Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a terminal in a data session

A method, comprising:

• sending by a first terminal a Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) echo request to at least one second terminal to ascertain whether the at least one second terminal is present in a data session;
• monitoring for a RTCP echo response from each of the at least one second terminal;
• and
• wherein sending the RTCP echo request further comprises generating an Application-Defined RTCP packet in RTCP (APP racket) having a predetermined subtype value in a subtype field, wherein the predetermined subtype value identifies the APP packet as being for a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) echo request that solicits a response from a recipient.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for sending a Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) echo request to at least one terminal to ascertain whether the at least one terminal is present in a data session;
• means for monitoring for a RTCP echo response from each of the at least one terminal;
• and
• wherein means for sending the RTCP echo request further comprises means for generating an Application-Defined RTCP packet in RTCP (APP packet) having predetermined subtype value in a subtype field, wherein the predetermined subtype value identifies the APP packet as being for a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) echo request that solicits a response from a recipient.

A processor readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions, when executed by the processor operable to:

• send a Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) echo request to at least one terminal to ascertain whether the at least one terminal is present in a data session;
• monitor for a RTCP echo response from each of the at least one terminal;
• and
• wherein the RTCP echo request further comprises an Application-Defined RTCP packet in RTCP (APP packet) having a predetermined subtype value in a subtype field, wherein the predetermined subtype value identifies the APP packet as being fix a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) echo request that solicits a response from a recipient.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured
• to receive, at a first terminal, a Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) echo request from a second terminal soliciting a RTCP echo response from the first terminal to ascertain whether the first terminal is present in a data session, wherein the RTCP echo request further comprises a first Application Defined RTCP packet in RTCP (APP packet) having a first predetermined subtype value in a subtype field, wherein the first predetermined subtype value identifies the first APP packet as being for a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) echo request that solicits a response from a recipient;
• and
• to send the RTCP echo response to the second terminal, wherein the RTCP echo response further comprises a second APP packet having a second predetermined subtype value in the subtype field, wherein the second predetermined subtype value identifies the APP packet as being for an RTP echo response;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor.