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:
- using a service provider to identify a set of conference servers that constitute the overlay network;
using the identified conference servers to communicate 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 by;
communicating a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and
communicating the delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server;
connecting at least two of the collaborative conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants;
establishing a controllable voice packet routing path through the collaborative conference servers in the overlay network, the controllable voice packet routing path comprising a path that connects once and only once to each directly attached conference server;
directing all voice data packets along the established voice packet routing path through the overlay network; and
using each one of the directly connected collaborative conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant.
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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.
19 Citations
17 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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using a service provider to identify a set of conference servers that constitute the overlay network; using the identified conference servers to communicate 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 by; communicating a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and communicating the delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server; connecting at least two of the collaborative conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants; establishing a controllable voice packet routing path through the collaborative conference servers in the overlay network, the controllable voice packet routing path comprising a path that connects once and only once to each directly attached conference server; directing all voice data packets along the established voice packet routing path through the overlay network; and using each one of the directly connected collaborative conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable storage medium containing a computer executable code that when read by a computer causes the computer to perform method for establishing an overlay network of collaborative conference servers for use in a multi-participant conference, the method comprising:
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using a service provider to identify a set of conference servers that constitute the overlay network; using the identified conference servers to communicate an interne 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 by; communicating a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among the connected conference participants; and communicating the delay times of conference servers from each participant to its directly connected conference server; connecting at least two of the collaborative conference servers directly to at least two separate conference participants; establishing a controllable voice packet routing path through the collaborative conference servers in the overlay network, the controllable voice packet routing path comprising a path that connects once and only once to each directly attached conference server; directing all voice data packets along the established voice packet routing path through the overlay network; and using each one of the directly connected collaborative conference servers to simultaneously provide audio mixing for its directly attached participant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 16. A system for providing multi-participant conferencing, the system comprising an overlay network of conference servers arranged to collaboratively host the multi-party conference, the overlay network comprising a plurality of conference servers and a controllable voice packet routing path through the plurality of conference servers in the overlay network, the voice packet routing path comprising a path that connects once and only once to each conference server, each conference server comprising an internet protocol address and a path delay time for all of the other conference servers, directly attached to at least one conference participant and arranged to supply audio mixing for the directly attached participant, wherein all of the conference servers are configured to provide audio mixing for directly attached participants simultaneously and to communicate a path delay time for each one of the conference servers among conference participants, each conference participant is configured to communicate the delay times of conference servers to its directly connected conference server and all voice data packets for the multi-party conference are disposed with the voice routing path through the overlay network.
Specification