Media dependent module interface for computer-based conferencing system
First Claim
1. A media dependent module for a computer-based conferencing system, wherein:
- the media dependent module provides an interface between an upper-level conferencing driver of the conferencing system and a lower-level communications driver of the conferencing system to isolate the conferencing driver from the communications driver;
the media dependent module is dependent upon hardware of the communications driver; and
the media dependent module is adapted to perform a plurality of functions called by the conferencing driver, wherein the plurality of functions comprises;
a first function for preparing the media dependent module for a conferencing session;
a second function for requesting a connection to a remote conferencing node;
a third function for accepting an incoming connection request;
a fourth function for rejecting the incoming connection request;
a fifth function for initiating a listen mode on an established connection;
a sixth function for closing the established connection;
a seventh function for ending the conferencing session;
an eighth function for retrieving information about the media dependent module;
a ninth function for verifying that a link packet of a specified size can be sent on the established connection; and
a tenth function for sending the link packet on the established connection;
wherein;
the first function is an MDM-- BeginSession function;
the second function is an MDM-- MakeConnection function;
the third function is an MDM-- AcceptConnection function;
the fourth function is an MDM-- RejectConnection function;
the fifth function is an MDM-- Listen function;
the sixth function is an MDM-- CloseConnection function;
the seventh function is an MDM-- EndSession function;
the eighth function is an MDM-- GetCharacteristics function;
the ninth function is an MDM-- ClearToSend function; and
the tenth function is an MDM-- Send function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The media dependent module provides an interface between an upper-level conferencing driver (e.g., a data-link manager) of the conferencing system and a lower-level communications driver of the conferencing system to isolate the conferencing driver from the communications driver, where the media dependent module is dependent upon hardware of the communications driver. The media dependent module is adapted to perform a plurality of functions called by the conferencing driver. The media dependent module has a connection state machine. In a preferred embodiment, the communications driver is a communications stack that conforms to one of the NetBIOS, IPX, POTS Modem, and TAPI transport standards. The conferencing system may have multiple media dependent modules, each of which provides an interface between the data-link manager and a communications stack that conforms to a different transport standard.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A media dependent module for a computer-based conferencing system, wherein:
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the media dependent module provides an interface between an upper-level conferencing driver of the conferencing system and a lower-level communications driver of the conferencing system to isolate the conferencing driver from the communications driver; the media dependent module is dependent upon hardware of the communications driver; and the media dependent module is adapted to perform a plurality of functions called by the conferencing driver, wherein the plurality of functions comprises; a first function for preparing the media dependent module for a conferencing session; a second function for requesting a connection to a remote conferencing node; a third function for accepting an incoming connection request; a fourth function for rejecting the incoming connection request; a fifth function for initiating a listen mode on an established connection; a sixth function for closing the established connection; a seventh function for ending the conferencing session; an eighth function for retrieving information about the media dependent module; a ninth function for verifying that a link packet of a specified size can be sent on the established connection; and a tenth function for sending the link packet on the established connection;
wherein;the first function is an MDM-- BeginSession function; the second function is an MDM-- MakeConnection function; the third function is an MDM-- AcceptConnection function; the fourth function is an MDM-- RejectConnection function; the fifth function is an MDM-- Listen function; the sixth function is an MDM-- CloseConnection function; the seventh function is an MDM-- EndSession function; the eighth function is an MDM-- GetCharacteristics function; the ninth function is an MDM-- ClearToSend function; and the tenth function is an MDM-- Send function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A media dependent module for a computer-based conferencing system, wherein:
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the media dependent module provides an interface between an upper-level conferencing driver of the conferencing system and a lower-level communications driver of the conferencing system to isolate the conferencing driver from the communications driver; the media dependent module is dependent upon hardware of the communications driver; and the media dependent module comprises a connection state machine, wherein the connection state machine comprises; an initialization state; (b) an in-session state; (c) a connection Out state; (d) a connection in state; and (e) a connected state, wherein the media dependent module is adapted to perform a plurality of functions called by the conferencing driver, wherein the plurality of functions comprises; an MDM-- BeginSession function for preparing the media dependent module for a conferencing session; an MDM-- MakeConnection function for requesting a connection to a remote conferencing node; an MDM -- AcceptConnection function for accepting an incoming connection request; an MDM-- RejectConnection function for rejecting the incoming connection request; an MDM-- Listen function for initiating a listen mode on an established connection; an MDM-- CloseConnection function for closing the established connection; an MDM-- EndSession function for ending the conferencing session an MDM-- GetCharacteristics function for retrieving information about the media dependent module; an MDM-- ClearToSend function for verifying that a link packet of a specified size can be sent on the established connection; and an MDM-- Send function for sending the link packet on the established connection. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification