Video conference call set up

• US 20050226172A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Richardson, John William, Cahnbley, Jens
• Application Number:
  US10/498,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06

Abstract

A method for setting up a multicast session between clients. The method includes the steps of assigning a common multicast IP address so that the clients may participate in the videoconference session, and transmitting the common multicast IP address to at least one of the clients.

Claims

1. A method for setting up a multicast session between clients, comprising the steps of:

assigning a common multicast IP address so that the clients may participate in the videoconference session; and

transmitting the common multicast IP address to at least one of the clients.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting videoconference content to the at least one of the clients using the common multicast IP address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of registering the at least one of the clients with respect to the multicast session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said registering step comprises the step of associating each of the at least one of the clients with a corresponding IP address.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said registering step further comprises the step of associating the corresponding IP address of each of the at least one of the clients with at least one of an e-mail address and a user name.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving an initial request for the multicast session, the initial request specifying any of the clients that are to take part in the multicast session.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting, to the at least one of the clients, a request to joint the multicast session.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving, from the at least one of the clients, an acceptance or a declination to the request to join the multicast session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) join request from the at least one of the clients; and

transmitting content to the at least one of the clients using the common multicast IP address, in response to IGMP join request.

10. A system for setting up a multicast session between clients, comprising:

means for assigning a common multicast IP address so that the clients may participate in the session; and

means, in data communication with the assigning means, for transmitting the common IP address to at least one of the clients.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for transmitting videoconference content to the at least one of the clients using the common multicast IP address.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for registering the at least one of the clients with respect to the multicast session.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for registering comprises means for associating each of the at least one of the clients with a corresponding IP address.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for registering further comprises means for associating the corresponding IP address of each of the at least one of the clients with at least one of an e-mail address and a user name.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for receiving an initial request for the multicast session, the initial request specifying any of the clients that are to take part in the multicast session.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for transmitting, to each of the at least one of the clients, a request to joint the multicast session.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for receiving, from each of the at least one of the clients, an acceptance or a declination to the request to join the multicast session.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving an Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) join request from each of the at least one of the clients; and

means for transmitting content to the at least one of the clients using the common multicast IP address, in response to IGMP join request.

19. A method for setting up a multicast session between clients, comprising the steps of:

providing an ability to receive a common multicast IP address for the videoconference session; and

providing an ability to receive videoconference content using the common multicast IP address.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing an ability to register with respect to the multicast session.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing an ability to transmit an initial request for the multicast session, the initial request specifying any of the clients that are to take part in the multicast session.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing an ability to receive a request to joint the multicast session.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of providing an ability to transmit an acceptance or a declination to the request to join the multicast session.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing an ability to transmit an Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) join request; and

providing an ability to receive content using the common multicast IP address, in response to IGMP join request.