System and method for group video teleconferencing using a bandwidth optimizer

• US 20030041165A1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Santa Cruz Networks, Inc. (ClipSync, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Santa Cruz Networks, Inc. (ClipSync, Inc.)
• Inventors: Egenberger, Jeremy, Fossgreen, Don, Spencer, Percy L., Weyzen, Petrus Hubertus, Montgomery, Max E.
• Application Number:
  US10/045,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/283 in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/36 by determining packet size, e.g. maximum transfer unit [MTU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/365 Dynamic adaptation of the packet size
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A system for sending and receiving multimedia transmissions over a network includes two or more clients and a server. Each client is connected to the network and generates and receives audio and video data via the network. The server receives the audio and video data from the clients and sends the audio and video data to the clients. During the transmission of the audio and video data, the client and server dynamically determine the rate at which to transmit the audio and video data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for sending and receiving multimedia transmissions between two or more clients, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a maximum inbound and outbound transmission rate for a connection between a client and a server;

determining a latency value for transmissions over the connection;

determining a backlog value for transmissions over the connection; and

varying the inbound and outbound rates of transmission over the connection responsive to the backlog value and the latency value.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia transmissions are comprised of data packets and varying the rates of transmission is further comprised of:

varying the size of the data packets; and

varying the time interval between the transmission of each data packet.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein varying the rate of transmission further comprises:

increasing the rate of transmission if there is no backlog and the rate of transmission is below the maximum transmission rate; and

decreasing the rate of transmission if the backlog is above a predetermined threshold.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transmission originates at the client and terminates at the server.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transmission originates at the server and terminates at the client.

6. A system for sending and receiving multimedia data transmissions between two or more clients, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving the multimedia transmissions;

a transmitter for transmitting the multimedia transmissions at a variable transmission rate;

a bandwidth optimizer coupled to the transmitter, the bandwidth optimizer determining a maximum inbound and outbound transmission rate, monitoring for a backlog in the multimedia data transmissions, and varying the transmission rate responsive to the backlog.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the multimedia transmissions are comprised of data packets and varying the rate of transmission is further comprised of:

varying the size of the data packets; and

varying the time interval between the transmission of each data packet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein varying the rate of transmission further comprises:

increasing the rate of transmission if there is no backlog and the rate of transmission is below the maximum transmission rate; and

decreasing the rate of transmission if the backlog is above a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the transmission originates at a client and terminates at a server.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the transmission originates at a server and terminates at a client.

11. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium for sending and receiving multimedia transmissions between two or more clients, the computer program product controlling a processor coupled to the medium to perform the operations of:

determining a maximum inbound and outbound transmission rate for a connection between a client and a server;

determining a latency value for transmissions over the connection;

determining a backlog value for transmissions over the connection; and

varying the inbound and outbound rates of transmission over the connection responsive to the backlog value and the latency value.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the multimedia transmissions are comprised of data packets and varying the rates of transmission is further comprised of:

varying the size of the data packets; and

varying the time interval between the transmission of each data packet.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein varying the rate of transmission further comprises:

increasing the rate of transmission if there is no backlog and the rate of transmission is below the maximum transmission rate; and

decreasing the rate of transmission if the backlog is above a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmission originates at the client and terminates at the server.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmission originates at the server and terminates at the client.