Method and apparatus for multi-cast based video conferencing
First Claim
1. A video-conferencing system, comprisinga communication network supporting multi-casting of an AVM stream from a multi-cast ("MC") server to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session over point-to-multi-point connections,wherein the first plurality of MC clients are each participating in a first session, each MC client capable of receiving a selected AVM stream from the communication network and transmitting an associated AVM stream onto the communication network;
- wherein the primary MC client is participating in the first session, the primary MC client capable of receiving the selected AVM stream from the communications network and transmitting a default AVM stream onto the communications network from the primary MC client to the MC server over a point-to-point connection, andwherein the MC server provides the selected AVM stream to the first plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client via a first point-to-multi-point connection on said communications network, the MC server receiving the default AVM stream from the primary MC client and multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point-to-multi-point connections, said MC server switching between multi-casting the default AVM stream and a client AVM stream associated with any one of the MC clients granted permission to speak after the one of the MC clients has requested permission to speak wherein the client AVM stream is provided to the MC server via a dynamically created point-to-point link existing only for the duration of the client AVM transmission wherein the default AVM stream is maintained between the primary MC client and the MC server during the time the client AVM stream is transmitted to the MC server and wherein the dynamically created point-to-point link is torn down when the one of the MC clients is finished speaking and wherein the default AVM stream is then again multi-casted over the point-to-multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of the MC clients and the primary MC client.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distance learning system consists of a plurality of multi-cast clients of various classes and priorities with one multi-cast client as a primary multi-cast client, a multi-cast server, arbitrator and a distance learning session coordinator. The primary multi-cast client provides the default or primary Audio-Visual Material (AVM) stream. The Multi-Cast Server (MCS) setups a multi-cast over a point to multi-point connection which connects all multi-cast clients that are to take part in a particular distance learning session, along with the Primary multi-cast client. Additionally, the primary multi-cast client is connected to the MCS via a point-to-point link. The multi-cast clients and the primary multi-cast client receive an AVM material stream from the multi-cast server via the point to multi-point connection. When a multi-cast client wishes to speak, a speaking request is sent to the arbitrator, the arbitrator determines whether to grant or deny the speaking request. If permission is granted then a point-to-point link is established between the requesting multi-cast client and the MCS. The requesting multi-cast client then provides an AVM stream to the multi-cast server over the newly established point-to-point connection and the multi-cast server switches or provides the AVM stream associated with the requesting multi-cast Client over the point to multi-point connection. When the requesting multi-cast client is through speaking the MCS switches the AVM stream associated with the primary multi-cast client onto the point to multi-point connection and the point-to-point link with the requesting multi-cast client is terminated.
285 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A video-conferencing system, comprising
a communication network supporting multi-casting of an AVM stream from a multi-cast ("MC") server to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session over point-to-multi-point connections, wherein the first plurality of MC clients are each participating in a first session, each MC client capable of receiving a selected AVM stream from the communication network and transmitting an associated AVM stream onto the communication network; -
wherein the primary MC client is participating in the first session, the primary MC client capable of receiving the selected AVM stream from the communications network and transmitting a default AVM stream onto the communications network from the primary MC client to the MC server over a point-to-point connection, and wherein the MC server provides the selected AVM stream to the first plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client via a first point-to-multi-point connection on said communications network, the MC server receiving the default AVM stream from the primary MC client and multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point-to-multi-point connections, said MC server switching between multi-casting the default AVM stream and a client AVM stream associated with any one of the MC clients granted permission to speak after the one of the MC clients has requested permission to speak wherein the client AVM stream is provided to the MC server via a dynamically created point-to-point link existing only for the duration of the client AVM transmission wherein the default AVM stream is maintained between the primary MC client and the MC server during the time the client AVM stream is transmitted to the MC server and wherein the dynamically created point-to-point link is torn down when the one of the MC clients is finished speaking and wherein the default AVM stream is then again multi-casted over the point-to-multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of the MC clients and the primary MC client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 19, 21, 24)
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12. In a video-conferencing system, a method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a point to multi-point connection, the point to multi-point connection for providing from an MC server and AVM stream to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session, sending a default AVM stream over a point-to-point connection from the primary MC client to the MC server, multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point to multi-point connection; requesting permission to speak by a first MC client; granting the first MC client permission to speak; establishing a first point-to-point connection between the first MC client and the MC server; sending the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the first point to point connection from the first MC client to the MC server while maintaining the provision of the default AVM stream from the primary MC client to the MC server; multi-casting the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the point to multi-point connection, tearing down the first point-to-point connection when the first MC client is finishing speaking; and again multi-casting the default AVM stream, received from the primary MC client, over the point to multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23)
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Specification