Synthetic bridging for networks

• US 7,984,178 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wickes, William C, Thielman, Jeffrey L, Gargan, Garrett Daniel, Brewster, Jon A, Beers, Ted W, Gorzynski, Mark E, Grasley, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman; Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US12/762,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/229, 709/231, 709/232, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An apparatus has a content node to logically select a first A/V stream from an application layer of a first network and a collaboration node to logically select a second A/V stream from an application layer of a second network. A set of non-network media link interfaces are configured to transmit the second A/V stream from the collaboration node to the content node, and to transmit the first A/V stream from content node to the collaboration node. The non-network media link interfaces provide for limited information encoding to prevent network protocol information from being transferred between the first and second networks.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a content node to logically select a first A/V stream from an application layer of one or more first data streams of a first network;

a collaboration node to logically select a second A/V stream from an application layer of one or more second data streams of a second network; and

a set of non-network media link interfaces to transmit the second A/V stream from the collaboration node to the content node, and to transmit the first A/V stream from content node to the collaboration node, wherein the non-network media link interfaces provide for limited information encoding to prevent network protocol information from being transferred between the first and second networks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collaboration node is configured to provides services to an application on the second network including at least one of directory, presence, messaging, credential verification, time, and name services.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content node further comprises:

circuitry to extract select data from the application layer of the one or more first data streams of the first network; and

circuitry to receive the second A/V stream for incorporation into the application layer of the one or more first data streams of the first network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collaboration node further comprises:

circuitry to extract select data from the application layer of the one or more second data streams of the second network; and

circuitry to receive the first A/V stream for incorporation into the application layer of the one or more second data streams of the second network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collaboration node further is configured to add a collaboration description language to encapsulate the first A/V stream.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the collaboration description language is used to describe the first A/V stream in terms of it underlining properties to allow for faster implementation of one or more of decoding, encoding, converting, or modification of the first A/V stream.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the collaboration description language is used to adapt the first A/V stream to an A/V format of the second A/V stream.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the collaboration description language describes the first A/V stream in at least one of the group of video format, time synchronization, correlation, color format, bit depth, compression standard, and encryption technology.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the collaboration description language is used to describe the content of the first A/V stream.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collaboration description language describes for the first A/V stream at least one of the group of owner, physical location origin, time zone origin, angle of camera capture, camera zoom factor, and participants.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collaboration description language is sent periodically to allow for re-synchronization of the first and second A/V streams.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collaboration description language is broken up into session related information transmitted at a beginning of the first A/V stream and real-time related information transmitted in individual packets of the first A/V stream.

13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collaboration description language is pre-configured for each session.

14. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collaboration description language is adaptable in real time.

15. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collaboration description language allows the first A/V stream and the second A/V stream to be shared between different applications on the first network and the second network.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is the Internet.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a trusted network that concentrates on speedy delivery of traffic flows on its interior wherein a total one-way latency is kept to less than one quarter of a second.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus allows for the cross-connecting of two or more different collaborative sessions on different networks in a demonstratively secure fashion without modification of a application on one or both of the first or second networks.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the logically select of the first and second A/V streams is done using hardware, software, or combinations thereof.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the set of non-network media link interfaces are designed to not be tapped into without authorized physical access.