System and apparatus for geographically distributed VoIP conference service with enhanced QoS
First Claim
1. A method for establishing an overlay network of collaborative conference servers for use in a multi-participant conference, the method comprising:
- identifying a set of conference servers;
communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the identified conference servers to all of the identified conference servers in the set of conference servers to establish a plurality of collaborative conference servers;
connecting at least two of the conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants; and
using each one of the directly connected conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant,wherein the step of communicating the internet protocol addresses and the path delay times further comprises;
communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and
communicating the addresses and the path delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system, including apparatus and architecture, and method for providing scheduled and ad hoc voice over IP conference services having enhanced quality and reliability. The system uses an overlay network of geographically distributed conference servers working simultaneously and collaboratively to host a given conference session. Multiple conference servers simultaneously and collaboratively perform the necessary audio mixing. The voice routing path is established and controlled within the overlay network and supports conference services across different conference service providers.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for establishing an overlay network of collaborative conference servers for use in a multi-participant conference, the method comprising:
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identifying a set of conference servers; communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the identified conference servers to all of the identified conference servers in the set of conference servers to establish a plurality of collaborative conference servers; connecting at least two of the conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants; and using each one of the directly connected conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant, wherein the step of communicating the internet protocol addresses and the path delay times further comprises; communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and communicating the addresses and the path delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer readable storage medium containing computer executable code that when read by a computer causes the computer to perform a method for establishing an overlay network of collaborative conference servers for use in a multi-participant conference, the method comprising:
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identifying a set of conference servers; communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the identified conference servers to all of the identified conference servers in the set of conference servers to establish a plurality of collaborative conference servers; connecting at least two of the conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants; and using each one of the directly connected conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant, wherein the step of communicating the internet protocol addresses and the path delay times further comprises; communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and communicating the addresses and the path delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for providing multi-participant conferencing, the system comprising:
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an overlay network of conference servers arranged to collaboratively host the multi-party conference, the overlay network comprising a plurality of conference servers, each conference server arranged to obtain an internet protocol address and a path delay time for all of the other conference servers to establish a plurality of collaborative conference servers, directly attached to at least one conference participant and arranged to supply audio mixing for the directly attached conference participant, wherein all of the conference servers provide audio mixing for directly attached participants simultaneously, and wherein the step of obtaining the internet protocol addresses and the path delay times further comprises; communicating an internet protocol address and a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and communicating the addresses and the path delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server.
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Specification