Apparatus and Method for Providing Access to a Data Stream by a Plurality of Users at a Same Time

• US 20070136452A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: David Coleman
• Inventors: Coleman, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 65/765 intermediate

Abstract

A system for providing access to a data stream by a plurality of users at a same time. A data stream splitter manager listens for new client device connections. When a new client device connection is identified, the data stream splitter manager generates a pseudo-terminal for the client device and adds the client device and pseudo-terminal information to a data stream splitter table. In addition, a data stream splitter is generated to handle the data transfer. The data stream splitter searches the data stream splitter table for client devices participating in a system resource sharing session. The data stream splitter sends a data stream associated with the shared system resource to the associated client device pseudo-terminals. Also, the data stream splitter sends data from the client devices to the pseudo-terminals and then to the data stream. Consequently, client devices involved in the session has shared system resource access.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for providing a device shared access to a data stream, comprising:

first instructions for receiving a request for access to the data stream from a device;

second instructions for adding an entry to a data stream splitter table for the device; and

third instructions for providing the device access to the data stream via a data stream splitter in accordance with the entry in the data stream splitter table.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein access to the data stream is shared with other devices, each of the device and the other devices having full access to the data stream.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the device is provided a private communication channel to the data stream but the output from the data stream is shared by the device and other devices.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising fourth instructions for dynamically constructing the data stream splitter to provide shared access to the data stream.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising fourth instructions for establishing a pseudo-terminal for the device, wherein data received by the data stream splitter from the data stream is sent to the pseudo-terminal, and wherein data received by the pseudo-terminal from the device is sent to the data stream splitter.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the third instructions for providing the device access to the data stream include:

fourth instructions for cycling through the data stream splitter table to identify entries associated with the data stream splitter; and

fifth instructions for cyclically providing the device and other devices access to the data stream based on the cycling through the data stream splitter table.

30. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising fourth instructions for determining if access to the data stream is being handled by the data stream splitter, wherein the second instructions for adding the entry to the data stream splitter table for the device include instructions for adding the entry to a data stream splitter table associated with the data stream splitter.

31. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

fourth instructions for forking a copy of a data stream splitter manager to handle the access to the data stream for that device when the data stream splitter manager receives the request from the device, wherein the data stream splitter manager implements the first, second, and third instructions.

28. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. An apparatus for providing a device shared access to a data stream, comprising:

a data stream splitter; and

a data stream splitter manager coupled to the data stream splitter, wherein the data stream splitter manager receives a request for access to the data stream from a device, adds an entry to a data stream splitter table for the device, and provides the device access to the data stream via the data stream splitter in accordance with the entry in the data stream splitter table.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the data stream splitter manager establishes a pseudo-terminal for the device, and wherein data received by the data stream splitter from the data stream is sent to the pseudo-terminal, and wherein data received by the pseudo-terminal from the device is sent to the data stream splitter.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein, when the data stream splitter manager receives the request from the device, the data stream splitter manager forks a copy of itself to handle the access to the data stream for that device.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a buffer, wherein data from the data stream is stored in the buffer, and wherein when the device is first provided access to the data stream, the contents of the buffer are streamed to the device.

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. A computer implemented method for providing a device shared access to a data stream, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for access to the data stream from a device;

adding an entry to a data stream splitter table for the device; and

providing the device access to the data stream via a data stream splitter in accordance with the entry in the data stream splitter table.

51. The computer implemented method of claim 50, wherein access to the data stream is shared with other devices, each of the device and the other devices having full access to the data stream.

52. The computer implemented method of claim 50, wherein the device is provided a private communication channel to the data stream but the output from the data stream is shared by the device and other devices.

53. The computer implemented method of claim 50, further comprising:

dynamically constructing the data stream splitter to provide shared access to the data stream.

54. The computer implemented method of claim 50, further comprising:

establishing a pseudo-terminal for the device, wherein data received by the data stream splitter from the data stream is sent to the pseudo-terminal, and wherein data received by the pseudo-terminal from the device is sent to the data stream splitter.

55. The computer implemented method of claim 50, wherein the step of providing the device access to the data stream includes:

cycling through the data stream splitter table to identify entries associated with the data stream splitter; and

cyclically providing the device and other devices access to the data stream based on the cycling through the data stream splitter table.

56. The computer implemented method of claim 50, further comprising:

determining if access to the data stream is being handled by the data stream splitter, wherein adding the entry to the data stream splitter table for the device includes adding the entry to a data stream splitter table associated with the data stream splitter.

57. The computer implemented method of claim 50, wherein the steps of receiving, adding, and providing are implemented by a data stream splitter manager, and wherein the data stream splitter manager forks a copy of itself to handle the access to the data stream for that device when the data stream splitter manager receives the request from the device.