Multi-participant conference adjustments

• US 20060245379A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tung, Berkat Shing, Jeong, Hyeonkuk, Abuan, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing a multi-participant conference. This architecture has one participant'"'"'s computer in the conference act as a central content distributor for the conference. The central distributor receives data (e.g., video and/or audio streams) from the computer of each other participant, and distributes the received data to the computers of all participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor receives A/V data from the computers of the other participants. From such received data, the central distributor of some embodiments generates composite data (e.g., composite image data and/or composite audio data) that the central distributor distributes back to the participants.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a conference through a plurality of computers, said method comprising:

a) estimating bandwidth for a computer;

b) setting up said conference based on said estimated bandwidth;

c) measuring bandwidth between two computers in the conference; and

d) adjusting said conference based on said measured bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting said conference comprises downgrading one or more parameters in a set of parameters for said conference, wherein downgrading comprises changing said parameter to a lower quality level, wherein said lower quality level requires fewer data bits.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting said conference comprises upgrading one or more parameters in a set of parameters for said conference, wherein upgrading comprises changing said parameter to a higher quality level, wherein said higher quality level requires more data bits.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating comprises using a bandwidth server separate from the computers to perform the estimation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said measuring comprises determining packet delay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said measuring comprises determining packet loss.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the quality of data, said data quality determination performed at one of said computers; and

adjusting said conference based on said determination of data quality.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said data quality includes packet delay.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said data quality includes packet loss.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein adjusting said conference comprises downgrading one or more parameters in a set of parameters for said conference, wherein downgrading comprises changing said parameter to a lower quality level, wherein said lower quality level requires fewer data bits.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein adjusting said conference comprises upgrading one or more parameters in a set of parameters for said conference, wherein upgrading comprises changing said parameter to a higher quality level, wherein said higher quality level requires more data bits.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said estimating comprises using a bandwidth server separate from the computers to perform the estimation.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said measuring comprises determining packet delay.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein said measuring comprises determining packet loss.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the quality of data, said data quality determination performed at one of said computers; and

adjusting said conference based on said determination of data quality.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein said data quality includes packet delay.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein said data quality includes packet loss.

10. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for establishing a conference through a plurality of computers, said computer program having sets of instructions for:

estimating bandwidth for a computer;

setting up said conference based on said estimated bandwidth;

measuring bandwidth between two computers in the conference; and

adjusting said conference based on said measured bandwidth.