Network configuration with smart edge servers

• US 8,161,159 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Shetty, Pritham, Manapragada, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): Neurauter, George C
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOSHI, SURAJ M
• Application Number:
  US11/263,652
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• 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: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827

Abstract

A collaboration network is defined by creating a virtual meeting room on a central server. The central server negotiates with one or more edge servers for remote management of selected collaboration parameters, which control such things as shared objects, group connections, streaming video, and video on-demand. Using the selected collaboration parameters, the edge servers manage the meeting participation of the network clients connected to the virtual meeting room through the individual edge servers. When management of the meeting participation requires either parameters that the edge server does not have or when the parameters of the edge server are out of date, the management responsibility is transferred to the central server for that request.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first video stream from a first client at a first edge server from among multiple edge servers of a virtual meeting room having a central server in communication with the multiple edge servers, the first video stream including live images of a first meeting participant associated with the first client;

in response to said receiving, by the first edge server, of the first video stream from the first client,

transmitting, by the first edge server, the first video stream to the central server, and

transmitting, by the first edge server, the first video stream to one or more other clients connected to the first edge server and being different from the first client, without transmitting the received first video stream to the first client;

receiving the first video stream from the first edge server at the central server;

in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the first video stream from the first edge server, transmitting, by the central server, the first video stream to a first set of edge servers from the multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the first set of edge servers comprising one or more other edge servers being different from the first edge server, without also transmitting the received first video stream to the first edge server;

receiving the first video stream, from the central server at the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers;

in response to said receiving, by the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, of the first video stream from the central server, transmitting, by each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, the first video stream to corresponding one or more clients connected to each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers;

receiving a second video stream from a second client different from the first client at a second edge server from among multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the second video stream including live images of a second meeting participant associated with the second client;

in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the second video stream from the second client, transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to the central server;

receiving the second video stream from the second edge server at the central server;

in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the second video stream from the second edge server,

sending, by the central server to the second edge server, an instruction to switch from transmitting the first video stream to transmitting the second video stream,

switching from said transmitting by the central server of the first video stream to the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers to transmitting, by the central server, the second video stream to one or more other edge servers from a second set of edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the second set of edge servers comprising one or more other edge servers being different from the second edge server, without also transmitting the received second video stream to the second edge server;

receiving the switching instruction from the central server at the second edge server; and

in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the switching instruction from the central server, switching from transmitting by the second edge server the first video stream to a set of clients connected to the second edge server to transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to one or more clients connected to the second edge server and being different from the second client, without transmitting the received second video stream to the second client.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request at one of the multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room from another client to download on-demand video;

searching a local storage at said one of the multiple edge servers for a cache of said requested on-demand video;

inquiring the central server, in response to finding that the cache of said requested on-demand video is stored on the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers, by said one of the multiple edge servers whether the cache of the requested on-demand video stored on the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers is current or stale;

receiving, by said one of the multiple edge servers, a response from said central server that the cache of said requested on-demand video stored at the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers is current;

sequentially sending by said one of the multiple edge servers a plurality of video packets making up said cache of said requested on-demand video stored at the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers to said other client;

for every missing packet discovered in said cache of said requested on-demand video stored at the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers, requesting by said one of the multiple edge servers from said central server for said missing packet;

receiving by said one of the multiple edge servers said missing packet received from said central server; and

storing said missing packet in an associated sequence of said cache of said requested on-demand video stored at the local storage of said one of the multiple edge servers at said one of the multiple edge servers.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said cache of said requested on-demand video is stored at the one of the multiple edge servers in a same format as said on-demand video stored at said central server.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

periodically requesting by said one of the multiple edge servers from said central server for one or more missing packets in the cache of said on-demand video stored at said one of the multiple edge servers;

receiving said one or more missing packets from said central server at said one of the multiple edge servers; and

storing at said one of the edge servers said one or more missing packets in an associated sequence of said cache of said on-demand video.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the second edge server is different from the first edge server, and

the set of the clients connected to the second edge server to which the second server transmits the first video stream comprises all the clients connected to the second edge server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the second edge server is the same as the first edge server, and

the set of the clients connected to the second edge server to which the second server transmits the first video stream represents the one or more other clients connected to the first edge server that are different from the first client.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the second video stream, from the central server at the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers; and

in response to said receiving, by the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers, of the second video stream from the central server, transmitting, by each of the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers, the second video stream to corresponding one or more clients connected to each of the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers.

