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 sharing a virtual area wherein each of the network nodes is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of real-time data stream types, the method comprising:
- ascertaining a set of real-time data streams each of which is sourced uniquely from a respective one of the sources and the set of real-time data streams are delivered to at least one sink of a given one of the network nodes that is associated with a respective position in the virtual area to enable the given network node to participate in a communication session with one or more other ones of the network nodes that are associated with respective positions in the virtual area;
determining one or more real-time data stream connections that deliver the set of real-time data streams to the given network node, wherein for a particular real-time data stream type the determining comprises selecting for transmission of ones of real-time data streams in the set of the particular real-time data stream type to the given network node either a direct peer-to-peer network route or a network route mediated by another network node based at least in part on transmission characteristics of the network routes; and
controlling establishment of the one or more determined real-time data stream connections between the given network node and one or more of the other ones of the network nodes.
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Abstract
In one aspect, one or more real-time data stream connections that deliver a set of real-time data streams to a given network node are determined based at least in part on bandwidth capabilities of the given network node. In another aspect, for each of one or more recipient network nodes, a respective link over which to transmit a respective transmission set of one or more real-time data streams is determined. For each of the links, the respective link bandwidth is apportioned between one or more channels that are respectively allocated to the one or more real-time data streams in the respective transmission set.
79 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area wherein each of the network nodes is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of real-time data stream types, the method comprising:
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ascertaining a set of real-time data streams each of which is sourced uniquely from a respective one of the sources and the set of real-time data streams are delivered to at least one sink of a given one of the network nodes that is associated with a respective position in the virtual area to enable the given network node to participate in a communication session with one or more other ones of the network nodes that are associated with respective positions in the virtual area; determining one or more real-time data stream connections that deliver the set of real-time data streams to the given network node, wherein for a particular real-time data stream type the determining comprises selecting for transmission of ones of real-time data streams in the set of the particular real-time data stream type to the given network node either a direct peer-to-peer network route or a network route mediated by another network node based at least in part on transmission characteristics of the network routes; and controlling establishment of the one or more determined real-time data stream connections between the given network node and one or more of the other ones of the network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6)
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4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area wherein each of the network nodes is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of real-time data stream types, the computer-readable instructions being operable to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:
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ascertaining a set of real-time data streams each of which is sourced uniquely from a respective one of the sources and the set of real-time data streams are delivered to at least one sink of a given one of the network nodes that is associated with a respective position in the virtual area to enable the given network node to participate in a communication session with one or more other ones of the network nodes that are associated with respective positions in the virtual area; determining one or more real-time data stream connections that deliver the set of real-time data streams to the given network node, wherein for a particular real-time data stream type the determining comprises selecting for transmission of ones of real-time data streams in the set of the particular real-time data stream type to the given network node either a direct peer-to-peer network route or a network route mediated by another network node based at least in part on transmission characteristics of the network routes; and controlling establishment of the one or more determined real-time data stream connections between the given network node and one or more of the other ones of the network nodes.
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7. A method, comprising:
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ascertaining data stream content types respectively needed by network nodes to communicate in a shared spatial context defined by a virtual area based on respective positions of the network nodes in the virtual area and respective sources and sinks of different data stream content types respectively associated with the network nodes; determining a data stream handling topology that delivers data streams of the ascertained data stream content types respectively needed by the network nodes to communicate in the shared spatial context, wherein the data streams delivered by the data stream handling topology are derived from data originated by respective ones of the sources and are delivered to respective ones of the sinks, and for a particular real-time data stream type, the determining comprises selecting for transmission of ones of real-time data streams in the set of the particular real-time data stream type to the given network node either a direct peer-to-peer network route or a network route mediated by another network node based at least in part on transmission characteristics of the network routes; and transmitting data enabling network connections to be established between the network nodes in accordance with the data stream handling topology. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification