Method of transferring data at adjustable levels of priorities to provide optimum response to user demands

• US 5,623,603 A
• Filed: 11/02/1994
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FLS Acquisition Corporation
• Inventors: Zhu, Min, Jiang, Barclay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue, Larry D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/333,560
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.04, 395/200.13, 395/200.17, 395/250, 395/736, 395/850, 395/859, 395/872, 395/873, 395/874, 395/737, 395/860, 370/82
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/623 Weighted service order
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6255 queue load conditions, e.g. longest queue first
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for organizing frames of data into queues for prioritized transmission is disclosed. Frames in queues can be transmitted to the other computer systems, and the priority of transfer is set according to the type of data. The frame currently being viewed is provided with a high priority. If the user changes frame before the first frame of data has been completely transmitted, the transmission of the first frame will be suspended and the second frame of data will begin transfer even though the information in the first frame has not been completely transferred. When the transmission of the second frame of data has been completed and if there are no other interruptions, the transmission of the first frame of data will resume. If the user switches back to the first frame of data before the transmission of the second frame is completed, the transmission of the second frame will be suspended and placed in a different priority queue. The first frame of data will resume transmission because it is now assigned to a higher priority.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a plurality of frames of data from a host computer to a plurality of remote computers via a plurality of communication links, said plurality of frames of data being stored in queues, each of the queues having a queue control block associated with each of the communication links, the plurality of queue control blocks associated with each communication link being placed in a public QCB list corresponding to the particular communication link, wherein the queue control block contains at least a pointer to the queue and a pointer to the next data position for transmission by the communication link, and wherein each of the communication links has an associated current-queue-pointer, comprising the steps of:

a) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block in the public QCB list of the particular communication link, the queue being pointed to by said queue control block containing a frame of data;

b) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block from the background QCB list of the particular communication link and removing said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer from the background QCB list, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the background QCB list for the particular communication link is not empty;

c) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block from the public QCB list and removing said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer from the public QCB list, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the public QCB list is not empty;

d) extracting a data packet from the queue being pointed to by the queue control block being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer and transmitting said data packet to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, and if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is not empty;

e) if the user requests a specific frame of data, placing the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer at a first location within a particular QCB list and setting the current-queue-pointer to point to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing said specific frame of data;

f) if the user creates a new frame of data, placing the new frame of data into a queue, establishing a queue-control block for the queue of the new frame of data, placing the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer at a first location within a particular list of QCBs, and setting the current-queue-pointer to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing the new frame of data; and

g) repeating steps b, c, d, e, and f for each communication link until all data in said queues have been transmitted to said plurality of remote computers via said plurality of communication links.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first location is the background QCBs list.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said host computer provides a transfer queue providing a storage space for use in transferring said frames of data between the plurality of remote computers via the plurality of communication links, said transfer queue having a transfer queue control block, said method further including the following step after step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the transfer queue is not empty, extracting a data packet from the transfer queue and transmitting the extracted data packet to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue in said host computer and in each of said plurality of remote computers, and wherein the private message queue has a private message queue control block, said method further including the following step before step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue pointer to the private message queue control block.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer and further including between step f) and step g) the steps of:

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is a private message for the host computer;

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer and placed in the transfer queue, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer; and

if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, said method further including the step of updating the queue control blocks after extraction of data packets.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue, and wherein the private message queue has a private message queue control block, said method further including the following step before step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue-pointer to the private message queue control block.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, said method further including the step of updating the queue control blocks after extraction of data packets.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer and further including between step f) and step g) the steps of:

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is a private message for the host computer;

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer and placed in the transfer queue, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer; and

if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.

10. A method for use in a teleconferencing system providing an environment in a host computer whereby multiple computers at different sites can be electronically and communicatively linked to pass data among said multiple computers, the system including means for establishing a plurality of communication links between the host computer and a plurality of remote computers, user-interface means responsive to user commands for loading previously created frames of data for transmission to a remote computer and for allowing user creation of new frames of data, means for transmitting said frames of data from the host computer to at least one of the plurality of remote computers via the plurality of communication links, and control means for controlling said transmitting means, the control means storing said plurality of frames of data in queues, each of the queues having a queue control block associated with each of the communication links, the plurality of queue control blocks associated with each communication link being placed in a public QCB list corresponding to the particular communication link, and wherein each queue control block contains at least a pointer to the queue and a pointer to the next data position for transmission, and wherein each of the communication links has an associated current-queue-pointer, wherein for each of the communication links the control means implements the steps of:

a) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block in the public QCB list of the particular communication link, the queue being pointed to by said queue control block containing a frame of data;

b) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block from the background QCB list for the particular communication link and removing said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer from the background QCB list, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the background QCB list of the particular communication link is not empty;

c) setting the current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block from the public QCB list and removing said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer from the public QCB list, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the public QCB list is not empty;

d) extracting a data packet from the queue being pointed to by the queue control block being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer and transmitting said data packet to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link, if the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, and if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is not empty;

e) if the user requests a specific frame of data, placing the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer at a first location within a particular QCB list and setting the current-queue-pointer to point to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing said specific frame of data;

f) if the user creates a new frame of data, placing the new frame of data into a queue, establishing a queue-control block of the queue for the new frame of data, placing the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer at a first location within a particular list of QCBs, and setting the current-queue-pointer to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing the new frame of data; and

g) repeating steps b, c, d, e, and f for each communication link until all data in said queues have been transmitted to said plurality of remote computers via said plurality of communication links.

11. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 10 wherein said first location is the background QCBs list.

12. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 10 wherein said host computer provides a transfer queue providing a storage space for use in transferring said frames of data between the plurality of remote computers via the plurality of communication links, said transfer queue having a transfer queue control block, and wherein, after step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the transfer queue is not empty, extracting a data packet from the transfer queue and transmitting the extracted data packet to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link.

13. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 12 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue in said host computer and in each of said plurality of remote computers, and wherein the private message queue has a private message queue control block, said method further including the following step before step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty, and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue pointer to the private message queue control block.

14. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 13 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer, and further including between step f) and step g) the steps of:

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is a private message for the host computer;

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer and placed in the transfer queue, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer; and

if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.

15. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 14 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, said method further including the step of updating the queue control blocks after extraction of a data packet.

16. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 10 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue in said host computer and in each of said plurality of remote computers, and wherein the private message queue has a private message queue control block, said method further including the following step before step (b):

if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue pointer is empty, and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue pointer to the private message queue control block.

17. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 10 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, said method further including the step of updating the queue control blocks after extraction of data packets.

18. A method for use in a teleconferencing system as recited in claim 10 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer, and further including between step f) and step g) the steps of:

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is a private message for the host computer;

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer and placed in the transfer queue, if the received packet is designated for the host computer and if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer; and

if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.

19. A computer system including and executing one or more programs for transmitting a plurality of frames of data from a host computer to a plurality of remote computers via a plurality of communication links, said plurality of frames of data being stored in queues, each of the queues having a queue control block associated with each of the communication links, the plurality of queue control blocks being placed in each public QCB list corresponding to the particular communication link, wherein each queue control block contains at least a pointer to the queue and a pointer to the next data position for transmission, and wherein each of the communication links has an associated current-queue-pointer, said computer system comprising:

a) means setting a current-queue-pointer to point to a queue control block in the public QCB list corresponding to a particular communication link, the queue being pointed to by said queue control block containing a frame of data;

b) means testing whether or not the particular communication link is available for transmission of data, if the communication link is available for transmission of data, and

(i) if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty and if a background QCB list for the particular communication link is not empty,

the current-queue-pointer is set to point to a queue control block from the background QCB list, and

said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is removed from the background QCB list,

(ii) if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is empty and if the public QCB list is not empty,

the current-queue-pointer is set to point to a queue control block from the public QCB list, and

said queue control block now pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is removed from the public QCB list, and

(iii) if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer is not empty, a data packet is extracted from the queue being pointed to by the queue control block being pointed to by the current-queue-pointer and said data packet is transmitted to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link;

c) means testing whether or not the user has requested a specific frame of data, if the user has requested a particular frame of data,

(i) the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer is placed at a first location within a particular QCB list, and

(ii) the current-queue-pointer is set to point to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing said specific frame of data;

d) means testing whether or not the user has created a new frame of data, if the user has created a new frame of data,

(i) the new frame of data is placed into a queue, and a queue-control-block is established associating with each of said plurality of communication links for the queue for the new frame of data,

(ii) the queue control block being pointed to by said current-queue-pointer is placed at a first location within a particular list of QCBs, and

(iii) the current-queue-pointer is set to the queue control block pointing to the queue storing the new frame of data.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 19 wherein said first location is the background QCBs list.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 19 wherein said host computer provides a transfer queue, that provides a storage space for use in transferring said frames of data between the plurality of remote computers via the plurality of communication links and includes a transfer queue control block, and wherein in the operation of said means testing whether or not the particular communication link is available, it further determines if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue pointer is empty, and if the transfer queue is not empty, a data packet is extracted from the transfer queue and said data packet is transmitted to the remote computer connected via the particular communication link.

22. A computer system as recited in claim 21 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue in said host computer, and wherein in each of said plurality of remote computers the private message queue has a private message queue control block, said logic means further including means for determining if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue pointer is empty, and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue pointer to the private message queue control block.

23. A computer system as recited in claim 22 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer, and further includes means for determining

(a) if the received packet is designated for the host computer, and

if the received packet is a private message for the host computer,

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer,

if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer,

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer, and

placing the received packet in the transfer queue;

and

(b) if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.

24. A computer system as recited in claim 23 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, the queue control blocks being updated after extraction of data packets.

25. A computer system as recited in claim 19 wherein a private message may be transmitted by said host computer to a remote computer by placing the private message in a private message queue, the private message queue having a private message queue block, said logic means further including a means for determining if the queue being pointed to by the current-queue pointer is empty, and if the private message queue is not empty, setting the current-queue pointer to the private message queue control block.

26. A computer system as recited in claim 19 wherein each communication link is managed by a channel manager that manages and directs data in the queues through the use of the queue control blocks, the queue control blocks being updated after extraction of data packets.

27. A computer system as recited in claim 19 wherein the host computer receives a packet of data from a remote computer, and further including means for determining

(a) if the received packet is designated for the host computer, and

if the received packet is a private message for the host computer,

displaying the private message on a screen for the host computer,

if the received packet is not a private message for the host computer,

copying the received packet to a storage location whereby the received packet of data can be accessed and manipulated by the host computer, and

placing the received packet in the transfer queue;

and

(b) if the received packet is not designated for the host computer, placing the received packet in the transfer queue.