Protocol negotiation for a group communication system
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for protocol negotiation in a group communication system, comprising the steps of:
- defining a first view comprising at least three communications entities and specifying a use of a first version of a communications protocol;
electing by the first view one of said at least three communications entities as a view leader;
conducting multi-point to multi-point communication among said at least three communications entities using said first version;
detecting a requirement to change to a second version of said communications protocol; and
coordinating the change under control of said view leader by exchanging among said at least three communications entities protocol messages, and responsively to said protocol messages causing each of said at least three communications entities to perform the steps of;
disconnecting from said first view to define one of disconnected communications entities;
forming respective second views consisting only of one of said disconnected communications entities;
in said second views configuring said second views with said second version; and
thereafter instantiating a third view comprising all of disconnected communications entities, and specifying a use of said second version.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided in a group communication system for dynamically changing a version of a group communication protocol from a first version to a second version transparently to external sources and destinations. The system accommodates newly joining members that can only support versions of the protocol other than the version currently in use without interruption in service. Similarly, the system can upgrade its operating version of the group communication protocol to improve performance when a member having relatively low capabilities exits the group.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for protocol negotiation in a group communication system, comprising the steps of:
- defining a first view comprising at least three communications entities and specifying a use of a first version of a communications protocol;
electing by the first view one of said at least three communications entities as a view leader; conducting multi-point to multi-point communication among said at least three communications entities using said first version; detecting a requirement to change to a second version of said communications protocol; and coordinating the change under control of said view leader by exchanging among said at least three communications entities protocol messages, and responsively to said protocol messages causing each of said at least three communications entities to perform the steps of; disconnecting from said first view to define one of disconnected communications entities; forming respective second views consisting only of one of said disconnected communications entities; in said second views configuring said second views with said second version; and thereafter instantiating a third view comprising all of disconnected communications entities, and specifying a use of said second version. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- defining a first view comprising at least three communications entities and specifying a use of a first version of a communications protocol;
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7. A computer software product protocol negotiation in a group communication system, including a computer storage medium in which computer program instructions are stored, which instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:
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electing by the first view one of said at least three communications entities as a view leader; conducting multi-point to multi-point communication among said at least three communications entities using said first version; detecting a requirement to change to a second version of said communications protocol; and coordinating the change under control of said view leader by exchanging among said at least three communications entities protocol messages, and responsively to said protocol messages causing each of said at least three communications entities to perform the steps of; disconnecting from said first view to define one of disconnected communications entities; forming respective second views consisting only of one of said disconnected communications entities; in said second views configuring said second views with said second version; and thereafter instantiating a third view comprising all of disconnected communications entities, and specifying a use of said second version. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A data processing system adapted to protocol negotiation in a group communication system, comprising:
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a communications entity having a processor;
a communications interface linked to said communications entity, wherein said processor is operative to exchange messages via said communications interface with other communications entities, including performing the steps of;in a first view comprising at least three communications entities and specifying a use of a first version of a communications protocol; accepting an election by said at least three communications entities as a view leader; conducting multi-point to multi-point communication among said at least three communications entities using said first version; detecting a requirement to change to a second version of said communications protocol; and coordinating the change under control of said view leader by exchanging among said at least three communications entities protocol messages, and responsively to said protocol messages causing each of said at least three communications entities to perform the steps of; disconnecting from said first view to define one of disconnected communications entities; forming respective second views consisting only of one of said disconnected communications entities; in said second views configuring said second views with said second version; and thereafter instantiating a third view comprising all of disconnected communications entities, and specifying a use of said second version. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification