Apparatus and method for conveying private information within a group communication system

• US 20060041745A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marratech AB (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marratech AB (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Parnes, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/518,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/163
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]

Abstract

An apparatus and method allow for distribution of a streamed signal within a group of users in a computer network, the users accessing client terminals (10, 20, 30, 40) for participation in a multicast session. The apparatus includes connecting links (12, 22, 32, 42) adapted to connect the client terminals of users and related equipment, such as capturing elements (16, 26 . . . ; 18, 28 . . . ), to the multicast session, preferably via the Internet or other interconnecting network. An extension header is added to data packets of the streamed signal, the extension header including identification data relating to the intended recipient of a packet. A filtering element (14, 24, 34, 44) is associated with the receiving client and is adapted to filter out data packets having the address of the recipient and receiving the streamed signal. Consequently, the existing communication channel can be reused.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. Apparatus for distribution of a streamed signal within a group of users in a computer network, the users accessing client terminals (10, 20, 30, 40) for participation in a multicast session, the apparatus comprising,

connecting links (12, 22, 32, 42) adapted to connect the client terminals of users and related equipment, such as capturing means (16, 26 . . . ;

18, 28 . . . ), to the multicast session, preferably via the Internet or other interconnecting network,

an extension header being added to data packets of the streamed signal, the extension header comprising identification data relating to the intended recipient of a packet,

characterised in that

a filtering means (14, 24, 34, 44) associated with the receiving client is adapted to filter out data packets comprising identification data in the extension header identifying the recipient and receiving the streamed signal.

6. Apparatus for distribution of a streamed signal according to claim 5, characterised in that

the transmitted signal is encoded by the sending client terminal and decoded by the intended recipient only at the receiving client terminal by means of a separately provided decryption key.

8. Computer program product for distributing a streamed signal within a group of users in a computer network, the computer program product being integrated and transmissible between comprised units according to claim 5, and the computer program product being adapted for carrying out the method steps of:

adding an extension header to data packets of the streamed signal, the extension header identifying the intended recipient of a packet,

characterised by

filtering out data packets comprising identification data in the extension header identifying the recipient and allowing them to pass through a filtering means (14, 24, 34, 44), which is associated with the receiving client.

9. Computer program product for distributing a streamed signal within a group of users in a computer network, the computer program product being integrated and transmissible between comprised units according to claim 6, and the computer program product being adapted for carrying out the method steps of:

adding an extension header to data packets of the streamed signal, the extension header identifying the intended recipient of a packet,

characterised by

filtering out data packets comprising identification data in the extension header identifying the recipient and allowing them to pass through a filtering means (14, 24, 34, 44), which is associated with the receiving client.

7. Method for distributing a streamed signal via the Internet or other interconnecting network within a group of users in a computer network, the users accessing client terminals (10, 20, 30, 40) for participation in a multicast session, the method comprising the steps of,

adding an extension header to data packets of the streamed signal, the extension header identifying the intended recipient of a packet,

characterised by

filtering out data packets comprising identification data in the extension header identifying the recipient and allowing them to pass through a filtering means (14, 24, 34, 44), which is associated with the receiving client.