Dynamic conference session re-routing in secure media-based conferencing

• US 9,167,098 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edifire LLC
• Original Assignee: Edifire LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric, Goepp, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US14/500,450
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 370254-261, 370330-352, 370390-401, 348 4- 14, 709204-227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for re-routing a media-based conference session. A server computing device determines a condition associated with a first conference session between a plurality of end point devices, each connected to the server via an external media stream and each connected from the server to a first multipoint control unit via a first internal media stream. The condition indicates that a new multipoint control unit is required. The server identifies a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session between the plurality of end point devices. The server disconnects the first internal streams from the first multipoint control unit while the external streams remain connected. The server connects each of the plurality of devices from the server to the second multipoint control unit via a second internal stream, and establishes the second conference session on the second multipoint control unit.

Claims

1. A computerized method for re-routing a media-based conference session, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, by a server computing device, a condition associated with a first conference session between a plurality of end point devices each connected to the server computing device via an external media stream and each connected from the server computing device to a first multipoint control unit via a first internal media stream, wherein the condition indicates that a new multipoint control unit is required;

identifying, by the server computing device, a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session between the plurality of end point devices, including analyzing the first conference session to determine session requirements and determining whether the second multipoint control unit is capable of meeting the session requirements, wherein the session requirements comprise one or more of;

a count of the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a media bandwidth consumed by the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a geographical location of the first multipoint control unit, and a media protocol used by at least one of the plurality of end point devices participating in the first conference session;

disconnecting, by the server computing device, the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit while the external media streams remain connected;

connecting, by the server computing device, each of the plurality of end point devices from the server computing device to the second multipoint control unit via a second internal media stream; and

establishing, by the server computing device, the second conference session on the second multipoint control unit between the plurality of end point devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises one or more of a failure of the first multipoint control unit, a count of end point devices in the first conference session exceeding a predetermined limit, and a resource load generated from the first conference session exceeding a predetermined limit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying, by the server computing device, the plurality of end point devices prior to disconnecting the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session comprises determining a location of the second multipoint control unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session comprises determining a list of multipoint control units and selecting a multipoint control unit from the list based upon a current resource usage associated with each of the multipoint control units.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of disconnecting the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit comprises transmitting media to the plurality of end point devices via the external media stream so that the external media stream remains active.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed in real time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising waiting, by the server computing device, for the condition associated with the first conference session to resolve prior to identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the server computing device waits for a predetermined period of time.

10. A system for re-routing a media-based conference session, the system comprising a server computing device configured to:

determine a condition associated with a first conference session between a plurality of end point devices each connected to the server computing device via an external media stream and each connected from the server computing device to a first multipoint control unit via a first internal media stream, wherein the condition indicates that a new multipoint control unit is required;

identify a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session between the plurality of end point devices, including analysis of the first conference session to determine session requirements and determining whether the second multipoint control unit is capable of meeting the session requirements, wherein the session requirements comprise one or more of;

a count of the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a media bandwidth consumed by the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a geographical location of the first multipoint control unit, and a media protocol used by at least one of the plurality of end point devices participating in the first conference session;

disconnect the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit while the external media streams remain connected;

connect each of the plurality of end point devices from the server computing device to the second multipoint control unit via a second internal media stream; and

establish the second conference session on the second multipoint control unit between the plurality of end point devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the condition comprises one or more of a failure of the first multipoint control unit, a count of end point devices in the first conference session exceeding a predetermined limit, and a resource load generated from the first conference session exceeding a predetermined limit.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the server computing device is further configured to notify the plurality of end point devices prior to disconnecting the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session comprises determining a location of the second multipoint control unit.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session comprises determining a list of multipoint control units and selecting a multipoint control unit from the list based upon a current resource usage associated with each of the multipoint control units.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of disconnecting the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit comprises transmitting media to the plurality of end point devices via the external media stream so that the external media stream remains active.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the steps are performed in real time.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the server computing device is further configured to wait for the condition associated with the first conference session to resolve prior to identifying a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server computing device waits for a predetermined period of time.

19. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for re-routing a media-based conference session, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a server computing device to:

determine a condition associated with a first conference session between a plurality of end point devices each connected to the server computing device via an external media stream and each connected from the server computing device to a first multipoint control unit via a first internal media stream, wherein the condition indicates that a new multipoint control unit is required;

identify a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session between the plurality of end point devices, including analysis of the first conference session to determine session requirements and determining whether the second multipoint control unit is capable of meeting the session requirements, wherein the session requirements comprise one or more of;

a count of the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a media bandwidth consumed by the end point devices participating in the first conference session, a geographical location of the first multipoint control unit, and a media protocol used by at least one of the plurality of end point devices participating in the first conference session;

disconnect the first internal media streams from the first multipoint control unit while the external media streams remain connected;

connect each of the plurality of end point devices from the server computing device to the second multipoint control unit via a second internal media stream; and

establish the second conference session on the second multipoint control unit between the plurality of end point devices.