Point-to-point data streaming using a mediator node for administration and security

• US 7,103,770 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Web Data Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Conrath, Bartley C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Zachary A.
• Application Number:
  US09/771,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/200, 713/153, 713/155, 725/25, 707/1, 707/9, 707/10, 709/231, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/229, 726/27, 726/4
• US Class Current: 713/155
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A system and method for point-to-point data streaming over a TCP/IP network. A Sender node serves data to the network, with one or more Viewer nodes receiving the data. A Mediator node provides administration and security and a static Internet location for accessing the system. As a result of the administration and security provided by the Mediator node, the data are communicated directly between the Sender and Viewer thereby minimizing resources and costs required for the Mediator. The Mediator node comprises a web server, an administrator and a database. An optional fourth MediaRelay node is provided to which the data are sent by the Sender and from which the data are received by multiple Viewers. The MediaRelay node permits a Sender having low bandwidth to service multiple Viewers.

The Mediator uses versioning control to upgrade MediaSender software at the Sender node, and stores in a database information provided by a Sender during a registration procedure. At login by the Sender, the Sender is authenticated and the Mediator unlocks the MediaSender software. At login by the Viewer, the Viewer is authenticated and the Mediator downloads viewing software to the Viewer. Authentication is based upon information in the database provided by the Sender at registration. Upon authentication of both Sender and Viewer, the Mediator sends both nodes a key enabling bi-directional communication between Sender and Viewer using respective sockets which are maintained until the communication is terminated by the Sender or the Viewer.

Claims

1. A system for viewer managed point to point data streaming over a network, comprising:

a Sender node for generating streaming data from a target site, said Sender being a client having an address on a network;

a Viewer node for monitoring said target site by controlling the generation of streaming data by the Sender node and viewing said streaming data, said Viewer being a client on said network; and

a Mediator node for remotely authenticating said Viewer and Sender, locating for said Viewer said Sender address, transmitting session keys to the Viewer and the Sender, and recording session information in a repository, the session keys enabling the Sender and the Viewer to establish a point-to-point connection over the network,

wherein said connection is for the streaming of said streaming data by the Sender to the Viewer under said Viewer control, and

wherein said Viewer control includes asynchronous initiating, stopping and restarting said streaming without intervention by the Mediator node after said transmission of the session keys.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said network is a TCP/IP network.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said streaming data is multi-media.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said Sender'"'"'s address is dynamic.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said session information in said repository at said Mediator node includes IP addresses for said Sender and said Viewer and said session keys, and wherein said Mediator node provides a static Internet location for accessing the system.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said Sender further comprises means for accepting requests from authorized Viewers and means for streaming said data to said authorized Viewers.

7. A system as in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of Mediator nodes, each Mediator node serving a plurality of Senders and a plurality of Viewers.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein a first Sender further comprises a MediaRelay for retransmitting to a Viewer or a second Sender a data stream generated by said first Sender or received from a third Sender.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein each said Mediator node provides security.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said security is implemented by encrypted communication tokens, each said token containing an address of a designated Sender and being readable by a designated Viewer, said designations being mediated at each said Mediator node.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said streaming data is generated and transmitted in real-time.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said Sender is implemented by MediaSender software and said software is updated automatically from said Mediator node.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said software is constructed using platform independent technology.

14. A method for viewer managed point to point data streaming over a network between a Sender and a Viewer, comprising the steps of:

registering Sender information with a Mediator node, said Sender information including at least a location of said Sender and a list of Viewers having access rights;

authenticating said Sender by said Mediator;

requesting access to said Sender by a Viewer;

logging said Viewer'"'"'s request with said Mediator node, said logging validating said Viewer against said list of Viewers;

transmitting said location information to said validated Viewer and notifying said Sender of said validated Viewer;

downloading by said Viewer of a videostreamer from said Sender;

establishing by said Viewer and said Sender a point-to-point connection, said connection being for streaming of streaming data by said Sender to said Viewer; and

controlling by said Viewer of said Sender streaming of said streaming data, using said videostreamer and without intervention by said Mediator node, said Viewer control including asynchronous initiating, stopping and restarting said streaming data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said network is a TCP/IP network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said streaming data is multi-media.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said Sender'"'"'s address is dynamic.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a repository in said Mediator node monitors and records session information, said session information including IP addresses for said Sender and said Viewer, and session keys for access control, and wherein said Mediator node provides a static Internet location for accessing the system at a web site associated with said Mediator node.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

registering a second Sender'"'"'s information by said Mediator node, said information including at least a location of said second Sender, said second Sender having a MediaRelay for retransmitting said videostreamer to said Viewer;

after said logging of said Viewer'"'"'s request, transmitting to said validated viewer said second Sender'"'"'s location information, said videostreamer then being transmitted by said Sender to said second Sender and downloaded to said Viewer by said MediaRelay.

20. A system for viewer managed point to point data streaming over a network between a Sender and a Viewer, comprising:

means for registering Sender information with a Mediator node, said Mediator node containing a repository which monitors and records session information, said Sender information including at least a location of said Sender and a list of Viewers having access rights;

means for authenticating said Sender by said Mediator;

means for requesting access to said Sender by a Viewer;

means for logging said Viewer'"'"'s request with said Mediator node, said logging validating said Viewer against said list of Viewers;

means for transmitting said location information to said validated Viewer and notifying said Sender of said validated Viewer;

means for downloading by said Viewer of a videostreamer from said Sender;

means for establishing by said Viewer and said Sender of a point-to-point connection, said connection being for streaming of streaming data by said Sender to said Viewer; and

means for controlling by said Viewer of said Sender streaming of said streaming data, using said videostreamer and without intervention by said Mediator node, said Viewer control including asynchronous initiating, stopping and restarting said streaming data, wherein said Sender provides its address to said Mediator node when said direct transmission is started or restarted by said Viewer.

21. A system for viewer managed point to point data streaming over a network, comprising:

means for transmitting a data stream from a Sender to one or more Viewers, optionally via one or more Relays;

means for registering information of said Sender with a Mediator node, said information including said Sender'"'"'s location on said network and said Sender'"'"'s availability for said transmission, said Mediator node containing a repository which monitors and records session information;

means for said one or more Viewers to request access to said Sender from a Mediator node;

means for said Mediator node to provide said location information to said one or more Viewers if said Sender is available; and

means for establishing by each of said one or more Viewers and said Sender of a point-to-point connection, each said respective connection being for said transmission of said data stream by said Sender to a respective Viewer;

wherein each said transmission to a respective one of said one or more Viewers is initiated and controlled by said respective one of said one or more Viewers, said Viewer initiation being at a web site associated with said Mediator node, said Viewer control including asynchronous initiating, stopping and restarting by said Viewer of said respective transmission without intervention by said Mediator node, and wherein said Sender provides its address to said Mediator node when said direct transmission is started or restarted by said Viewer.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein said providing means use encrypted tokens for security and wherein said Viewer control also includes control of a video quality and a frame rate, and an ability to change through multiple cameras.