Multiple subscriber videoconferencing system

Abstract

A system, method, and device for use in videoconferencing. The method typically includes installing a videoconferencing services switch at an access point to an IP network, and registering a plurality of subscribers for videoconferencing services. Each subscriber typically has a plurality of endpoints. The method further includes receiving subscriber-specific settings to be applied to multiple videoconferencing calls from the plurality of endpoints associated with each subscriber. The method further includes storing the subscriber-specific settings at a location accessible to the switch, and configuring the switch to connect calls from the plurality of endpoints at each subscriber based on the corresponding subscriber-specific settings.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing videoconferencing services using videoconferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, each videoconferencing services switch adapted to be linked to at least one other videoconferencing services switch, the method comprising:
 receiving endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   establishing videoconferencing call connections for encrypted audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and   utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish videoconferencing call connections.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible to the videoconferencing services switch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing videoconferencing services using videoconferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, each videoconferencing services switch adapted to be linked to at least one other videoconferencing services switch, the method comprising:
 receiving endpoint registration and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   receiving real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   establishing videoconferencing call connections for audio and video media exchange between the call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints; and   utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish videoconferencing call connections.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise subscriber-wide settings that apply to all calls from a subscriber and user-specific settings that apply to a particular endpoint of the subscriber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible to the videoconferencing services switch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing videoconferencing services using video conferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:
 receiving call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   managing transfer of the real-time audio and video data streams between the videoconferencing service switches and subscriber IP networks; and   utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish a connection between the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise settings that apply to all calls. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are globally configurable. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible by the videoconferencing services switches. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies. 
     
     
         23 . A method for providing videoconferencing services using video conferencing services switches adapted for deployment across a global Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:
 receiving call control data from call origination and destination IP videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   receiving encrypted real-time audio and video data streams from the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints in subscriber IP networks;   managing transfer of the real-time audio and video data streams between the videoconferencing service switches and subscriber IP networks; and   utilizing subscriber-specific settings to establish a connection between the call origination and destination videoconferencing endpoints.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise settings that apply to all calls. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are globally configurable. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings comprise network address translation (NAT) settings. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, directing the videoconferencing calls from each of the endpoints to a closest global IP network access point. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, connecting at least one of the subscriber IP networks to the global IP network through a network address translation (NAT) device located in the subscriber IP network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, maintaining a repository of the subscriber-specific settings accessible by the videoconferencing services switches. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the subscriber-specific settings are selected from the group consisting of: calling privileges, encryption, bandwidth, priority, participation, and audio/visual restriction policies.