Scalable distributed network system for collaborative computing

• US 20030167302A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Bin, Zhu, Min, Yan, Shi
• Application Number:
  US09/751,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A distributed collaborative computer system is provided that comprises a plurality of server computers interconnected via a high-speed link. Client computers can connect to any available server computer and start or join a conference hosted on either the server computer to which the client computer is connected or any other server in the system. As a result, the system and method of the present invention is easily scalable to support an arbitrary number of participants to a conference by merely adding the appropriate number of server computers to the system.

Claims

1. A scalable computer system for distributed collaborative computing, the system comprising:

a plurality of server computers connected to a plurality of client computers via a global-area computer network;

a high-speed direct connection link connecting the plurality of server computers; and

a computer program executable by the server computers, wherein the computer program comprises computer instructions for;

receiving a request to join an on-line conference from a client computer;

selecting one of the server computers based on processing loads of the server computers;

establishing a connection between the client computer and the server computer over the global-area network; and

establishing a communication link between the selected server computer and one of the other server computers over a high-speed direct connection link.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

sharing an application program executed on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

viewing a document stored on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

detecting a failure of one of the server computers handling the on-line conference;

disconnecting the failed server computer from the on-line conference;

connecting another of the server computers to the conference; and

resuming the on-line conference.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a database, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

storing information about the status of the on-line conference in the database.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

ensuring that a maximum number of authorized conference participants in not exceeded.

7. A method of operating a distributed collaborative computing system comprising a plurality of server computers, the method comprising:

receiving a request to join an on-line conference from a client computer;

selecting one of the server computers based on processing loads of the server computers;

establishing a connection between the client computer and the server computer over the global-area network; and

establishing a communication link between the selected server computer and one of the other server computers over a high-speed direct connection link.

8. The method claim 7, further comprising:

sharing an application program executed on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

viewing a document stored on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a failure of one of the server computers handling the on-line conference;

disconnecting the failed server computer from the on-line conference;

connecting another of the server computers to the conference; and

resuming the on-line conference.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the distributed collaborative computing system further comprises a database and the method further comprises:

storing information about the status of the on-line conference in the database.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

ensuring that a maximum number of authorized conference participants in not exceeded.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program executable by a plurality of server computers, the computer program comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a request to join an on-line conference from a client computer;

selecting one of the server computers based on processing loads of the server computers;

establishing a connection between the client computer and the server computer over the global-area network; and

establishing a communication link between the selected server computer and one of the other server computers over a high-speed direct connection link.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

sharing an application program executed on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

viewing a document stored on one of the client computers on an arbitrary number of other client computers.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

detecting a failure of one of the server computers handling the on-line conference;

disconnecting the failed server computer from the on-line conference;

connecting another of the server computers to the conference; and

resuming the on-line conference.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising a database, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

storing information about the status of the on-line conference in the database.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises computer instructions for:

ensuring that a maximum number of authorized conference participants in not exceeded.