Method and system for trusted contextual communications

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for allowing media context sensitive SIP signaling exchange and call establishment while denying or challenging any other session description protocol extension dialogs which might not be desired by a user. User client media policy preferences are defined, the user media policy preferences establishing the parameters for evaluating a media session request received by a user client. The user client media policy preferences are provided to a policy enforcement point device, the policy enforcement point device evaluating the media session request received by the user client and applying the user client media policy preferences to the media session request. A user client portal is utilized to gain access to a media policy database, the media policy database providing storage for user client media policy preferences.

1 . A method for providing trusted contextual communications on a communication network, the method comprising:
 evaluating at least one request for a media session with a user client at a policy enforcement device based on a context of the media session request and at least one user client media policy preference for the user client;   accepting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is compatible with the at least one client media policy preference; and   rejecting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is not compatible with the at least one client media policy preference.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one media policy preference is associated with the context of the media session. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the context of the request for the media session is a level of use, the level of use being one of a domain level, a group level and a user level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for the media session is an incoming request for a media session. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for the media session is an outgoing request for a media session. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising defining the at least one user client media policy preference by:
 accessing a media policy database; and   storing the at least one user client media policy preference at the media policy database.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein accessing the media policy database comprises accessing the media policy database using a user client portal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein defining the at least one user client media policy preference further comprises validating the at least one user client media policy preference. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein validating the at least one user client media policy preference comprises storing the at least one user client media policy preference in a domain trust table. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising providing the at least one user client media policy preference to the policy enforcement device from the media policy database. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the request for the media session. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying identity trust processing to the request for the media session. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising interrogating a session description protocol data packet of the request for the media session. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a token to a caller requesting the media session, the token enabling a media session connection. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy enforcement device comprises a session description protocol firewall. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accepting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is compatible with the at least one client media policy preference and rejecting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is not compatible with the at least one client media policy preference comprises signaling a session initiation protocol proxy device configured to establish connections between user clients. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein accepting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is compatible with the at least one client media policy preference and rejecting the request for the media session when the request for the media session is not compatible with the at least one client media policy preference further comprises establishing the requested media session at the session initiation protocol proxy device when the request for the media session is compatible with the at least one client media policy preference, and not establishing the media session at the session initiation protocol proxy device when the request for the media session is not compatible with the at least one client media policy preference. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a media type allowable at a domain level is voice media only. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a media type allowable at a group level includes more than one of voice, video and instant messaging. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a media policy preference allows web pushing and data collaboration at a user level only.