Patent ID: 6823364
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for distributing location information in an Internet Protocol (IP) network that comprises a first intelligent endpoint operably coupled to clients, wherein the first intelligent endpoint is a networked computer that satisfies a predefined set of criteria to qualify as an intelligent endpoint for distributing location information from any client to any other client or another intelligent endpoint in a network, wherein the predefined set of criteria require that each intelligent endpoint be Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based, and have a static IP address and an always available IP connection, the method comprising:registering, by a first one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint wherein the registering facilitates communications between the first one of the clients with other clients; storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client; registering, by a second one of the clients, with the first intelligent endpoint; storing, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client; automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the first client to the second client; automatically presenting, by the first intelligent endpoint, the location information of the second client to the first client; designating the first client as a second intelligent endpoint; and informing the second client that the first client is the second intelligent endpoint, wherein the second client can be simultaneously served by both the first and second intelligent endpoints.