System and method for providing unified communications and collaboration (ucc) connectivity between incompatible systems

Abstract

An improved system and method are disclosed for enabling unified communications and collaboration (UCC) communications between incompatible communication systems. For example, the method may include using a universal UCC (U2C2) gateway in a first system to establish a connection with a server in a second system. The U2C2 gateway mimics a behavior defined for use within the second system when communicating with the server in order to be compatible with the second system. The U2C2 gateway notifies a multipoint control unit (MCU) within the first system of the connection. The MCU manages the UCC session and recognizes the U2C2 gateway as the source and destination for communications corresponding to the connection. The U2C2 gateway normalizes media received from the second system for compatibility with the first system before sending the media to the MCU for the UCC session. The U2C2 gateway also normalizes media received from the MCU for compatibility with the second system before sending the media to the second system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for enabling communications between incompatible communication systems, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a universal unified communications and collaboration (U2C2) gateway in a first system, a request originating from a first endpoint in the first system, wherein the request invites a second endpoint in a second system that is incompatible with the first system into a unified communications and collaboration (UCC) session with the first endpoint;   establishing, by the U2C2 gateway, a connection with a server in the second system in order to communicate with the second endpoint, wherein the U2C2 gateway uses a plurality of protocols and behaviors defined for use by the second system when communicating with the server in order to make the first system appear to be compatible with the second system;   notifying, by the U2C2 gateway, a multipoint control unit (MCU) within the first system of the connection, wherein the MCU manages the UCC session and wherein the U2C2 gateway is recognized by the MCU as a source and a destination for communications corresponding to the second endpoint in the UCC session;   normalizing, by the U2C2 gateway, media received from the second endpoint via the server for compatibility with the first system before sending the media to the MCU for the UCC session; and   normalizing, by the U2C2 gateway, media received from the MCU for compatibility with the second system before sending the media to the second endpoint via the server.