System, apparatus, and method for providing multi-application support using a single protocol stack

A method for directing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages over a network, comprising:

• generating at least one SIP registration message at a terminal concurrently operating a plurality of SIP-related applications, wherein the SIP registration message includes at least a user address of record, and one or more contact headers each including at least a contact Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the terminal and an application identifier of one of the plurality of SIP-related applications;
• transmitting the SIP registration message to a SIP registrar on the network to register the terminal and corresponding SIP-related applications;
• receiving at the terminal at least one incoming message at the contact URI of the terminal, wherein the incoming message includes the application identifier of one of the SIP-related applications operating at the terminal;
• and
• forwarding the incoming message to the SIP-related application identified by the application identifier received via the incoming message.

A method for directing messages in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communications over a network, comprising:

• generating at least one SIP registration message at a terminal concurrently operating a plurality of SIP-related applications, wherein the SIP registration message includes at least a user address of record, and one or more contact headers each including at least a contact Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the terminal and an application identifier of one of the plurality of SIP-related applications;
• transmitting the SIP registration message to a SIP registrar on the network to register the terminal and corresponding SIP-related applications;
• creating a binding of the user address of record with the contact URI and application identifier at the SIP registrar;
• retrieving the binding at a SIP proxy upon receipt of a message from a network element and targeted for the user address of record, and forwarding the message including the application identifier to the contact URI discovered via the binding;
• and
• receiving the message at the terminal, and forwarding the message to the SIP-related application identified by the application identifier.

A terminal operable on a network, comprising:

• a processing module;
• a plurality of applications associated with a signaling protocol;
• and
• a signaling protocol stack operable via the processing module and configured to register the terminal by generating and transmitting to a registrar registration messages each including at least a user address of record, a contact address, and an application identifier corresponding to one of the plurality of applications, and to receive and route incoming messages from the network that identify the user address of record to the application corresponding to the application identifier included with the registered contact address of the incoming message and associated with the user address of record.

A system for managing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message transfers over a network, comprising:

• a SIP registrar for receiving registration requests and creating bindings of addresses of record and contact addresses;
• at least one SIP-enabled terminal coupled to the network, the SIP-enabled terminal comprising:
• a processing module;
• a plurality of SIP-related applications;
• and
• a SIP stack operable via the processing module and configured to register the terminal by generating and transmitting SIP registration messages to the SIP registrar, wherein each SIP registration message includes at least a SIP address of record, a contact address and an application identifier corresponding to one of the plurality of SIP-related applications, and wherein the SIP stack is further configured to receive and route incoming messages from the network that identify the SIP address of record to the SIP-related application corresponding to the application identifier included with the registered contact address of the incoming message and associated with the SIP address of record.

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for directing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages over a network by performing steps comprising:

• generating at least one SIP registration message at a terminal concurrently operating a plurality of SIP-related applications, wherein the SIP registration message includes at least a user address of record, and one or more contact headers each including at least a contact Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the terminal and an application identifier of one of the plurality of SIP-related applications;
• transmitting the SIP registration message to a SIP registrar on the network to register the terminal and corresponding SIP-related applications;
• receiving at the terminal at least one incoming message at the contact URI of the terminal, wherein the incoming message includes the application identifier of one of the SIP-related applications operating at the terminal;
• and
• forwarding the incoming message to the SIP-related application identified by the application identifier received via the incoming message.