METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LISTENING FOR INCOMING CALLS ON MULTIPLE PORT/SOCKET COMBINATIONS

• US 20080316294A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guy Riddle
• Original Assignee: Guy Riddle
• Inventors: Riddle, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for listening on multiple conferencing interfaces having the steps of loading a set of transport components into the memory; initializing each transport components of the set of transport components to listen on a particular conferencing interface using the network interface, each transport component of the set of transport components listening to a different conferencing interface; receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface having an incoming conferencing interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect the incoming conferencing interface; and launching an application based on the incoming conferencing interface.

An apparatus for listening on multiple conferencing interfaces having a set of transport components coupled to the network interface, each transport component of the set of transport components having the capability of receiving a signal on a different conferencing interface; a conference component coupled to each component in the set of transport components; a call processing module coupled to the conference component; and, a process manager coupled to the call processing module; the conference component containing a circuit for causing the call processing module to cause process manager to activate a conferencing application upon detecting a call from one transport component of the set of transport components.

Claims

1. A method to manage communication on a data processing system, the method comprising:

monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication interfaces including a first communication interface and a second communication interface;

in response to a first incoming communication received via a first communication interface, distributing the first incoming communication to a first application for processing, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface; and

in response to a second incoming communication, distributing the second incoming communication to a second application for processing wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second applications are separate applications designed for communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, launching the first application if the first application is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching the second application if the second application is not running.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second applications are separate instances of a single application designed to handle different communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, launching a first instance of the single application to handle the first incoming communication if the first instance is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching a second instance of the single application to handle the second incoming communication if the second instance is not running.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second applications are separate functional routines of a single application designed to handle communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, invoking a first functional routine of the single application to handle the first incoming communication; and

in response to the second incoming communication, invoking a second functional routine of the single application to handle the second incoming communication.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

11. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations to manage communication on a data processing system, comprising:

monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication interfaces including a first communication interface and a second communication interface;

in response to a first incoming communication received via a first communication interface, distributing the first incoming communication to a first application for processing, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface; and

in response to a second incoming communication, distributing the second incoming communication to a second application for processing wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first and second applications are separate applications designed for communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, launching the first application if the first application is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching the second application if the second application is not running.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first and second applications are separate instances of a single application designed to handle different communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations further comprising

in response to the first incoming communication, launching a first instance of the single application to handle the first incoming communication if the first instance is not running;

and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching a second instance of the single application to handle the second incoming communication if the second instance is not running.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first and second applications are separate functional routines of a single application designed to handle communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, invoking a first functional routine of the single application to handle the first incoming communication; and

in response to the second incoming communication, invoking a second functional routine of the single application to handle the second incoming communication.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

21. An apparatus for managing communication on a data processing system, the apparatus comprising:

means for monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication interfaces including a first communication interface and a second communication interface;

in response to a first incoming communication received via a first communication interface, means for distributing the first incoming communication to a first application for processing, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface; and

in response to a second incoming communication, means for distributing the second incoming communication to a second application for processing wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second applications are separate applications designed for communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, means for launching the first application if the first application is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, means for launching the second application if the second application is not running.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second applications are separate instances of a single application designed to handle different communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, means for launching a first instance of the single application to handle the first incoming communication if the first instance is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, means for launching a second instance of the single application to handle the second incoming communication if the second instance is not running.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second applications are separate functional routines of a single application designed to handle communication protocols associated with the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, means for invoking a first functional routine of the single application to handle the first incoming communication; and

in response to the second incoming communication, means for invoking a second functional routine of the single application to handle the second incoming communication.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

means for determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

31. A data processing system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform an operation, the operation including monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication interfaces including a first communication interface and a second communication interface,

in response to a first incoming communication received via a first communication interface, distributing the first incoming communication to a first application for processing, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface, and

in response to a second incoming communication, distributing the second incoming communication to a second application for processing wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

32. A method to manage communication on a data processing system, the method comprising:

monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication protocols including a first communication protocol associated with a first communication interface and a second communication protocol associated with a second communication interface;

in response to a first incoming communication having the first communication protocol, determining whether a first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol;

transferring control of the first incoming communication to the first application for processing if the first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface; and

in response to a second incoming communication having the second communication protocol, determining whether a second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol;

transferring control of the second incoming communication to the second application for processing if the second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol, wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving a third incoming communication having the second communication protocol; and

transferring the third incoming communication to the first application if the first application is capable of handling the second communication protocol.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, launching the first application if the first application is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching the second application if the second application is not running.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

38. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations to manage communication on a data processing system, comprising:

monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication protocols including a first communication protocol associated with a first communication interface and a second communication protocol associated with a first communication interface;

in response to a first incoming communication having the first communication protocol, determining whether a first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol;

transferring control of the first incoming communication to the first application for processing if the first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface;

in response to a second incoming communication having the second communication protocol, determining whether a second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol; and

transferring control of the second incoming communication to the second application for processing if the second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol, wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a third incoming communication having the second communication protocol; and

transferring the third incoming communication to the first application if the first application is capable of handling the second communication protocol.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

in response to the first incoming communication, launching the first application if the first application is not running; and

in response to the second incoming communication, launching the second application if the second application is not running.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform the operations comprising:

determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

44. An apparatus to manage communication on a data processing system, comprising:

means for monitoring incoming communications for a plurality of communication protocols including a first communication protocol associated with a first communication interface and a second communication protocol associated with a first communication interface;

means for, in response to a first incoming communication having the first communication protocol, determining whether a first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol;

means for transferring control of the first incoming communication to the first application for processing if the first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface;

means for, in response to a second incoming communication having the second communication protocol, determining whether a second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol; and

means for transferring control of the second incoming communication to the second application for processing if the second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol, wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for receiving a third incoming communication having the second communication protocol; and

means for transferring the third incoming communication to the first application if the first application is capable of handling the second communication protocol.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for launching the first application if the first application is not running, in response to the first incoming communication; and

means for launching the second application if the second application is not running, in response to the second incoming communication.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for determining whether the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the first incoming communication is distributed to the first application only if the first application has registered to listen for the first communication interface; and

means for determining whether the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface, wherein the second incoming communication is distributed to the second application only if the second application has registered to listen for the second communication interface.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first application is registered to listen for the first communication interface when a first listen string associated with the first application substantially matches a string derived from the first incoming communication, and wherein the second application is registered to listen for the second communication interface when a second listen string associated with the second application substantially matches a string derived from the second incoming communication.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first listen string is received when the first application is initialized and registered to listen for the first communication interface, wherein the second listen string is received when the second application is initialized and registered to listen for the second communication interface, and wherein the first listen string and the second listen string identify the first communication interface and the second communication interface respectively.

50. A data processing system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing instructions, when executed from the memory, wherein the processor is configured to monitor incoming communications for a plurality of communication protocols including a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol;

in response to a first incoming communication having the first communication protocol, determine whether a first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol;

transfer control of the first incoming communication to the first application for processing if the first application is capable of handling the first communication protocol, wherein the first application is configured to listen for the first communication interface; and

in response to a second incoming communication having the second communication protocol, determine whether a second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol, wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface; and

to transfer control of the second incoming communication to the second application for processing if the second application is capable of handling the second communication protocol, wherein the second application is configured to listen for the second communication interface.