Patent ID: 8582559

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing and enhancing communication streams in a VoIP environment, the method comprising the steps of: establishing, with a control module that supports a plurality of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) features, a communication stream between a calling unit and a called unit; the control module directing the communication stream to pass bi-directionally through at least one relay module that supports the plurality of SIP features; managing, from the control module, the communication stream passing through the at least one relay module, the managing of the communication stream performed by the control module by sending directives using SIP to the at least one relay module to condition the communications stream at the at least one relay module with at least one feature of the plurality of SIP features which is not supported by at least one of the called unit and the calling unit; and providing an enhanced service which is not supported by the at least one of the calling unit and the called unit to the communication stream at the at least one relay module using SIP, wherein the enhanced service is at least one of a call recording, an application of global policy information, and an application of an enhanced speech processing technology, and wherein the control module establishes the communications stream, after determining the called unit is available in response to a communications invitation received from the calling unit identifying the called unit, by providing port and codec information of the at least one relay module.