Method and apparatus for managing parties to a multipoint conference using digital techniques

• US 20010053212A1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Mark, Jeffrey, Kelley, Kalon, Grosen, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,771,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/327 in the session layer [OSI layer 5]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

An improved technique of managing a multiparty conference of a digital domain such as the Internet is disclosed. A party may invite other party(ies) to split the conference into two conferences. Parties invited establish communications with all other invited parties to create the second conference. Also, an improved technique for preventing collisions of messages in a multiparty conference of a digital domain such as the Internet is disclosed. A deference algorithm is provided that prioritizes messages.

Claims

1. A method of splitting parties to a first conference implemented over a digital network into the first conference and a second conference, the first conference including a plurality of conference members, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a split invitation from a conference member to another conference member, the conference member receiving the split invitation being denoted a splitting member, the split invitation including information indicative of any other splitting member;

initiating a contact from the splitting member to any other splitting member indicated in the invitation; and

transmitting a signal indicative of creation of the second conference from each splitting member that decides to accept the invitation.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the step of transmitting a signal includes transmitting an approval response from each splitting member that accepts the invitation to every other splitting member that accepts the invitation.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein the step of transmitting a signal includes transmitting an acknowledgement in response to the approval response.

4. The method of

claim 2

wherein the step of transmitting a signal includes transmitting a departing message to each splitting member that does not accept the invitation and to each conference member that was not invited.

5. The method of

claim 1

further comprising the step of transmitting a signal from each conference member that does not accept the invitation to each splitting member.

6. Digital conferencing apparatus for splitting a conference taking place over a packet data network, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a split invitation from a splitter member, the splitter member already being a member in the conference, the split invitation specifying a set of members of the conference;

means for sending triggered invites to each of the members specified in the split invitation; and

means for receiving messages from each of the members specified in the split invitation indicating whether they accept the split invitation.

7. A method of splitting an ongoing conference taking place over a packet data network into a first and second conference comprising the steps of:

sending a split invitation over a packet switched network from a split inviting member to a conference member, the invitation specifying at least one other invited conference member; and

sending messages between the invited conference members to establish the second conference.

8. A method for preventing message collisions in a distributed multipoint conference comprising the steps of

setting a deference algorithm;

and

applying the deference algorithm to prioritize messages between parties.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein the deference algorithm prioritizes a message according to a uniform resource identifier of the message.

10. The method of

claim 9

wherein the deference algorithm flips prioritization between types of uniform resource identifiers.

11. The method of

claim 8

wherein the deference algorithm prioritizes a message based on a randomly generated number associated with the message.

12. The method of

claim 10

wherein the deference algorithm sums the randomly generated numbers of colliding messages and prioritizes the messages according to the sum.

13. Digital conferencing apparatus for splitting a conference taking place over a packet data network, said apparatus comprising:

means for sending a split invitation over a packet switched network from a split inviting member to a conference member, the invitation specifying at least one other invited conference member; and

means for sending messages between the invited conference members to establish a second conference.