Identifying an appropriate connection point for connecting to an application layer session

• US 20040210659A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, John Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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

Abstract

A multi-party application layer session, such as, for example, an electronic conference, is configured to make efficient use of resources associated with lower layer connections that connect computer systems participating in the multi-party application layer session. In response to receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session, a joining computer system calculates a closeness metric value at least to one or more zones of the multi-party application layer session. A closeness metric value is calculated from measured and/or pre-configured characteristics of lower layer connections. The joining computer system identifies an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system. The joining computer system establishes an application layer connection to the identified application layer connection point. Accordingly, a joining computer system considers the characteristics of lower layer connections when determining where to connect to a multi-party application layer session.

Claims

1. In a joining computer system that is network connectable to at least an inviting computer system, the inviting computer system including an inviting application layer configured to participate in multi-party application layer sessions, a method for the joining computer system to connect to a multi-party application layer session in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections, the method comprising:

an act of receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system;

an act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from characteristics of a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone;

an act of identifying an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system, the identified application layer connection point being at a computer system that is to participate in the multi-party application layer session; and

an act of a establishing a application layer connection to the application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to participate in the multi-party application layer session.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, where the act of receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session comprises an act of receiving an invitation message that indicates the closeness of computer systems participating in the multi-conference session to one another.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, where the act of receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session comprises an act of receiving an invitation message from the inviting application layer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on a pre-configured cost associated with a lower layer connection.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on results of lower layer connection measurements.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on the latency of a lower layer connection.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on the available bandwidth of a lower layer connection.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on the maximum bandwidth of a lower layer connection.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on a resource cost associated with transferring conferencing data through one or more security modules.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on a resource cost associated with transferring conferencing data through one or more connectivity modules.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on a resource cost associated with transferring conferencing data through a demilitarized zone.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on protocols utilized by a lower layer connection.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value for each zone of an electronic conference.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value for each computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of identifying an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system comprises an act of identifying a zone that is associated with the lowest closeness metric value.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the act of identifying an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system comprises an act of identifying a computer system included in the zone that is closest to the joining computer system.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of a establishing an application layer connection to the application layer connection point comprises an act of a joining application layer at the joining computer system connecting to the inviting application layer.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of a establishing an application layer connection to the application layer connection point comprises an act of a joining application layer at the joining computer system connecting to a participating application layer at a participating computer system, the participating computer system being a computer system that is participating in the multi-party application layer session.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of a establishing an application layer connection to the application layer connection point comprises an act of establishing a connection to an electronic conference.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of the joining computer system determining that a new zone is to be established.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

an act of the joining computer system establishing the new zone.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of the joining computer system joining the zone that includes the identified application layer connection point.

23. In a joining computer system that is network connectable to at least an inviting computer system, the inviting computer system including an inviting application layer configured to participate in multi-party application layer sessions, a method for the joining computer system to connect to a multi-party application layer session in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections, the method comprising:

an act of receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system;

a step for determining an appropriate application layer connection point for connecting to the multi-party application layer session such that the resources of corresponding lower layer connections can be utilized more efficiently; and

an act of a joining computer system establishing an application layer connection to an application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to participate in the multi-party application layer session.

24. A computer program product for use in a joining computer system that is network connectable to at least an inviting computer system, the inviting computer system including an inviting application layer configured to participate in multi-party application layer sessions, the computer program product for implementing a method for the joining computer system to connect to a multi-party application layer session in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the joining computer system to perform the following:

receive an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system;

calculate a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from characteristics of a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone;

identify an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system, the identified application layer connection point being at a computer system that is to participate in the multi-party application layer session; and

establish an application layer connection to the application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to participate in the multi-party application layer session.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to calculate a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session further comprise computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to calculate a closeness metric value based on a pre-configured cost associated with a lower layer connection.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to calculate a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session further comprise computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to calculate a closeness metric value based on results of lower layer connection measurements.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to establish an application layer connection to the application layer connection point further comprise computer-executable instructions that when executed cause a joining application layer at the joining computer system to connect to the inviting application layer.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to establish an application layer connection to the application layer connection point further comprise computer-executable instructions that when executed cause a joining application layer at the joining computer system to connect to a participating application layer at a participating computer system, the participating computer system being a computer system that is participating in the multi-party application layer session.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein computer-executable instructions that when executed cause the joining computer system to establish an application layer connection to the application layer connection point further comprise computer-executable instructions that when executed cause a joining application layer at the joining computer system to connect to an electronic conference.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the joining computer system to perform the following:

determine that a new zone for the multi-party application layer is to be established; and

establish the new zone for the multi-party application layer session.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the joining computer system to perform the following:

join the zone that includes the application layer connection point.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

34. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a data structure for representing the closeness of computer systems participating in a multi-party application layer session, the data structure comprising the following:

a first computer system identifier field representing a first computer system identifier that identifies a first participating computer system that is connected to the multi-party application layer session;

a second computer system identifier field representing a second computer system identifier that identifies a second participating computer system that is connected to the multi-party application layer session; and

a closeness field representing a closeness metric value for indicating the closeness of the first participating computer system represented in the first computer system identifier field to the second participating computer system represented in the second computer system identifier field, the closeness metric value being calculated based on the characteristics of a lower layer connection that connects the first participating computer system represented in the first computer system identifier field to the second participating computer system represented in the second computer system identifier field.

35. In a source computer system that is network connectable to at least one other participating computer system such that the source computer system and the at least one other participating computer system are participating in an multi-party application layer session, a method for the source computer system to configure application layer data for transfer to the at least one other participating computer system in a manner that conserves resources associated with lower layer connections, the method comprising:

an act of receiving an indication that application layer data is to be transferred to each participating computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session;

an act of checking a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric value representing a lower layer resource cost associated with transferring the application layer data from the source computer system to a participating computer system in a corresponding zone;

an act of configuring a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to a participating computer system, the data packet being configured based on a lower layer resource cost represented in a checked closeness metric value; and

an act of transferring the configured data packet towards the participating computer system.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the act of receiving an indication that application layer data is to be transferred comprises an act of receiving an indication that conferencing data is to be transferred.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the an act of configuring a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to a participating computer system comprises an act of including routing information in a data stream header to indicate to intermediate computer systems how the data packet is to be forwarded.

38. A computer program product for use in a source computer system that is network connectable to at least one other participating computer system such that the source computer system and the at least one other participating computer system are participating in an multi-party application layer session, the computer program product for implementing a method for the source computer system to configure application layer data for transfer to the at least one other participating computer system in a manner that conserves resources associated with lower layer connections the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the joining computer system to perform the following:

receive an indication that application layer data is to be transferred to each participating computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session;

check a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric value representing a lower layer resource cost associated with transferring the application layer data from the source computer system to a participating computer system in a corresponding zone;

configure a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to a participating computer system, the data packet being configured based on a lower layer resource cost represented in a checked closeness metric value; and

transfer the data packet towards the participating computer system.

39. The computer program product as recited in claim 38, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media.

40. The computer program product as recited in claim 38, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.