System and method for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference using a priority scheme

• US 7,213,050 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sarkar, Shantanu, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARESH N
• Application Number:
  US09/903,162
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 709/207, 709/204, 709/205, 709200-203, 709/206, 709217-231, 718/100, 719310-318, 370260-263, 370/270, 370/386, 370/389, 370/390, 370/401, 370/395.21, 370/395.34, 370/395.4, 379/93.21, 379/159, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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: H04L 12/1877 Measures taken prior to transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70

Abstract

A system and method for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference includes receiving a request for a multipoint conference reservation and a list of participants. Communication paths for a plurality of the participants may be predicted. A multipoint control unit resource requirement may be estimated. A first multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference. The availability of the multipoint control unit resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time of the multipoint conference may be determined. A second multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference, if the first multipoint control unit does not have the multipoint control unit resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the duration of the conference.

Claims

1. A method for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

receiving a request for a reservation of the multipoint conference;

receiving a list of participants;

predicting communication paths for a plurality of the participants;

estimating a multipoint control unit resource requirement;

selecting a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

determining availability of the multipoint control unit resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time and for a duration of the multipoint conference;

selecting a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first multipoint control unit does not have the multipoint control unit resource requirement available at the scheduled start time;

estimating corresponding network resource requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

selecting a first communication path of the plurality of the communication paths;

determining availability of the estimated corresponding network resource requirements associated with the first communication path; and

selecting a third multipoint control unit when the first communication path does not include the estimated corresponding network resource requirements at approximately the scheduled start time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multipoint control unit resource requirement comprises a digital signal processor resource requirement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multipoint control unit resource requirement comprises a communication port requirement.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reserving the multipoint control unit resource requirement of the first multipoint control unit for the multipoint conference, when the multipoint control unit resource requirement is available.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the multipoint control unit resource requirement comprises gateway port requirements.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the multipoint control unit resource requirement comprises digital signal processor requirements of a digital signal processor farm.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting an alternative estimated start time when the second multipoint control unit does not include the multipoint control unit resource requirement at approximately the scheduled start time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a second communication path of the plurality of the communication paths when the first communication path does not include the estimated corresponding network resource requirements at approximately the scheduled start time; and

selecting a fourth multipoint control unit when the second communication path does not include the estimated corresponding network resource requirements.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining availability of the network resource requirements associated with each of the plurality of the communication paths.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting a fifth multipoint control unit when any of the plurality of the communication paths do not include the corresponding network resource requirements.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication paths are predicted using RSVP PATH messages.

12. A method for reserving network resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

receiving a request for a reservation of the multipoint conference;

receiving a list of participants;

selecting a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

predicting communication paths associated with a plurality of the participants;

estimating corresponding network resource requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

selecting a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths;

determining availability of the estimated network resource requirements associated with the first communication path at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference reservation;

selecting a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first communication path does not include the estimated corresponding network resource requirements at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

selecting a second communication path of the plurality of the communication paths, when the first communication path includes the estimated corresponding network resource requirements at approximately the scheduled start time; and

selecting a third multipoint control unit, when the second communication path does not include the estimated corresponding network resource requirements.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the corresponding network resource requirements comprise bandwidth.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the corresponding network resource requirements comprise gateway port requirements.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the corresponding network resource requirements comprise digital signal processor resource requirements of a digital signal processor farm.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising reserving the corresponding network resource requirements associated with the first communication path for the multipoint conference, when the network resource requirement is available.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining availability of the corresponding network resource requirements along each of the plurality of the communication paths.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a fourth multipoint control unit when any of the plurality of the communication paths do not include the corresponding network resource requirement.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication paths are predicted using RSVP PATH messages.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reserving a pool of bandwidth for high priority request; and

allocating available bandwidth from the pool according to a predetermined priority scheme.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined priority scheme is established according to a type of multipoint conference requested.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined priority scheme is established according to an identity of a requestor of the multipoint conference.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined priority scheme is established according to a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to a plurality of the participants, respectively;

and

the available bandwidth is allocated to high priority participants until all high priority participant request are processed.

