METHOD FOR EXTENDING THE ENDPOINT OF AN ACTIVE SESSION OVER AN AD-HOC CONNECTION TO A LOCAL DEVICE

摘要

A method for extending session endpoints in an ad-hoc network environment. An endpoint device (114) having an active session with a correspondent node (100) first performs device discovery (610)to determine local devices (116) within its coverage area and the capability of those devices (612). These local devices then exchange session descriptions (629) with the endpoint device (114). If the current session may be supported by one of the local devices, the endpoint device (114), responsive to a command from an user, transfers the session endpoint to the local device (622) and the endpoint device (114) acts as a proxy for the local device (116) in the session (624). Optionally, if the local device (116) has a path to the correspondent node (119) that is independent of the path through the endpoint device (114), it establishes the session along this path (626) and then signal the endpoint node (114) to terminate its session (630).