AUTOMATED REAL-TIME DATA STREAM SWITCHING IN A SHARED VIRTUAL AREA COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area, comprising:
- storing a virtual area specification comprising a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; and
establishing one or more real-time data stream connections between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types, wherein the establishing is based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.
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Abstract
Switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area is described. In one aspect, the switching involves storing a virtual area specification. The virtual area specification includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area. Real-time data stream connections are established between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types. The real-time data stream connections are established based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.
128 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area, comprising:
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storing a virtual area specification comprising a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; and establishing one or more real-time data stream connections between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types, wherein the establishing is based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area, comprising:
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a computer readable memory operable to store a virtual area specification comprising a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; and a processing unit operable to establish one or more real-time data stream connections between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types, wherein the processing unit establishes the one or more real-time data stream connections based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-implemented method of constructing a virtual area, comprising:
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in response to user input, creating a model of the virtual area in a display monitor, wherein the model comprises geometric elements of the virtual area that are presented in the display monitor; in response to user input, associating one or more switching rules with the model of the virtual area, wherein each of the switching rules defines a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; generating a virtual area specification describing the model of the virtual area and the one or more associated switching rules; and storing the virtual area specification in a computer-readable storage medium.
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24. A network switch for switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area, comprising:
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a computer readable memory operable to store a virtual area specification comprising a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area, wherein the computer readable memory additionally is operable to store a table comprising network topology information describing routes to network destinations; and a processing unit operable to forward real-time data stream packets between network nodes each of which is associated with a respective position in the virtual area and at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types, wherein the processing unit forwards the one or more real-time data stream packets based on the network topology information and the one or more switching rules. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification