Proximity detection for media proxies

• US 20040054805A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoun, Cedric, March, Sean, Sen, Sanjoy
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/240
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A method of detecting proximity between a media proxy and a client uses a proximity probe to query a plurality of media proxies, forcing the media proxies to respond to a proximity server. The proximity server uses an algorithm to determine which media proxy is closest to the client based on the responses. In an alternate embodiment, the same sorts of proximity probes may be used to determine if two media endpoints have a direct connection such that they may bypass a media proxy.

Claims

1. A method of determining proximity between a media proxy and a client comprising:

receiving a request from a client for a media session;

passing a list of media proxies to the client;

receiving responses from the media proxies of the list of media proxies; and

calculating a proximity between the client and each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies based at least in part on the responses.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a media proxy to the client based, at least in part, on the calculating.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a round trip time (RTT) between a proximity server and each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein calculating a proximity comprises calculating a proximity based at least in part on the RTT.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating a proximity comprises calculating a proximity in a proximity server.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving and passing comprise receiving and passing in an application server.

7. A method of determining proximity between a media proxy and a client comprising:

receiving a list of media proxies at the client;

generating a ping probe to each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies such that each of the media proxies responds to a proximity server upon receiving the respective ping probe; and

receiving an assignment of a media proxy from the list based, at least in part, on the responses the media proxies sent upon receiving the respective ping probes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein generating a ping probe includes generating a ping probe with a user identification therein.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising initiating a media session using the media proxy assigned to the client.

10. A method of determining proximity between a media proxy and a client comprising:

receiving a ping probe at the media proxy from the client;

generating a response at the media proxy to the ping probe directed to a proximity server including a timestamp corresponding to when the ping probe was received; and

being assigned to the client.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein generating a response further comprises including a timestamp delta corresponding to time elapsed from receipt of the ping probe and generation of the response at the media proxy.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein including a timestamp delta comprises including a timestamp delta with millisecond granularity.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving a ping probe from the client comprises receiving a ping probe with a user identification of the client.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising responding to a round trip time inquiry from a proximity server such that the database may determine a round trip time elapsed for messages sent between the proximity server and the media proxy.

15. An apparatus for determining proximity between a media proxy and a client comprising a data processing device adapted to:

receive a request from a client for a media session;

pass a list of media proxies to the client;

receive responses from the media proxies of the list of media proxies; and

calculate a proximity between the client and each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies based at least in part on the responses.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said data processing device is further adapted to assign a media proxy to the client based, at least in part, on the calculating.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said data processing device is further adapted to determine a round trip time (RTT) between a proximity server and each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said data processing device is further adapted to calculate a proximity based, at least in part, on the RTT.

19. A client seeking media services comprising a processor adapted to:

receive a list of media proxies at the client;

generate a ping probe to each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies such that each of the media proxies responds to a proximity server upon receiving the respective ping probe; and

receive an assignment of a media proxy from the list based, at least in part on the responses the media proxies sent upon receiving the respective ping probes.

20. The client of claim 19 wherein said processor adapted to generate a ping probe generates a ping probe with a user identification therein.

21. The client of claim 19 wherein said processor is further adapted to initiate a media session using the media proxy assigned to the client.

22. A media proxy for providing media services to a client, said media proxy comprising a data processing device adapted to:

receive a ping probe from the client;

generate a response to the ping probe directed to a proximity server including a timestamp corresponding to when the ping probe was received; and

be assigned to the client.

23. The media proxy of claim 22 wherein the data processing device is adapted to include a timestamp delta corresponding to time elapsed from receipt of the ping probe and generation of the response at the media proxy.

24. The media proxy of claim 22 wherein the data processing device is adapted to include a timestamp delta with a msec granularity.

25. The media proxy of claim 22 wherein the data processing device is adapted to receive a ping probe with a user identification of the client.

26. The media proxy of claim 22 wherein the data processing device is further adapted to respond to a round trip time inquiry from a proximity server such that the database may determine a round trip time elapsed for messages sent between the proximity server and the media proxy.

27. A computer readable medium comprising software for determining proximity between a media proxy and a client, said software programmed to:

receive a request from a client for a media session;

pass a list of media proxies to the client;

receive responses from the media proxies of the list of media proxies; and

calculate a proximity between the client and each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies based at least in part on the responses.

28. A computer readable medium adapted for use at a client and comprising software programmed to:

receive a list of media proxies at the client;

generate a ping probe to each of the media proxies on the list of media proxies such that each of the media proxies responds to a proximity server upon receiving the respective ping probe; and

receive an assignment of a media proxy from the list based, at least in part on the responses the media proxies sent upon receiving the respective ping probes.

29. A computer readable medium adapted for use at a media proxy comprising for providing media services to a client and programmed to:

receive a ping probe from the client;

generate a response to the ping probe directed to a proximity server including a timestamp corresponding to when the ping probe was received; and

be assigned to the client.