Systems and methods for establishing connections between devices communicating over a network
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device that are each communicating via a network, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a relay server, a first request associated with the media player and a second request associated with the placeshifting device;
in response to receiving the first and second requests, establishing a first connection between the relay server and the media player and a second connection between the relay server and the placeshifting device, wherein a message server is configured to establish a pre-existing connection with the placeshifting device across the network using a connection-based protocol, and wherein a message is sent to the placeshifting device across the pre-existing connection to direct the placeshifting device to establish the second connection with the relay server; and
relaying data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the media streaming connection between the media player and the placeshifting device via the relay server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for establishing a connection between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to establish a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device when a firewall or other impediment to direct network connections exists. A relay server receives connection requests from the client and from the server via the network. In response to receiving the requests, a first connection is established between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server. Data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections is relayed to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device that are each communicating via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a relay server, a first request associated with the media player and a second request associated with the placeshifting device; in response to receiving the first and second requests, establishing a first connection between the relay server and the media player and a second connection between the relay server and the placeshifting device, wherein a message server is configured to establish a pre-existing connection with the placeshifting device across the network using a connection-based protocol, and wherein a message is sent to the placeshifting device across the pre-existing connection to direct the placeshifting device to establish the second connection with the relay server; and relaying data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the media streaming connection between the media player and the placeshifting device via the relay server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of establishing a connection via a relay server between a client and a server that are each communicating via a network, the method comprising:
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if a first attempt to establish a connectionless session across the network between the client device and the server is unsuccessful, directing the client and the server to contact the relay server via the network, wherein the server is directed by a message transmitted via a pre-existing connection over the network; in response to the client and the server subsequently contacting the relay server, establishing a first connection between the relay server and the client and a second connection between the relay server and the server; and relaying data received by the relay server on each of the first and second connections to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the connection between the client and the server via the relay server. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A system for establishing a media streaming connection between a media player and a placeshifting device that are each communicating via a network, the system comprising:
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a relay manager module configured to receive a request to establish the media streaming connection between the media player and the placeshifting device; a relay instance module configured to establish, in response to the request, a first connection with the media player and a second connection with the placeshifting device, and to relay data received on each of the first and second connections to the other of the first and second connections to thereby establish the media streaming connection between the media player and the placeshifting device; and a message server configured to establish a pre-existing connection with the placeshifting device across the network using a connection-based protocol and to send a message to the placeshifting device across the pre-existing connection that directs the placeshifting device to establish the second connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification