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Method and apparatus for supporting multipoint communications in a protocol-independent manner

  • US 5,841,976 A
  • Filed: 03/29/1996
  • Issued: 11/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor in a computer system, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

  • determining whether a network for a conference supports rooted control and rooted data;

    if the network supports rooted control, determining whether the computer system is a control root node based on an input entry;

    responding to a condition where the network supports rooted control and the computer system is a control root node by;

    waiting for a connect signal requesting a connection to the conference from a control leaf node of a plurality of control leaf nodes to the control root node while the control root node is to wait for the connect signal, a receipt by the control root node of the connect signal causing the control leaf node to join the conference; and

    sending the connect signal to the control leaf node when the control root node is not to wait for the connect signal, the receipt by the control leaf node of the connect signal causing the control leaf node to join the conference;

    wherein the connect signal is sent from the control root node and from the control leaf node using a function for joining nodes with arguments identifying the control leaf node and the control root node.

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