User agent and super user agent for cluster-based multi-party conferencing in ad-hoc networks

• US 20060114847A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dssouli, Rachida, Glitho, Roch, Fu, Chunyan
• Application Number:
  US10/999,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A user agent and a super user agent for use in terminals for cluster-based multi-party conferencing using one or more clusters of terminals. Each cluster includes a super member comprising a super user agent, and one or more members including a user agent. The user agent comprises identity of the super member terminal of the cluster, a conference identity identifying the cluster-based conference, cluster parameters including a split value (Sv) indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when Sv is reached during the conference the cluster is split, and a merge value (Mv) indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when Mv is reached the cluster is merged with another cluster. The super user agent comprises a cluster member list of terminals of the cluster, the conference identity, a cluster neighbour list identifying any other one or more neighbour terminals including a super user agent, the one or more terminals also participating to the same conference, and the cluster parameters.

Claims

1. A user agent for use in establishing a cluster-based conference, the user agent comprising:

an identity of a terminal acting as a super user agent of the cluster to which a terminal including the user agent belongs;

a conference identity that identifies the cluster-based conference to which the user agent'"'"'s terminal participates; and

cluster parameters associated to a cluster of terminals that contains both the user agent'"'"'s terminal and the terminal acting as a super user agent;

wherein the parameters include;

a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and

a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster.

2. The user agent claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cluster identification that uniquely identifies the cluster to which the user agent'"'"'s terminal belongs.

3. The user agent claimed in claim 1, wherein the conference identity comprises an identity of a communication session established by the user agent'"'"'s terminal with the terminal acting as a super user agent of the cluster.

4. The user agent claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication session is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

5. The user agent claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indication that the user agent'"'"'s terminal acts as a regular member of the cluster.

6. A super user agent for use in establishing a cluster-based conference, the super user agent comprising:

a cluster member list including identities of terminals that are members of a cluster to which a terminal including the super user agent belongs;

a conference identity that identifies a conference to which the super user agent'"'"'s terminal participates;

a cluster neighbour list that identifies any other one or more neighbour terminals that include a super user agent, the one or more terminals also participating to the same conference;

cluster parameters associated to the cluster that contains the super user agent'"'"'s terminal;

wherein the parameters include;

a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and

a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster.

7. The super user agent claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a cluster identification that identifies the cluster to which the super user agent'"'"'s terminal belongs.

8. The super user agent claimed in claim 6, wherein the conference identity comprises identities of one or more communication sessions established by the super user agent'"'"'s terminal with other terminals of the cluster.

9. The super user agent claimed in claim 8, wherein the communications sessions are Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) sessions.

10. The super user agent claimed in claim 6, further comprising an indication that the super user agent'"'"'s terminal acts as a super member of the cluster.