Patent ID: 8059656

Claim:
A method of initiating a communications session using a modified Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) between an originating terminal and an answering terminal, the method comprising steps of: negotiating session requirements for the communications session, the negotiating including: sending an offer message having a modified SIP header comprising an indication that a fast session setup is sought, the offer message further comprising a list of all media capabilities available at the originating terminal and a number of media streams required by the originating terminal for each type of media capability for initiating the session; and enabling the answering terminal to select media capabilities from the list of all media capabilities available at the originating terminal provided in the offer message and in accordance with the number of media streams required by the originating terminal for each type of media capability; reserving resources at the answering terminal corresponding to the selected media capabilities; and answering the offer message by communicating the selected media capabilities to the originating terminal, wherein the originating terminal is enabled to release from reservation any unselected media capabilities.