Call setup and channel allocation for a multi-media network bus

• US 5,422,883 A
• Filed: 10/16/1992
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kalajainen, Dennis M., Bowen, Ronald A., Hauris, Jon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLUM, RUSSELL
• Application Number:
  US07/963,301
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.7, 370/62, 370/79, 370/94.2, 370/110.1, 370/95.1, 379/202, 379/204, 379/205
• US Class Current: 370/261
• 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: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method and system for call set-up and channel resource allocation between a plurality of parties in a multi-media conference call that consists of receiving notice that a Sender (the initiator of the conference) wants to commence a video conference. At that point, the number of channels required by the proposed call is determined. Subsequently, each requested participant is identified as available, busy, or no answer. If the receiver is available and sufficient channels are available, the call is set-up and the present members of the conference are notified of what channel each should transmit on and what channel(s) to listen to for the other participants. As each receiver is added, the Sender may conference with the present Receiver. If it is decided at this point, that the receiver will not participate in the conference, the call to that receiver may be terminated, and the procedure continues for other receivers until the full conference is set up. Individuals may leave the conference at any time. When the final two participants hang up, the video conference is terminated.

Claims

1. A method of call set-up and allocation for a multi-media exchange of communications among a plurality of parties, said parties connected by a backbone network and a plurality of local area networks, said method comprising the steps of:

a) waiting in a quiescent state;

b) receiving a call request from a first participant, said call request identifying other participants for local or remote communication, the former conducted through the local area network and the latter connected through the backbone network;

c) entering a channel allocate;

state and during said channel allocate state;

determining the number of variable isochronous channels and variable packet and isochronous bandwidth required for communication among said first participant and all of said other participants using a state machine;

determining the number of available channels and bandwidth using the state machine;

dynamically allocating and reassigning the required number of channels to said conference using the state machine to meet the needs of the call request, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and

returning to said idle state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required;

d) choosing one of said other participants and determining whether said chosen participant is busy", no answer" or "clear";

e) if said chosen participant is "clear";

assigning a channel to said chosen participant;

notifying said chosen participant of a channel number associated with said assigned channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant;

f) if said chosen participant is "busy" or "no answer", identifying to said first participant the state of said chosen participant;

g) repeating steps c, d, e, and f a plurality of times until each of said other participants has been chosen; and

h) entering a talk state and during said talk state;

communicating among said first participant and all of said other "clear" participants, said communicating consisting of transmitting and receiving among said first participant and all of said other "clear" participants over said assigned channels;

receiving an additional call request from said first participant identifying one or more additional participants;

repeating steps c, d, e, and f until each of said additional participants has been chosen; and

reentering said talk state.

2. A method of call set-up and allocation as in claim 1 comprising the following additional steps after step e:

entering an initial talk state during which said first participant and said clear chosen participant can communicate using channels corresponding to said assigned channel number;

continuing to step g of claim 1 if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should remain in the call; and

releasing the assigned channel for said clear chosen participant if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should not remain in the call and returning to step g of claim 1.

3. A method as in claim 1, comprising in addition, releasing said assigned channel when one of said clear participants indicates termination of communication between said clear participant and said other participants.

4. A method as in claim 1, comprising in addition, releasing all of said assigned channels when said first participant indicates termination of communications.

5. A system of call set-up and allocation for a multi-media exchange of communications among a plurality of parties, said parties connected by a backbone network and a plurality of local area networks, said system comprising:

a) means for waiting in a quiescent state;

b) means for receiving a call request from a first participant said call request identifying other participants for local or remote communications, the former conducted through the local area network and the latter conducted through the backbone network;

c) means for entering a channel allocate state, said means for entering an allocation state comprising;

means for determining the number of variable isochronous channels and variable packet and isochronous bandwidth required for communication among said first participant and all other said participants using a state machine;

means for determining the number of available channels and bandwidth using the state machine;

means for dynamically allocating and reassigning the required number of channels to said conference using the state machine to meet the needs of the call request including guaranteeing bandwidth for isochronous data, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and

means for returning to said idle state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required;

d) means for choosing one of said other participants and determining whether said chosen participant is "busy", "no answer" or "clear";

e) means for assigning a channel to said chosen participant, if said chosen participant is "clear" and means for notifying said chosen participant of a channel number associated with said assigned channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant, if said chosen participant is "clear";

f) means for identifying to said first participant, the state of said chosen participant, said identification occurring if said chosen participant is "busy" or "no answer"; and

g) means for entering a talk state, during which said first participant and all of said other "clear" participants transmit and receive among themselves over channels corresponding to said assigned channel numbers.

6. A system of call set-up and allocation for a multi-media exchange of communications among a plurality of parties, said parties connected by a backbone network and a plurality of local area networks, said system comprising:

a) means for waiting in a quiescent state;

b) means for receiving a call request from a first participant said call request identifying other participants for local or remote communication, the former conducted through the local area network and the latter conducted through the backbone network;

c) means for entering a channel allocate state, said means for entering an allocation state comprising;

means for determining the number of variable isochronous channels and variable packet and isochronous bandwidth required for communication among said first participant and all of said other participants using a state machine;

means for determining the number of available channels and bandwidth using the state machine;

means for dynamically allocating and reassigning the required number of channels to said conference using the state machine to meet the needs of the call request including guaranteeing bandwidth for isochronous data, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and

means for returning to said idle state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required;

d) means for choosing one of said other participants and determining whether said chosen participant is "busy", "no answer" or "clear";

e) means for assigning a channel to said chosen participant, if said chosen participant is "clear" and means for notifying said chosen participant of a channel number associated with said assigned channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant, if said chosen participant is "clear";

f) means for identifying to said first participant the state of said chosen participant, said identification occurring if said chosen participant is "busy" or "no answer";

g) means for entering a talk state, during which said first participant and all of said other "clear" participants transmit and receive among themselves over channels corresponding to said assigned channel numbers;

h) means for receiving an additional call request from said first participant identifying one or more additional participants;

i) means for reentering said channel allocate state, said means for reentering said allocation state comprising;

means for determining the number of channels required for an additional call among said first participant and all of said additional participants;

means for determining the number of available channels;

means for adding the required number of channels to said conference, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and

means for returning to said talk state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required;

j) means for choosing one of said additional participants and determining whether said chosen additional participant is "busy", "no answer" or "clear";

k) means for assigning an additional channel to said chosen additional participant, if said chosen additional participant is "clear" and means for notifying said chosen additional participant of a channel number associated with said assigned additional channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant, if said chosen additional participant is "clear"; and

l) means for identifying to said first participant the state of said chosen additional participant, said identification occurring if said chosen additional participant is "busy" or "no answer"; and

m) means for reentering said talk state.

7. A system of call set-up and allocation as in claim 6 comprising, in addition:

means for entering an initial talk state during which said first participant and said clear chosen participant can communicate using channels corresponding to said assigned channel number;

means for continuing to step g of claim 6 if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should remain in the call;

means for releasing the assigned channel for said clear chosen participant if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should not remain in the call and subsequently continuing to step g of claim 6.

8. A system as in claim 6, comprising in addition, means for releasing said assigned channel when one of said clear participants indicates termination of communication between said clear participant and said other participants.

9. A system as in claim 6, comprising in addition, means for releasing all of said assigned channels when said first participant indicates termination of communications.