24. An apparatus for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

a server to receive a request for a reservation of the multipoint conference and to receive a list of participants; and

the server being further to;

predict communication paths for a plurality of the participants;

estimate a digital signal processor resource requirement for the multipoint conference;

select a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

determine availability of the digital signal processor resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference;

select a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

when the first multipoint control unit does not have the digital signal processor resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

estimate corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

select a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths;

determine availability of the estimated bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path; and

select a third multipoint control unit when the first communication path does not include the associated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the server is further to reserve the digital signal processor resource requirement from the first multipoint control unit for the multipoint conference, when the digital signal processor resource requirement is available.

26. An apparatus for reserving network resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

a server to receive a request for a reservation of the multipoint conference, and to receive a list of participants; and

the server being further to;

select a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

predict communication paths associated with a plurality of the participants;

estimate corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

select a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths;

determine availability of the estimated bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference reservation;

select a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

select a second communication path of the plurality of the communication paths, when the first communication path includes the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration; and

select a third multipoint control unit when the second communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

memory to reserve the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path, when the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path is available.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the server is further to:

reserve a pool of bandwidth for high priority multipoint conference request; and

allocate available bandwidth from the pool according to a predetermined priority scheme.

29. Logic encoded in computer storage media for reserving a network resource for a multipoint conference, the logic to perform the following steps:

receive a request for a reservation of a multipoint conference;

receive a list of participants;

predict communication paths for a plurality of the participants;

estimate a digital signal processor resource requirement for the multipoint conference;

select a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

determine availability of the digital signal processor resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference;

select a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first multipoint control unit does not have the digital signal processor resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

estimate corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

select a first communication path of the plurality of the communication paths;

determine availability of the estimated bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path; and

select a third multipoint control unit when the first communication path does not include the associated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration.

30. The logic encoded in computer storage media of claim 29, wherein the logic is further to reserve the digital signal processor resource requirement from the first multipoint control unit for the multipoint conference, when the digital signal processor resource requirement is available.

31. Logic encoded in computer storage media for reserving network resources for a multipoint conference, the logic to perform the following steps:

receive a request for a reservation of a multipoint conference and to receive a list of participants;

select a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference,

predict communication paths associated with a plurality of the participants;

estimate corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

select the first communication path of the plurality of the communication paths;

determine availability of the estimated bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference reservation;

select a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

select a second communication path of the plurality of the communication paths, when the first communication path includes the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time; and

select a third multipoint control unit when the second communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement.

32. The logic encoded in computer storage media of claim 31, wherein the logic is further to reserve the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path, when the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path is available.

33. The logic encoded in computer storage media of claim 31, wherein the logic is further to:

reserve a pool of bandwidth for high priority multipoint conference request; and

allocate available bandwidth from the pool according to a predetermined priority scheme.

34. An apparatus for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

means for receiving a request for a reservation for the multipoint conference and to receive a list of participants;

means for predicting communication paths for a plurality of the participants;

means for estimating a digital signal processor resource requirement for the multipoint conference;

means for selecting a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

means for determining availability of the digital signal processor resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time and for an estimated duration of the multipoint conference;

means for selecting a second multipoint control unit to host the conference, when the first multipoint control unit does not have the digital signal processor resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the estimated duration;

means for estimating corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

means for selecting a first communication path of the plurality of communication paths,

means for determining availability of the estimated bandwidth requirements associated with the first communication path; and

means for selecting a third multipoint control unit when the first communication path does not include the associated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for reserving the digital signal processor resource requirement from the first multipoint control unit for the multipoint conference, when the digital signal processor resource requirement is available.

36. An apparatus for reserving network resources for a multipoint conference, comprising:

means for receiving a request for a reservation of the multipoint conference and to receive a list of participants;

means for selecting a first multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference;

means for predicting communication paths associated with a plurality of the participants;

means for estimating corresponding bandwidth requirements associated with a plurality of the communication paths;

means for selecting a first communication path of the plurality of the communication paths;

means for determining availability of the estimated bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path;

means for selecting a second multipoint control unit to host the multipoint conference, when the first communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time;

means for selecting a second communication path of the plurality of the communication paths, when the first communication path includes the estimated bandwidth requirement at approximately the scheduled start time; and

means for selecting a third multipoint control unit when the second communication path does not include the estimated bandwidth requirement.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising means for reserving the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path, when the bandwidth requirement associated with the first communication path is available.