8. A collaboration network comprising:

an origin server system configured to manage an electronic meeting;

a plurality of edge server systems associated with the electronic meeting and connected to said origin server system,

wherein a first edge server system from among the plurality of edge server systems is configured to share management of the electronic meeting with the origin server system by performing operations including;

receiving a first video stream from a first client system that participates to the electronic meeting and is connected to the first edge server system, the first video stream including live images of a first meeting participant associated with the first client system;

in response to said receiving the first video stream from the first client system,

transmitting the first video stream to the origin server system, and

transmitting the first video stream to one or more other client systems that are connected to the first edge server and are different from the first client system, without transmitting the received first video stream to the first client system; and

wherein the management of the electronic meeting performed by the origin server system includes operations including;

receiving, from the first edge server system, the first video stream;

in response to said receiving the first video stream from the first edge server system, transmitting the first video stream to a first set of edge server systems from the plurality of edge server systems associated with the electronic meeting, the first set of edge server systems comprising one or more other edge server systems that are different from the first edge server system, without also transmitting the received first video stream to the first edge server system,

wherein a second edge server system from among the plurality of edge server systems is configured to share management of the electronic meeting with the origin server system by performing operations including;

receiving a second video stream from a second client system different from the first client system, the second video stream including live images of a second meeting participant associated with the second client system; and

in response to said receiving the second video stream from the second client system, transmitting the second video stream to the origin server;

wherein the management of the electronic meeting performed by the origin server system includes operations further including;

receiving the second video stream from the second edge server system;

in response to said receiving the second video stream from the second edge server system,

sending, to the second edge server system, an instruction to switch from transmitting the first video stream to transmitting the second video stream;

switching from said transmitting of the first video stream to the one or more other edge server systems from the first set of edge server systems to transmitting the second video stream to one or more other edge server systems from a second set of edge server systems of the electronic meeting, the second set of edge server systems comprising one or more other edge server systems that are different from the second edge server system, without also transmitting the received second video stream to the second edge server system,

wherein the second edge server system is configured to share the management of the electronic meeting with the origin server system by performing operations further including;

receiving the switching instruction from the origin server system; and

in response to said receiving the switching instruction from the origin server system, switching from transmitting the first video stream to a set of client systems connected to the second edge server system to transmitting the second video stream to one or more client systems connected to the second edge server system and being different from the second client system, without transmitting the received second video stream to the second client system.

9. The collaboration network of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more other edge server systems from the second set of edge server systems is configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving the second video stream from the origin server; and

in response to said receiving the second video stream from the origin server system, transmitting the second video stream to corresponding one or more client systems connected to each of the one or more other edge server systems from the second set of edge server systems.

10. The collaboration network of claim 8, wherein

the second edge server system is different from the first edge server system, and

the set of the client systems connected to the second edge server system to which the second server transmits the first video stream comprises all the client systems connected to the second edge server system.

11. The collaboration network of claim 8, wherein

the second edge server system is the same as the first edge server system, and

the set of the client systems connected to the second edge server system to which the second server transmits the first video stream represents the one or more other client systems connected to the first edge server system that are different from the first client.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by data processor cause a plurality of servers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first video stream from a first client at a first edge server from among multiple edge servers of a virtual meeting room having a central server in communication with the multiple edge servers, the first video stream including live images of a first meeting participant associated with the first client;

in response to said receiving, by the first edge server, of the first video stream from the first client,

transmitting, by the first edge server, the first video stream to the central server, and

transmitting, by the first edge server, the first video stream to one or more other clients connected to the first edge server and being different from the first client, without transmitting the received first video stream to the first client;

receiving the first video stream from the first edge server at the central server;

in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the first video stream from the first edge server, transmitting, by the central server, the first video stream to a first set of edge servers from the multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the first set of edge servers comprising one or more other edge servers being different from the first edge server, without also transmitting the received first video stream to the first edge server;

receiving the first video stream, from the central server at the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers;

in response to said receiving, by the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, of the first video stream from the central server, transmitting, by each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, the first video stream to corresponding one or more clients connected to each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers;

receiving a second video stream from a second client different from the first client at a second edge server from among multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the second video stream including live images of a second meeting participant associated with the second client;

in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the second video stream from the second client, transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to the central server;

receiving the second video stream from the second edge server at the central server;

in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the second video stream from the second edge server,

sending, by the central server to the second edge server, an instruction to switch from transmitting the first video stream to transmitting the second video stream,

switching from said transmitting by the central server of the first video stream to the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers to transmitting, by the central server, the second video stream to one or more other edge servers from a second set of edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the second set of edge servers comprising one or more other edge servers being different from the second edge server, without also transmitting the received second video stream to the second edge server;

receiving the switching instruction from the central server at the second edge server; and

in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the switching instruction from the central server, switching from transmitting by the second edge server the first video stream to a set of clients connected to the second edge server to transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to one or more clients connected to the second edge server and being different from the second client, without transmitting the received second video stream to the second client.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein

the second edge server is different from the first edge server, and

the set of the clients connected to the second edge server to which the second server transmits the first video stream comprises all the clients connected to the second edge server.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein

the second edge server is the same as the first edge server, and

the set of the clients connected to the second edge server to which the second server transmits the first video stream represents the one or more other clients connected to the first edge server that are different from the first client.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the second video stream, from the central server at the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers; and

in response to said receiving, by the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers, of the second video stream from the central server, transmitting, by each of the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers, the second video stream to corresponding one or more clients connected to each of the one or more edge servers from the second set of edge servers.