said plurality of communications devices comprises at least one portable communications device.