System for automatically adding additional data stream to existing media connection between two end points upon exchange of notifying and confirmation messages therebetween

• US 5,854,898 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Riddle, Guy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ki S.
• Application Number:
  US08/396,198
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 364/240.9, 364/242.94, 364/222.9, 364/284.3, 364/284.4, 370/60, 370/94.1, 379/202, 395/200.1, 395/650, 395/200.61, 395/200.34, 395/200.57, 395/200.67
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1863 comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports arrangements for detecting or preventing errors by carrying supervisory signal the return channel H04L1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An automatic method for adding an additional data stream, such as auxiliary teleconference data, to an existing media connection between two endpoints, such as a teleconference between teleconferencing systems. A first endpoint identifies the availability of a second data stream to a second endpoint via a first message which references the existing media connection. The first endpoint notifies the second endpoint of the desire to connect via a second message. The second endpoint notifies the first endpoint of confirmation to connect via a third message. The first and the second endpoint then establish communication wherein the additional data stream is associated in a first endpoint and the second endpoint with the existing media connection.

Claims

1. An automatic method for adding an additional data stream to an existing media source between two endpoints comprising the following steps:

a. a first endpoint identifying the availability of said additional data stream to a second endpoint via a first message containing a reference to said existing media source;

b. said first endpoint notifying said second endpoint of the desire to connect to provide said additional data stream via a second message;

c. said second endpoint notifying said first endpoint of confirmation to connect via a third message; and

d. said first and said second endpoint establishing communication to provide said additional data stream to said second endpoint, said additional data stream being associated in said first endpoint and said second endpoint with said existing media source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said additional data stream includes audio information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said additional data stream includes a second media connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said existing media source includes a video media source.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said additional data stream includes an audio source.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating steps a-d for a second additional data stream, said second data stream becoming said additional data stream.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising said second endpoint presenting an option to a user to add said additional data stream to said existing media source.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a. said first endpoint transmitting a notification message to said second endpoint that said additional data stream will terminate; and

b. responsive to said notification message, said second endpoint terminating receipt of said additional data stream, and removing said association with said existing media source.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising said first endpoint continuing to provide said existing media source to said second endpoint.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a. said second endpoint transmitting a notification message to said first endpoint that said second endpoint is terminating receipt of said additional data stream; and

b. responsive to said notification message, said first endpoint terminating transmission of said additional data stream to said second endpoint.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising said first endpoint continuing to provide said existing media source to said second endpoint.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said reference to said existing media source includes a conference identifier of said existing media source.

13. An apparatus in a first endpoint for adding an additional data stream to an existing media source between two endpoints comprising:

a. a first circuit coupled to a communication interface, said first circuit creating and transmitting a first message containing a reference to said existing media source which identifies the availability of said additional data stream to a second endpoint;

b. a second circuit coupled to said communication interface, said second circuit receiving a second message from said second endpoint notifying said first endpoint of confirmation to receive said additional data stream; and

c. a third circuit coupled to said communication interface, said third circuit providing said additional data stream to said second endpoint such that said second endpoint interprets said additional data stream as being received from said first endpoint.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said additional data stream includes audio information.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said additional data stream includes a second media source.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said existing media source includes a video media source.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said additional data stream includes an audio source.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a fourth circuit coupled to said first circuit and activating said first circuit for a second additional data stream, said second additional data stream becoming said additional data stream.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a fourth circuit coupled to said communication interface and transmitting a notification message to said second endpoint that said additional data stream will terminate, and terminating said additional data stream, and removing said association with said existing media source.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said existing media source continues to be provided to said second endpoint after said additional data stream is terminated.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a fourth circuit coupled to said communication interface and receiving a notification message from said second endpoint that said second endpoint is terminating receipt of said additional data stream and

terminating said additional data stream, and removing said association with said existing media source responsive to receipt of said notification message.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said existing media source continues to be provided to said second endpoint after said additional data stream is terminated.

23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said reference to said existing media source includes a conference identifier of said existing media source.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said additional data stream is provided by said third circuit to all endpoints, other than said first endpoint, that receive messages from said first endpoint, and wherein said additional data stream is not provided by said third circuit to any endpoint that does not receive messages from said first endpoint.

25. An automatic method for adding an additional media stream associated with an existing media stream transmitted between two endpoints comprising the following steps:

a. a first endpoint identifying the availability of said additional media stream to a second endpoint via a first message containing a reference to said existing media stream;

b. said second endpoint notifying said first endpoint of confirmation to connect via a second message; and

c. said first and said second endpoint establishing communication to provide said additional media stream to said second endpoint, said additional media stream being associated in said second endpoint with said first endpoint.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said additional media stream includes audio information.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said additional media stream includes a second media source.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said existing media stream includes a video media source.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said additional media stream includes an audio source.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising repeating steps a-c for a second additional media stream, said second additional data stream becoming said additional media stream.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising said second endpoint presenting an option to a user to add said additional media stream.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

a. said first endpoint transmitting a notification message to said second endpoint that said additional media stream will terminate; and

b. responsive to said notification message, said second endpoint terminating said additional media stream, and removing said association with said existing media stream.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising said first endpoint continuing to provide said existing media source to said second endpoint.

34. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

a. said second endpoint transmitting a notification message to said first endpoint that said second endpoint is terminating receipt of said additional media stream; and

b. responsive to said notification message, said first endpoint terminating said additional media stream to said second endpoint.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising said first endpoint continuing to provide said existing media stream to said second endpoint.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein said reference to said existing media stream includes a conference identifier of said existing media stream.

37. An apparatus for adding an additional media stream associated with an existing media stream transmitted from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, said apparatus comprising:

a means for identifying an availability of said additional media stream to said second endpoint via a first message containing a reference to said existing media stream;

a means for receiving a confirmation to connect via a second message from said second endpoint;

a means for providing said additional media stream to said second endpoint, said additional media stream being associated at said second endpoint with said first endpoint.

38. A computer readable medium in a digital processing system which is a first endpoint that is transmitting an existing media stream to a second endpoint, said medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed in said digital processing system cause said system to perform steps comprising:

identifying an availability of an additional media stream to said second endpoint via a first message containing a reference to said existing media stream;

receiving a confirmation to connect via a second message from said second endpoint;

providing said additional media stream to said second endpoint, said additional media stream being associated at said second endpoint with said first endpoint.