Method and apparatus for communicating data between two hosts

• US 20050086289A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation, Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: SightSpeed, Inc. (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Wilson, Jeffrey, Rosenberg, Aron
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A method for communicating video data between at least a first host and a second host comprises: identifying, at a server, an address of the first host, to which the second host may communicate video data, and a sequence number expected by a network security system coupled between the first host and the server; and communicating, from the second host to the first host, video data using the address of the first host and the sequence number expected. The method may further comprise: identifying, at the server, an address of the second host, to which the first host may communicate video data, and a second sequence number expected by a network security system coupled between the second host and the server; and communicating, from the first host to the second host, video data using the address of the second host and the second expected sequence number. The second host may be adapted to perform the act of communicating without use of an intermediate server. The method may also further comprise communicating periodically, from the first host to the server, through the network security system, so as to maintain an open communication channel through the network security system to the first host at the address of the first host. The address of the first host may include address information and port information.

Claims

1. A method for communicating data between at least a first host and a second host, the method comprising:

identifying, at a server, address information of the first host, to which the second host may communicate data through a network security system coupled between the first host and the server; and

communicating, from the second host to the first host, data using the address information of the first host.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, at the server, address information of the second host, to which the first host may communicate data through a network security system coupled between the second host and the server; and

communicating, from the first host to the second host, data using the address information of the second host.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second host is adapted to perform the act of communicating without use of an intermediate server.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating periodically, from the first host to the server, through the network security system, so as to maintain an open communication channel through the network security system to the first host at the address of the first host.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the address information of the first host includes an address and a port information.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a discovery start packet from the server to the first host;

responding from the first host to the server when the discovery start packet is received;

computing first possible address and port combinations expected by the network security system;

sending the first possible address and port combinations from the server to the second host;

sending a start packet from the second host to the first host at each of the first possible address and port combinations; and

receiving, at the first host, directly from the second host the start packet.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending a discovery start packet from the server to the second host;

responding from the second host to the server when the discovery start packet is received;

computing second possible address and port combinations expected by a network security system coupled between the second host and the server;

sending the second possible address and port combinations from the server to the first host;

sending a start packet from the first host to the second host at each of the second possible address and port combinations; and

receiving, at the second host, directly from the first host the start packet.

6. A method for establishing a low-latency communication channel to a host computer comprising:

identifying, at a server, an address of the host, and a sequence number expected by an intermediate system coupled between the host and server; and

communicating periodically, from the host to the server, through the intermediate system, so as to maintain an open communication channel through the intermediate system to the host at the address of the host.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

responding to the periodic communicating, from the server to the host, through the intermediate system, so as to maintain an open communication channel through the intermediate system to the host at the address of the host.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein communicating periodically and responding occur at a period shorter than a timeout period after which the intermediate system closes the communication channel.

9. A system for communicating, comprising:

a communication network;

a first host computer connected to the communication network through a first intermediate system;

a second host computer connected to the communication network through a second intermediary system; and

a server computer connected to the communication network and with which the first and second host computers communicate to open communication channels through the first and second intermediary systems and which supplies the first and second host computers with information permitting direct communication between the first and second host computers absent intervention by the server computer.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a software program executing on the first host computer that maintains the communication channel through the first intermediary open by sending messages to the server computer at an interval shorter than a timeout interval of the intermediary system after which the intermediary system would close the communications channel.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a software program running on the server that replies to each message from the first host computer.