End-point identifiers in SIP

A method of distinguishing a session endpoint for a communication session between a first endpoint associated with a user and a second endpoint in a network, comprising:

• receiving a Session Initiation Protocol compliant request at the second endpoint from the first endpoint, wherein the request comprises an endpoint identifier that:
• in combination with user information of a user of the first endpoint identifies the first endpoint uniquely over the network independently of an IP address of the first endpoint,
• is the same across a plurality of SIP sessions for the first endpoint,
• distinguishes the first endpoint from other endpoints associated with the user, and
• when a second user establishes a communication session from the first endpoint, a second combination of the endpoint identifier with user information of the second user distinguishes the communication session of the second user from the communication session of the first user;
• at the second endpoint constructing a response to the request;
• and
• transmitting the response to the request from the second endpoint to the first endpoint using a transmission address, wherein the transmission address comprises the end point identifier.

A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of identifying a session endpoint for a communication session between a first endpoint associated with a user and a second endpoint in a network, comprising:

• at the first endpoint generating an endpoint identifier wherein:
• a combination of the endpoint identifier with user information of the user associated with the first endpoint is unique within the network,
• the combination identifies the first endpoint independently of an IP address of the first endpoint,
• the endpoint identifier is the same across a plurality of SIP sessions for the first endpoint,
• the endpoint identifier distinguishes the first endpoint from other endpoints associated with the user, and
• when a second user establishes a communication session from the first endpoint, a second combination of the endpoint identifier with user information of the second user distinguishes the communication session of the second user from the communication session of the first user;
• and
• at the first endpoint constructing a Session Initiation Protocol compliant request for transmission to the second endpoint, wherein the request further comprises the endpoint identifier.

A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of distinguishing a session endpoint for a communication session between a first endpoint associated with a user and a second endpoint in a network, comprising:

• receiving a Session Initiation Protocol compliant request at the second endpoint from the first endpoint, wherein the request comprises an endpoint identifier that:
• in combination with user information of a user of the first endpoint identifies the first endpoint uniquely over the network independently of an IP address of the first endpoint,
• is the same across a plurality of SIP sessions for the first endpoint,
• distinguishes the first endpoint from other endpoints associated with the user, and
• when a second user establishes a communication session from the first endpoint, a second combination of the endpoint identifier with user information of the second user distinguishes the communication session of the second user from the communication session of the first user;
• at the second endpoint constructing a response to the request;
• and
• transmitting the response to the request from the second endpoint to the first endpoint using a transmission address, wherein the transmission address comprises the endpoint identifier.