Automated real-time data stream switching in a shared virtual area communication environment
First Claim
1. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes represented by respective objects in a virtual area, comprising by a computer:
- storing a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area;
for each of the network nodes determining one or more real-time data stream connections between respective ones of the network nodes based on the one or more switching rules, respective sources and sinks of the real-time data stream types that are respectively associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area; and
transmitting to the respective ones of the network nodes information for establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area is described. In one aspect, the switching involves storing a virtual area specification. The virtual area specification includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area. Real-time data stream connections are established between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types. The real-time data stream connections are established based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.
130 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes represented by respective objects in a virtual area, comprising by a computer:
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storing a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; for each of the network nodes determining one or more real-time data stream connections between respective ones of the network nodes based on the one or more switching rules, respective sources and sinks of the real-time data stream types that are respectively associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area; and transmitting to the respective ones of the network nodes information for establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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7. Apparatus for switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes represented by respective objects in a virtual area, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable memory storing a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; and a processing unit that, for each of the network nodes, performs operations comprising determining one or more real-time data stream connections between respective ones of the network nodes based on the one or more switching rules, respective sources and sinks of the real-time data stream types that are respectively associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area, and transmitting to the respective ones of the network nodes information for establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A network switch for switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes represented by respective objects in a virtual area, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable memory storing a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area, and a table comprising network topology information describing routes to network destinations; and a processing unit that, for each of the network nodes, performs operations comprising determining one or more real-time data stream connections between respective ones of the network nodes based on the one or more switching rules, respective sources and sinks of the real-time data stream types that are respectively associated with the objects, respective positions of the objects in the virtual area, and the network topology information, and transmitting to the respective ones of the network nodes information for establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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28. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between first and second network nodes respectively represented by first and second objects in a virtual area, comprising by the first network node:
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determining one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in a virtual area; ascertaining one or more real-time data stream connections between the first and second network nodes based on the one or more switching rules, respective sources and sinks of the real-time data stream types that are respectively associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area; and establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections with the second network node. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between first and second network nodes respectively represented by first and second objects in a virtual area, comprising:
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by the first network node, receiving from a server network node data for establishing one or more real-time data stream connections between the first network node and the second network node, wherein each of the first and second objects respectively is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types, the data received from the server network node controls switching of the one or more real-time data stream connections by the first network node in accordance with the sources and sinks respectively associated with the first and second objects in the virtual area, respective positions of the first and second objects in the virtual area, and one or more switching rules, and each of the switching rules defines a respective connection between sources of a respective one of the real-time data stream types and sinks of the respective real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area; and by the first network node, establishing the one or more real-time data stream connections between the first network node and the second network node based on the data received from the server network node, wherein the establishing is based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the first and second objects, and the respective positions of the first and second objects in the virtual area. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification