System and method for maintaining a plurality of media conferences

• US 6,744,741 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrow, Joseph C., Le, Son H. P., Ju, Ken J., Chow, Steven, Lin, Tien-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHULTZ, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/464,069
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/263, 370/264, 370/266, 370/420, 370/421, 370/463, 370/419, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/206
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences includes digital signal processors (DSPs) and a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs. Each DSP receives input data packets from conference participants, processes the input data packets to generate output data packets, and communicates the output data packets to the conference participants. The SRM module may migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each DSP operable to receive input data packets from conference participants, to process the input data packets to generate output data packets, and to communicate the output data packets to the conference participants; and

a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs and operable to migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP by allocating the media conference to the second DSP, communicating input data packets associated with the media conference to the first and second DSPs for a mirroring period, and de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after the mirroring period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each DSP comprises:

a memory operable to store a plurality of buffers associated with one or more media conferences, each buffer including one or more input data packets associated with a media conference; and

a processing module coupled to the memory and operable to receive data packets from the buffers and to process the data packets to generate one or more output data streams.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the SRM module allocates the media conference to the second DSP by communicating initiation information to the DSP; and

the second DSP is further operable to create a conference context for the media conference in response to receiving the initiation information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices during the mirroring period; and

the second DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices after the mirroring period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data streams associated with the media conference.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the SRM module migrates the media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if resource information related to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the media conference is a voice telephone conference.

11. A method of maintaining a plurality of media conferences using a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), comprising:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

allocating the media conference to a second DSP;

communicating input data packets associated with the media conference to the first and second DSPs during a mirroring period; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after the mirroring period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein allocating the media conference to the second DSP further comprises:

communicating initiation information to the second DSP; and

creating a conference context in the second DSP for the media conference.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices during the mirroring period; and

the second DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices after the mirroring period.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

examining resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, Wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the media conference is a voice telephone conference.

20. A system resource management (SRM) module operable to allocate a media conference to a first DSP and to migrate the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP when resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

21. The SRM module of claim 20, wherein the SRM module migrates the media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP by:

allocating the media conference to the second DSP;

communicating input data packets associated with the media conference to the first and second DSPs for a mirroring period; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after the mirroring period.

22. The SRM module of claim 21, wherein:

the SRM module allocates the media conference to the second DSP by communicating initiation information to the second DSP; and

the second DSP is further operable to create a conference context for the media conference in response to receiving the initiation information.

23. The SRM module of claim 21, wherein the SRM module receives output data packets associated with the media conference from the first DSP during the mirroring period and receives output data packets associated with the media conference from the second DSP after the mirroring period.

24. The SRM module of claim 22, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP in response to receiving one or more output data packets associated with the media conference from the second DSP.

25. The SRM module of claim 20, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

26. The SRM module of claim 20, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

27. The SRM module of claim 20, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

28. The SRM module of claim 20, wherein the media conference is a voice telephone conference.

29. Media conference migration software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

allocating the media conference to the second DSP;

communicating input data packets associated with the media conference to the first and second DSPs during a mirroring period; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after the mirroring period.

30. The media conference migration software of claim 29, wherein allocating the media conference to the second DSP further comprises:

communicating initiation information to the second DSP; and

creating a conference context in the second DSP for the media conference.

31. The media conference migration software of claim 29, wherein:

the first DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices during the mirroring period; and

the second DSP communicates output data packets associated with the media conference to end-user devices after the mirroring period.

32. The media conference migration software of claim 29, further operable to perform the step of de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference.

33. The media conference migration software of claim 29, further operable to perform the step of de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

34. The media conference migration software of claim 29, further operable to perform the steps of:

examining resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

35. The media conference migration software of claim 34, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

36. The media conference migration software of claim 34, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

37. The media conference migration software of claim 29, wherein the media conference is a voice telephone conference.

38. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

means for allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

means for allocating the media conference to a second DSP;

means for communicating input data packets associated with the media conference to the first and second DSPs during a mirroring period; and

means for de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after the mirroring period.

39. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each DSP operable to receive input data packets from conference participants, to process the input data packets to generate output data packets, and to communicate the output data packets to the conference participants and wherein each DSP comprises;

a memory operable to store a plurality of buffers associated with one or more media conferences, each buffer including one or more input data packets associated with a media conference;

a processing module coupled to the memory and operable to receive data packets from the buffers and to process the data packets to generate one or more output data streams; and

a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs and operable to migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data streams associated with the media conference.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the SRM module migrates the media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if resource information related to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

63. The method of claim 42, further comprising examining a resource information relating to the first DSP;

and wherein migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP comprises migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

45. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each DSP operable to receive input data packets from conference participants, to process the input data packets to generate output data packets, and to communicate the output data packets to the conference participants; and

a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs and operable to;

migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocate the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data streams associated with the media conference.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the SRM module de-allocates the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data streams associated from the first DSP and a predetermined number of clock cycles elapsing.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the SRM module migrates the media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if resource information related to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

50. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each DSP operable to receive input data packets from conference participants, to process the input data packets to generate output data packets, and to communicate the output data packets to the conference participants; and

a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs and operable to;

migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocate the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the SRM module migrates the media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if a resource information related to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

54. A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences, comprising:

a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), each DSP operable to receive input data packets from conference participants, to process the input data packets to generate output data packets, and to communicate the output data packets to the conference participants; and

a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs and operable to migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP if a resource information related to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

57. A method of maintaining a plurality of media conferences using a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), comprising:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein de-allocating the media conference comprises de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference and after a predetermined number of clock cycles elapse.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising examining resource information relating to the first DSP;

and wherein migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP comprises migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

62. A method of maintaining a plurality of media conferences using a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), comprising:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles.

66. A method of maintaining a plurality of media conferences using a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs), comprising:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

examining a resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP, if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

69. Media conference migration software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference.

70. The media conference migration software of claim 69, wherein the media conference migration software is operable to de-allocate the media conference from the first DSP by de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP in response to the second DSP generating output data packets associated with the media conference and a predetermined number of clock cycles elapsing.

71. The media conference migration software of claim 69, further operable to perform the steps of:

examining resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

72. The media conference migration software of claim 71, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

73. The media conference migration software of claim 71, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

74. Media conference migration software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP; and

de-allocating the media conference from the first DSP after a predetermined number of clock cycles elapsing.

75. The media conference migration software of claim 74, further operable to perform the steps of:

examining resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating a media conference from the first DSP to the second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

76. The media conference migration software of claim 75, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

77. The media conference migration software of claim 75, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.

78. Media conference migration software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:

allocating a media conference to a first DSP;

examining resource information relating to the first DSP; and

migrating the media conference from the first DSP to a second DSP if the resource information relating to the first DSP exceeds a resource threshold.

79. The media conference migration software of claim 78, wherein the resource information relates to a rate of operation required to support the media conferences allocated to the first DSP.

80. The media conference migration software of claim 78, wherein the resource information is based on a number of media conferences allocated to the first DSP and a number of participants in each media conference.