Distributed Cloud Computing Platform

• US 20160006835A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Robinson, Christopher, Zube, David
• Application Number:
  US14/323,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20160006835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A distributed cloud computing platform can comprise a plurality of user devices and a plurality of servers connected by a network connection. The plurality of servers can be configured for collectively maintaining a communication session. A high bandwidth and low latency network connection between the plurality of servers can be configured for the transfer of communication session information between the plurality of servers. The plurality of user devices can be configured for participating in a communication session by interacting with the nearest of the plurality of servers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of servers configured for collectively maintaining a communication session, wherein the plurality of servers are configured to process communication session information;

a network connection between the plurality of servers wherein the network connection is configured to transfer the communication session information between the plurality of servers, wherein the network connection is configured for high bandwidth and low latency between the plurality of servers; and

a plurality of user devices configured for participating in the communication session by interacting with a nearest one of the plurality of servers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication session is a video game, a video conference, or a presentation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein processing communication session information comprises rendering a communication session video according to communication session information, and transmitting the rendered communication session video to one or more of the plurality of user devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication session information is prioritized, wherein the plurality of servers are configured to process high priority communication session information prior to low priority communication session information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication session information is prioritized, wherein the network is configured to transmit high priority communication session information prior to low priority communication session information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the high priority communication session information comprises real-time communication session information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the high priority communication session information comprises real-time video game information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the nearest one of the plurality of servers is located at a headend.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection between the plurality of servers have higher bandwidth and lower latency than the connection between a client and one of the plurality of servers.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, from a first user device, a request to participate in a communication session;

directing the first user device to a data stream comprising information related to the communication session;

receiving an interaction command from the first user device;

processing the interaction command, wherein processing the interaction command comprises rendering a communication session video according to the interaction command; and

transmitting the rendered communication session video to a plurality of servers over a network connection, wherein the plurality of servers update the communication session according to the interaction command.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication session is a video game, a video conference, or a presentation.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interaction command is processed prior to other network traffic.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the network connection is configured to transmit the interaction command with higher priority than other network traffic.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first server, a request to participate in a communication session from a first user device;

providing the first user device a data stream comprising information related to the communication session;

receiving, at the first server, an interaction command from the first user device;

processing the interaction command, wherein processing the interaction command comprises rendering a communication session video according to the interaction command; and

transmitting, by the first server, the rendered communication session video to a second server over a network connection, wherein the first and second servers update the communication session according to the interaction command.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second server provides a data stream to a second user device comprising information related to the updated communication session.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the network connection is configured to transmit the interaction command with a higher priority than other network traffic.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first server is the nearest server to the first user device to receive a request to participate in a communication session from the first user device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first server is located at the headend of the first user device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein processing the interaction command comprises determining the priority of the interaction command, and wherein a higher priority command is processed prior to a lower priority command.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein processing the interaction command comprises processing real-time information in the interaction command prior to non-real time information in the interaction command.