Methods for providing communications services

• US 20060010247A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zimler, Randy
• Application Number:
  US11/223,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives requested data via first physical medium and a second physical medium. The second physical medium is dynamically shared amongst multiple destinations to provide additional bandwidth. The requested data is routed to a client device.

Claims

1. A method of providing communications services, comprising the steps of:

receiving requested data via first physical medium and a second physical medium, the second physical medium dynamically shared amongst multiple destinations to provide additional bandwidth; and

routing the requested data to a client device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating a combined maximum bit rate available between the first physical medium and the second physical medium.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating a maximum bit rate available via the first physical medium.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating a maximum bit rate available via the second physical medium.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing a requested bit rate to an available bit rate.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then further comprising the step of sending a notification.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then further comprising the step of providing an alternative that remains within the available bit rate.

8. A system, comprising:

a communications module stored in memory; and

a processor communicating with the memory,

the processor receiving requested data via first physical medium and a second physical medium, the second physical medium dynamically shared amongst multiple destinations to provide additional bandwidth; and

the processor routing the requested data to a client device.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor communicates a combined maximum bit rate available between the first physical medium and the second physical medium.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor communicates a maximum bit rate available via the first physical medium.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor communicates a maximum bit rate available via the second physical medium.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor compares a requested bit rate to an available bit rate.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then the processor sends a notification.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then the processor provides an alternative that remains within the available bit rate.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a communications module stored on the computer-readable medium, the communications module comprising computer instructions for

receiving requested data via first physical medium and a second physical medium, the second physical medium dynamically shared amongst multiple destinations to provide additional bandwidth; and

routing the requested data to a client device.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer instructions for communicating a combined maximum bit rate available between the first physical medium and the second physical medium.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer instructions for communicating i) a maximum bit rate available via the first physical medium and ii) a maximum bit rate available via the second physical medium.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer instructions for comparing a requested bit rate to an available bit rate.

19. A computer program product according to claim 18, further comprising computer instructions for when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then a notification is sent.

20. A computer program product according to claim 18, further comprising computer instructions for when the requested bit rate exceeds the available bit rate, then an alternative is provided that remains within the available bit rate.