Distributed call server supporting communication sessions in a communication system and method

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer program manage communication sessions that include a plurality of portions. Different processors handle each portion of a communication session. The apparatus, method, and computer program transfer the communication session from one of the processors to another of the processors during the different portions of the communication session.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supporting a communication session between at least two communication devices, the communication session having a plurality of portions requiring different media processing functions, the system comprising:
 a plurality of processors, each processor having at least one respective port and being configured to perform a respective set of media processing functions to support a respective portion of the communication session; and   a controller configured to:
 detect a transition from a first portion of the communication session requiring a first set of media processing functions to a second portion of the communication session requiring a second set of media processing functions; 
 transfer processing of the communication session from a first processor configured to perform the first set of media processing functions to a second processor configured to perform the second set of media processing functions; and 
 transmit to at least one of the at least two communication devices an indication of a port of the second processor that the at least one of the at least two communication devices should begin using for the second portion of the communication session. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each processor of the plurality of processors has a respective plurality of ports. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the processors is configured to provide media processing required to support interactive voice response (IVR). 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the processors is configured to provide media processing required to support a conference bridge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a conductor configured to:
 receive a request associated with a communication session; and   provide the request to the controller.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the conductor, the controller and the plurality of processors comprise software processes executed by the system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the request comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message; and   the conductor represents a SIP service portal.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 multiple pluralities of processors;   a respective controller for each plurality of processors; and   a communication network interconnecting the multiple pluralities of processors.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each controller is associated with a respective address on the communication network, such that requests associated with communication sessions can be routed to a particular controller for processing by its respective plurality of processors using its respective address. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a first plurality of processors provides the same media processing functions as a second plurality of processors and is configured to serve as a backup for the second plurality of processors. 
     
     
         11 . A method of supporting a communication session between at least two communication devices, the communication session having a plurality of portions requiring different media processing functions, the method comprising:
 establishing the communication session using a plurality of processors, each processor having at least one respective port and being configured to perform a respective set of media processing functions to support a respective portion of the communication session;   performing a first set of media processing functions for the communication session by a first processor of the plurality of processors, the first processor being configured to perform the first set of media processing functions; and   transferring processing of the communication session from the first processor to a second processor of the plurality of processors, the second processor being configured to perform a second set of media processing functions; and   transmitting to at least one of the at least two communication devices an indication of a port of the second processor that the at least one of the at least two communication devices should begin using for the second portion of the communication session.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each processor of the plurality of processors has a respective plurality of ports. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein one of the processors is configured to provide media processing required to support interactive voice response (IVR). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein one of the processors is configured to provide media processing required to support a conference bridge. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communication session is established in response to receiving a request associated with a communication session. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the request, establishing the communication session and performing the media processing functions comprise executing software processes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the request comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising providing:
 multiple pluralities of processors;   a respective controller for each plurality of processors; and   a communication network interconnecting the multiple pluralities of processors.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each controller is associated with a respective address on the communication network, such that requests associated with communication sessions can be routed to a particular controller for processing by its respective plurality of processors using its respective address. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a first plurality of processors provides the same media processing functions as a second plurality of processors and is configured to serve as a backup for the second plurality of processors.