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

• US 7,580,976 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, John Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdullahi, Salad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Todd, Gregory G
• Application Number:
  US10/418,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,321 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/241, 709/243, 709/244
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 computer application layer configured to participate in multi-party application layer sessions, a method for the joining computer system to connect to a previously established multi-party application layer session, the established multi-party application layer session having participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the currently participating computer systems including the inviting computer system, in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections being provided by a host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, the method comprising:

an act of receiving, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an invitation to join the established multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session to the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session;

an act of calculating at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, a closeness metric value for each of a plurality of zones of the established multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from two or more different characteristics of a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone, the lower layer connection being provided by the host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, a zone representing a plurality of participating computer systems, the zones being connected to form the established multi-party application layer session;

an act of identifying, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an application layer connection point of a zone within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system, the identified application layer connection point being at a participating computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session; and

an act of establishing, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an application layer connection to the application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to start participating in the established multi-party application layer session by communicating through the application layer connection point that is a participating computer system of a corresponding zone within the specified threshold of closeness such that, upon establishing the application layer connection to the application layer session, the joining computer system becomes a currently participating computer system in the established multi-party application layer session.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, where the act of receiving an invitation to join the established multi-party application layer session comprises an act of receiving an invitation message that contains a plurality of computer system identifier fields and one or more closeness fields, each identifier field identifying a participating computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer, each closeness field representing a value of the closeness metric indicating a closeness of the associated participating computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, where the act of receiving an invitation to join the established 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 established 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 being provided by the host.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the established 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 established multiparty application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on the latency of a lower layer connection being provided by the host.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a closeness metric value for at least each zone of the established multiparty application layer session comprises an act of calculating a closeness metric value based on the available bandwidth of a lower layer connection being provided by the host.

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

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

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

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of 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 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 currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of 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. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least two of the two or more different characteristics are selected from the group consisting of available bandwidth, maximum bandwidth, latency, suggested protocols, resource consumption, and financial cost.

24. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the closeness metric is calculated based on varying weights of the two or more different characteristics.

25. 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 an established multi-party application layer session, the computer program product for implementing a method for the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session to connect to the established multi-party application layer session having participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the currently participating computer systems including the inviting computer system, in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections utilizing network technologies provided by a host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable physical storage 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-the established multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session;

calculate a closeness metric value for each of a plurality of zones of the established multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from two or more different characteristics of a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone, a zone comprising a plurality of participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the zones being connected to form the established multi-party application layer session, the lower layer connection being provided by the host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session;

identify an application layer connection point of a zone within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system, the identified application layer connection point being at a participating computer system that is currently participating in the established 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 established multi-party application layer session by communicating through the application layer connection point that is a participating computer system of a corresponding one within the specified threshold of closeness.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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 established 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.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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 established 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.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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 currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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 established multi-party application layer is to be established; and

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

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, 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.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media.

34. The computer program product as recited in claim 25, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

35. In a joining computer system that is network connectable to at least an inviting computer system, the inviting computer system including an inviting computer application layer configured to participate in an established multi-party application layer session, a method for the joining computer system not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session to connect to the established multi-party application layer session having participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the participating computer systems including the inviting computer system, in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections utilizing network technologies provided by a host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, the method comprising:

an act of receiving an invitation to join the established multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session;

an act of calculating a closeness metric value for zones of the established multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from a pre-configured cost associated with a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone, a zone representing a plurality of participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the zones being connected to form the established multi-party application layer session;

an act of identifying an application layer connection point of a zone within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system as indicated by the closeness metrics, the identified application layer connection point being at a participating computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session; and

an act of establishing an application layer connection to the application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to participate in the established multi-party application layer session by communicating through the application layer connection point that is a participating computer system of a corresponding zone within the specified threshold of closeness.