Scalable moderated audio conferencing for multicast and unicast endpoints and gateways

• US 7,580,375 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sarkar, Shantanu, Friedrich, Walter R., Ismail, Nermin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/886,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/329, 370/330, 370/401, 379/142.01, 379/202.1, 379/204.01, 348/14.01, 381/17, 455/416, 455/514, 709/204
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission

Abstract

Providing a conference call includes establishing a bidirectional first class stream for each of a set of first class endpoints. A second class stream is established for each of a set of second class endpoints. Mixed streams are generated using the bidirectional first class streams, and one or more mixed streams are broadcasted to the set of second class endpoints. A particular second class endpoint is determined to have a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams. The second class stream for the particular second class endpoint is mapped to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint. Next mixed streams are generated using the bidirectional second class stream.

Claims

1. A method for providing a conference call, comprising:

establishing, by a conference server comprising hardware, a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint;

establishing a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint;

mixing the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

broadcasting one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints;

determining that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams;

mapping the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint; and

mixing the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a bidirectional first class stream for a first class endpoint further comprises a bidirectional unicast stream between the first class endpoint and a conference server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and a media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and a conference server; and

a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the right has been terminated; and

mapping the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams further comprises:

receiving a request for the right from the particular second class endpoint; and

granting the request for the right.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams further comprises:

receiving a plurality of requests for the right from a plurality of second class endpoints;

selecting the particular second class endpoint from the plurality of second class endpoints according to a conference policy; and

granting the request from the particular second class endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint further comprises:

determining a time stamp of a packet of the second class stream;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the bidirectional second class stream; and

mapping the streams in accordance with the time stamps.

8. A system for providing a conference call, comprising:

a conference server operable to;

establish a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint;

establish a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint;

mix the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

broadcast one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints; and

determine that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams; and

a media switch coupled to the conference server and operable to map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint, the conference server further operable to mix the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a bidirectional first class stream for a first class endpoint further comprises a bidirectional unicast stream between the first class endpoint and a conference server.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and a media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and a conference server; and

a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server.

11. The system of claim 8, the media switch further operable to:

detect that the right has been terminated; and

map the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

12. The system of claim 8, the conference server further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a request for the right from the particular second class endpoint; and

granting the request for the right.

13. The system of claim 8, the conference server further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a plurality of requests for the right from a plurality of second class endpoints;

selecting the particular second class endpoint from the plurality of second class endpoints according to a conference policy; and

granting the request from the particular second class endpoint.

14. The system of claim 8, the media switch further operable to map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint by:

determining a time stamp of a packet of the second class stream;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the bidirectional second class stream; and

mapping the streams in accordance with the time stamps.

15. A memory storing instructions for providing a conference call, the instructions when executed by a processor operable to:

establish a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint;

establish a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint;

mix the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

broadcast one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints;

determine that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams;

map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint; and

mix the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein a bidirectional first class stream for a first class endpoint further comprises a bidirectional unicast stream between the first class endpoint and a conference server.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein:

a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and a media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and a conference server; and

a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server.

18. The memory of claim 15, the instructions further operable to:

detect that the right has been terminated; and

map the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

19. The memory of claim 15, the instructions further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a request for the right from the particular second class endpoint; and

granting the request for the right.

20. The memory of claim 15, the instructions further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a plurality of requests for the right from a plurality of second class endpoints;

selecting the particular second class endpoint from the plurality of second class endpoints according to a conference policy; and

granting the request from the particular second class endpoint.

21. The memory of claim 15, the instructions further operable to map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint by:

determining a time stamp of a packet of the second class stream;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the bidirectional second class stream; and

mapping the streams in accordance with the time stamps.

22. A system for providing a conference call, comprising:

means for establishing a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint;

means for establishing a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint;

means for mixing the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

means for broadcasting one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints;

means for determining that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams;

means for mapping the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint; and

means for mixing the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams.

23. A method for providing a conference call, comprising:

establishing, by a conference server comprising hardware, a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint, a bidirectional first class stream for a first class endpoint further comprising a bidirectional unicast stream between the first class endpoint and a conference server;

establishing a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint, a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and a media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and a conference server;

mixing the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

broadcasting one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints;

determining that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams, wherein determining that the particular second class endpoint has the right further comprises;

receiving a plurality of requests for the right from a plurality of second class endpoints;

selecting the particular second class endpoint from the plurality of second class endpoints according to a conference policy; and

granting the request from the particular second class endpoint;

mapping the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint, a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server, wherein mapping the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint further comprises;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the second class stream;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the bidirectional second class stream; and

mapping the streams in accordance with the time stamps;

mixing the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams;

detecting that the right has been terminated; and

mapping the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

24. A conference server for providing a conference call, comprising:

a memory operable to store data; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

establish a set of bidirectional first class streams for a set of first class endpoints, a bidirectional first class stream established for a first class endpoint;

establish a set of second class streams for a set of second class endpoints, a second class stream established for a second class endpoint;

mix the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of mixed streams;

broadcast one or more of the mixed streams to the set of second class endpoints; and

determine that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams;

initiate mapping of the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint; and

mix the bidirectional second class stream and the set of bidirectional first class streams to generate a plurality of next mixed streams.

25. The conference server of claim 24, wherein a bidirectional first class stream for a first class endpoint further comprises a bidirectional unicast stream between the first class endpoint and the conference server.

26. The conference server of claim 24, wherein:

a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and a media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server; and

a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server.

27. The conference server of claim 24, the processor further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a request for the right from the particular second class endpoint; and

granting the request for the right.

28. The conference server of claim 24, the processor further operable to determine that the particular second class endpoint has the right to have its stream included in the mixed streams by:

receiving a plurality of requests for the right from a plurality of second class endpoints;

selecting the particular second class endpoint from the plurality of second class endpoints according to a conference policy; and

granting the request from the particular second class endpoint.

29. A media switch for providing a conference call, comprising:

a memory operable to store data; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

enable communication with a set of second class endpoints using a set of second class streams, a second class stream associated with a second class endpoint, the set of second class endpoints have a lower priority than a set of first class endpoints, the set of first class endpoints associated with a set of first class streams;

establish that a particular second class endpoint has a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams; and

map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

30. The media switch of claim 29, wherein:

a second class stream for a second class endpoint further comprises a unicast stream and a multicast stream, the unicast stream being between the second class endpoint and the media switch, the multicast stream being between the media switch and a conference server; and

a bidirectional second class stream for the second class endpoint further comprises the unicast stream and another bidirectional unicast stream, the bidirectional unicast stream being between the media switch and the conference server.

31. The media switch of claim 29, the processor further operable to:

establish that the right has been terminated; and

map the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint.

32. The media switch of claim 29, the media switch further operable to map the second class stream for the particular second class endpoint to the bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint by:

determining a time stamp of a packet of the second class stream;

determining a time stamp of a packet of the bidirectional second class stream; and

mapping the streams in accordance with the time stamps.