Methods for cluster-based multi-party conferencing in ad-hoc networks
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a communications conference at least between a first and a second terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. one of the first and second terminals inviting the other one of the first and second terminals to join the conference;
b. the first terminal creating a first cluster of terminals including the first and second terminals, wherein step b. comprises the steps of;
b.1. electing a super member terminal for the first cluster;
b.2. sending to the second terminal a message comprising an indication of the identity of the super member terminal, an identification of the conference, and cluster parameters including;
a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and
a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster; and
c. establishing a communications session between the first terminal and the second terminal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for establishing a cluster-based multi-party conference and for carrying on the conference as participants join or leave the conference are provided. First, two or more terminals participating to the conference are joined in a cluster, wherein one of them is elected as a super member of the cluster. The other terminal is updated with the identity of the super member terminal, the identification of the conference, and with cluster parameters including a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster. A method for splitting the cluster, and a method for merging two clusters are also provided.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a communications conference at least between a first and a second terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. one of the first and second terminals inviting the other one of the first and second terminals to join the conference; b. the first terminal creating a first cluster of terminals including the first and second terminals, wherein step b. comprises the steps of; b.1. electing a super member terminal for the first cluster; b.2. sending to the second terminal a message comprising an indication of the identity of the super member terminal, an identification of the conference, and cluster parameters including; a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster; and c. establishing a communications session between the first terminal and the second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for splitting a cluster of a plurality of terminals involved in an ongoing multi-party conference, a super member terminal being part of the cluster of terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving an indication that a new terminal is about to joint the multi-party conference; b. detecting that with an addition of the new terminal, a total number of terminals of the cluster reaches a split value Sv associated with the cluster; c. electing a super member for a new cluster to be formed; d. choosing a terminal from the plurality of terminals as a split candidate to be assigned to the new cluster; and e. informing the super member of the new cluster and the chosen terminal that they belong to the new cluster. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for merging a first and a second cluster of terminals involved in a multi-party conference, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. detecting that a terminal of the first cluster leaves the multi-party conference; b. determining that the total number of terminals of the first cluster is about to reach a merge value Mv associated with the first cluster; c. electing a new super member terminal for the remaining participants to the first cluster, the new super member terminal being a super member terminal of the second cluster; d. informing the new super member terminal that the remaining participants to the first cluster become members of the second cluster.
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Specification