Method and apparatus for supporting multipoint communications in a protocol-independent manner
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enabling a computer system to initiate, conduct, and terminate a multipoint computer conference regardless of the underlying network protocols. The computer system executes software which determines whether the network supports rooted control and rooted data. When the network supports rooted control, the computer system waits for a connect signal sent from a control leaf node of a plurality of control leaf nodes when the computer system is a control root node and the computer system is to wait for the connect signal. The receipt by the control root node of the connect signal causes the control leaf node to join the conference. The computer system sends the connect signal to the control leaf node when the computer system is the control root node and the computer system is not to wait for the connect signal. The receipt by the control leaf node of the connect signal causes the control leaf node to join the conference. The connect signal is sent from the control root node and from the control leaf node using a function call with arguments identifying the control leaf node and the control root node.
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Citations
29 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for joining a computer system to a multipoint computer conference, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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determining whether a network for the 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processing means in a computer system, cause the processing means to perform the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer system comprising:
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a bus; a processor coupled to the bus; and a memory coupled to the bus, the memory having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, 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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A conferencing system comprising:
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a first computer; a network that supports rooted control; a second computer comprising a control root node of a conference involving the first and second computers, the second computer coupled to the first computer by way of the network, the network determining whether the second computer is the control root node based on an input entry, the second computer waiting for a connect signal requesting a connection to the conference from the first computer to the second computer when the second computer is configured to wait for the connect signal, a receipt by the second computer of the connect signal causing the first computer to join the conference, the second computer sending the connect signal to the first computer when the second computer is not configured to wait for the connect signal, the receipt by the first computer of the connect signal causing the first computer to join the conference; wherein the connect signal is sent from the first computer or from the second computer using a function for joining computers to the conference, the function comprising arguments identifying the first computer and the second computer. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification