Method and system for negotiation of media between communication devices for multiplexing multiple media types

Abstract

A method of negotiation of media between a source communication device and a destination communication device for multiplexing multiple media types on an IP transport address comprises the source communication device generating an offer message comprising an extension to the ICE protocol according to RFC 5245 to specify the IP transport address whereon the multiple media types can be multiplexed, wherein the offer message comprising the extension indicates support for both the multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types, and sending the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of negotiation of media between a source communication device and a destination communication device for multiplexing multiple media types on an IP transport address, the method comprising:
 the source communication device generating an offer message comprising an extension to an ICE protocol according to RFC 5245 to specify the IP transport address whereon the multiple media types can be multiplexed, wherein the offer message comprising the extension indicates support for both the multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types, and   sending the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device is executed before the source communication device receives information about a capability of the destination communication device to multiplex multiple media types on an IP transport address. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the offer message is received by the destination communication device that understands the extension, the destination communication device is enabled to respond to the source communication device with an answer message which specifies at least one multiplexed port to be used for the multiplexing, and,   when the offer message is received by the destination communication device that is unaware of the extension, the offer message is a valid offer message to the destination communication device such that the destination communication device is enabled to respond to the offer message with sending a valid response message to the source communication device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extension to the ICE protocol is used for initiating a “BUNDLE” SDP grouping mechanism for multiplexing different media types. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein support for both multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types is indicated to the destination communication device in a single message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extension comprises at least one candidate specifying an IP port to be used by the destination communication device for the multiplexing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the multiple media types are multiplexed on a single IP transport address and an IP port. 
     
     
         8 . The method  claim 1  wherein the offer message is formed as an SDP offer message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media for multiplexing multiple media types on an IP transport address are negotiated between the source communication device and the destination communication device in a single SDP offer/answer cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the destination communication device responds validly with sending a single message to the source communication device independently of whether the destination communication device supports the multiplexing of multiple media types on an IP transport address or not. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source communication device and the destination communication device are configured as peer-to-peer devices. 
     
     
         12 . A machine readable non-transitory medium containing a program which causes a source communication device to generate an offer message comprising an extension to an ICE protocol according to RFC 5245 to specify an IP transport address whereon multiple media types can be multiplexed, wherein the offer message comprising the extension that indicates support for both the multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types, and causes a source communication device to send the offer message from the source communication device to a destination communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The machine readable non-transitory medium of  claim 12 , wherein sending the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device is executed before the source communication device receives information about a capability of the destination communication device to multiplex multiple media types on an IP transport address. 
     
     
         14 . A source communication device for negotiating of media between the source communication device and a destination communication device for multiplexing multiple media types on an IP transport address, the source communication device comprising:
 an offer message generating unit configured to generate an offer message comprising an extension to an ICE protocol according to RFC 5245 to specify the IP transport address whereon the multiple media types can be multiplexed, wherein the offer message comprising the extension indicates support for both multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types, and   a sending unit configured to send the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device.   
     
     
         15 . A communication system comprising
 a source communication device containing an offer message generating unit configured to generate an offer message comprising an extension to an ICE protocol according to RFC 5245 to specify the IP transport address whereon the multiple media types can be multiplexed, wherein the offer message comprising the extension indicates support for both multiplexing and a non-multiplexing of the multiple media types, and a sending unit configured to send the offer message from the source communication device to the destination communication device, and   a destination communication device connected to the source communication device such that the destination communication device is able to receive messages from the source communication device.   
     
     
         16 . The communication system of  claim 15  also comprising a media gateway which is connected between the source communication device and the destination communication device.