Abstract: A technique for merging conference session dialogs allows presenting content and media streams from a non-Skype endpoint to a Skype multipoint control unit (MCU), so that they present a single caller in a conference with both media and content. A signaling adapter intercepts session dialogs and merges or other modifies. When adding the non-Skype endpoint, requests from a content server are dropped while requests from the MCU handling non-Skype media streams are forwarded to the Skype MCU. Responses to the request from the MCU are also forwarded to the content server. When creating subscription dialogs, requests from the content server are modified to appear as if they came from the MCU, while responses go back to the proper requester. Conference notifications are forked to go to both the content server and the MCU. Because Skype uses separate media and content dialogs, merging of audio/video and content dialogs may be omitted. By merging dialogs, user experience is improved.

Abstract: A technique for merging conference session dialogs allows presenting content and media streams from a non-Skype endpoint to a Skype multipoint control unit (MCU), so that they present a single caller in a conference with both media and content. A signaling adapter intercepts session dialogs and merges or other modifies. When adding the non-Skype endpoint, requests from a content server are dropped while requests from the MCU handling non-Skype media streams are forwarded to the Skype MCU. Responses to the request from the MCU are also forwarded to the content server. When creating subscription dialogs, requests from the content server are modified to appear as if they came from the MCU, while responses go back to the proper requester. Conference notifications are forked to go to both the content server and the MCU. Because Skype uses separate media and content dialogs, merging of audio/video and content dialogs may be omitted. By merging dialogs, user experience is improved.

Abstract: SIP INVITE messages received at a load balancer are returned as SIP Redirect messages which are addressed to an access director and include additional information, such as a tracing token and a cryptographic token. When the access director receives the redirected SIP INVITE, the access director analyzes the included cryptographic token and passes the SIP INVITE if the cryptographic token is correct. This provides the needed access control function to allow the access directors to be directly accessed by the endpoints, rather than funneling all communications through the load balancer.

Abstract: A non-Skype multipoint control unit (MCU) is configured to operate differently for handling incoming streams from endpoints and outgoing streams from a Skype multipoint control unit. When passing incoming streams from non-Skype endpoints to a Skype conference, the non-Skype MCU acts as a gateway, passing the streams to Skype MCU as if they were coming from Skype endpoints. When receiving outgoing streams from Skype MCU, the non-Skype MCU acts as an MCU, transcoding, compositing, and scaling streams into continuous presence layouts for delivery to the non-Skype endpoints. Thus, non-Skype endpoints can participate in Skype conferences as if they were Skype endpoints, allowing a better user experience for both Skype endpoints and non-Skype endpoints.

Abstract: SIP INVITE messages received at a load balancer are returned as SIP Redirect messages which are addressed to an access director and include additional information, such as a tracing token and a cryptographic token. When the access director receives the redirected SIP INVITE, the access director analyzes the included cryptographic token and passes the SIP INVITE if the cryptographic token is correct. This provides the needed access control function to allow the access directors to be directly accessed by the endpoints, rather than funneling all communications through the load balancer.

Abstract: A technique for merging conference session dialogs allows presenting content and media streams from a non-Skype endpoint to a Skype multipoint control unit (MCU), so that they present a single caller in a conference with both media and content. A signaling adapter intercepts session dialogs and merges or other modifies. When adding the non-Skype endpoint, requests from a content server are dropped while requests from the MCU handling non-Skype media streams are forwarded to the Skype MCU. Responses to the request from the MCU are also forwarded to the content server. When creating subscription dialogs, requests from the content server are modified to appear as if they came from the MCU, while responses go back to the proper requester. Conference notifications are forked to go to both the content server and the MCU. Because Skype uses separate media and content dialogs, merging of audio/video and content dialogs may be omitted. By merging dialogs, user experience is improved.

Abstract: A non-Skype multipoint control unit (MCU) is configured to operate differently for handling incoming streams from endpoints and outgoing streams from a Skype multipoint control unit. When passing incoming streams from non-Skype endpoints to a Skype conference, the non-Skype MCU acts as a gateway, passing the streams to Skype MCU as if they were coming from Skype endpoints. When receiving outgoing streams from Skype MCU, the non-Skype MCU acts as an MCU, transcoding, compositing, and scaling streams into continuous presence layouts for delivery to the non-Skype endpoints. Thus, non-Skype endpoints can participate in Skype conferences as if they were Skype endpoints, allowing a better user experience for both Skype endpoints and non-Skype endpoints.