PLUG-AND-PLAY DEVICE FOR VIDEOPHONY APPLICATIONS ON PACKET-SWITCHED NETWORKS

Abstract

A device of a plug-and-play type, which can be integrated in a home network having at least one audio-video Media-Server device or else at least one audio-video Media-Renderer device. The device can be activated for selectively configuring parameters and devices for setting up audio-video calls for connection between the home network and a packet network, such as the Internet. Preferentially, the device is based upon UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play) technology and uses either a signaling protocol on IP packet network, such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and ITU-T H.323, or else mobile communications systems, such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The device is able to redirect audio-video streams in the context of a plurality of devices capable of reproducing them and/or to selectively acquire said audio-video streams from a plurality of devices capable of supplying them.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly in the course of the ensuing detailed description, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached plate of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of Universal Plug-and-Play architecture, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of setting up and terminating a call between two users, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a typical home scenario in which an IPSTB device is present, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of architecture according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of interaction between the devices present in the architecture of FIG. 4, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a functional diagram of a device present in the architecture of FIG. 4, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an example of interaction between external devices and devices present in the architecture of FIG. 4, according to one illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show three examples of cases of use, according to some illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A plug-and-play device for integration in a home network having at least one of an audio-video Media-Server device and an audio-video Media-Renderer device, the plug-and-play device comprising: first means for selectively configuring parameters and for setting up audio-video calls for connection between said home network and a remote terminal; andsecond means, coupled to the first means, for interfacing the plug-and-play device with the at least one of the audio-video Media-Server device and the audio-video Media-Renderer device.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device employs Universal Plug-and-Playtechnology.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first means is configured for using either a signaling protocol on an IP packet network, such as a Session Initiation Protocol and ITU-T H.323, or mobile communications systems, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second means is configured to perform at least one of: redirecting audio-video streams in the context of a plurality of devices capable of reproducing said audio-video streams; andacquiring selectively audio-video streams from a plurality of devices capable of supplying said audio-video streams.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means comprises a user agent for interfacing with a packet network or with a mobile communications system, such as UMTS.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said user agent supports a given set of formats and codings that can be used for setting up audio-video calls with said packet network or with said mobile communications system, such as UMTS.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein said at least one of the audio-video Media-Server device and said audio-video Media-Renderer device supports formats and codings included in said given set of formats and codings supported by said user agent, so that said formats and codings can be used in a transparent way in said audio-video calls with said packet network.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second means comprises a multimedia proxy server for interfacing with said at least one of the audio-video Media-Server device and said audio-video Media-Renderer device.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said multimedia proxy server comprises a communication module for communication between the remote terminal and the home network.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said communication module is configured for enabling dynamic change of the at least one of said audio-video Media-Server device and said audio-video Media-Renderer device.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is coupled to a control point, which is able to co-ordinate and synchronize behavior of the audio-video Media-Server device and the audio-video Media-Renderer device included in said home network.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein said control point, after having set up the audio-video call for connection between said home network and said remote terminal, is disconnected without interrupting said connection.

13. A computer-program product comprises portions of code that, when loaded into a memory of at least one computer, implements using said at least one computer, a method comprising: selectively configuring parameters and setting up audio-video calls between a plug-and-play device for a home network and a remote terminal; andinterfacing the plug-and-play device with at least one of an audio-video Media-Server device and an audio-video Media-Renderer device of the home network.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13 wherein the plug-and-play device is configured to use either a signaling protocol on an IP packet network, such as a Session Initiation Protocol and ITU-T H.323, or mobile communications systems, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems.

15. The computer-program product of claim 13 wherein the plug-and-play device comprises a user agent for interfacing with an IP packet network or with a mobile communications system, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).

16. The computer-program product of claim 13 wherein the plug-and-play device comprises a multimedia proxy server for interfacing with said audio-video Media-Server device and said audio-video Media-Renderer device.

17. A device operable to establish an audio-video connection between a home network and a remote terminal, the device comprising: a user agent having a set of formats and codings, and operable to interface with the remote terminal; anda multimedia proxy server operable to selectively interface destinations within the home network with the user agent.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the remote terminal includes a packet network or a mobile communications system.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the destinations within the home network include an audio-video Media-Server device operable to supply audio-video communication to the remote terminal via the user agent, and an audio-video Media-Renderer device operable to reproduce audio-video communication received from the remote terminal via the user agent.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the multimedia proxy server is operable to redirect the audio-video communication received from the remote terminal via the user agent to the audio-video Media-Renderer device.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the multimedia proxy server is operable to transmit the audio-video communication acquired from the audio-video Media-Server device to the remote terminal via the user agent.

22. The device of claim 19, further comprising a control point operable to synchronize operation of the audio-video Media-Server device and the audio-video Media-Renderer device.