System for terminating multicast channel and data broadcast when at least two second endpoints do not transmit positive acknowledgement message to first endpoint
First Claim
1. In a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to a plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channel with said first endpoint, an automatic method for optimizing the transmission of said data to said plurality of second endpoints comprising the following steps:
- a. said first endpoint activating a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commencing broadcast of said data over said multicast communication channel;
b. Said first endpoint transmitting a request message to each of said plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of said second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to said first multicast address;
c. certain of said plurality of second endpoints transmitting an acknowledgment message and said first endpoint receiving said acknowledgment message;
d. for each said acknowledgment message received from said certain of said plurality of second endpoints which indicates that said certain of said plurality of second endpoints can receive transmissions broadcast to said first multicast address, deactivating said point-to-point communication channel with said first endpoint and said certain of said plurality of second endpoints; and
e. terminating said broadcast of said data and said multicast communication channel if at least two of said plurality of second endpoints do not transmit said acknowledgment messages containing a positive acknowledgment.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message. Then, for each acknowledgment message received from certain of the plurality of second endpoints, the first endpoint deactivates the point-to-point communication channel and the certain of the plurality of second endpoints.
241 Citations
63 Claims
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1. In a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to a plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channel with said first endpoint, an automatic method for optimizing the transmission of said data to said plurality of second endpoints comprising the following steps:
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a. said first endpoint activating a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commencing broadcast of said data over said multicast communication channel; b. Said first endpoint transmitting a request message to each of said plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of said second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to said first multicast address; c. certain of said plurality of second endpoints transmitting an acknowledgment message and said first endpoint receiving said acknowledgment message; d. for each said acknowledgment message received from said certain of said plurality of second endpoints which indicates that said certain of said plurality of second endpoints can receive transmissions broadcast to said first multicast address, deactivating said point-to-point communication channel with said first endpoint and said certain of said plurality of second endpoints; and e. terminating said broadcast of said data and said multicast communication channel if at least two of said plurality of second endpoints do not transmit said acknowledgment messages containing a positive acknowledgment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus in a first endpoint for transmitting data to a plurality of second endpoints receiving said data from said first endpoint on point-to-point communication channels comprising:
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a. a circuit for activating a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commencing broadcast of said data over said multicast communication channel; b. a circuit for transmitting a request message to each of said plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of said second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to said first multicast address; c. a circuit for receiving acknowledgment messages, if any, from certain of said plurality of second endpoints; d. a circuit for deactivating each said point-to-point communication channel with said certain of said plurality of second endpoints responsive to receiving each said acknowledgment message; and e. a circuit for terminating said broadcast of said data and said multicast communication channel if at least two of said acknowledgment messages containing a positive acknowledgment are not received. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for merging at least two teleconferences by an initiating member, wherein said initiating member is participating in at least one of said teleconferences, said method comprising:
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providing a membership of a first teleconference and a membership of a second teleconference, wherein said first teleconference has a first unique conference identifier, and said second teleconference has a second unique conference identifier; transmitting at least a first message, wherein said first message comprises said first and second unique conference identifiers and a request to merge said first teleconference with said second teleconference; responsive to said first message, at least one of said membership of said first or second teleconferences establishing at least one communications link; and merging said membership of said first teleconference with said membership of said second teleconference based at least on said first or second unique conference identifier. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for use in a first teleconference, said first teleconference comprising at least one member, said apparatus adapted to merge at least one member of a second teleconference with said first teleconference, said apparatus comprising:
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a first apparatus adapted to communicate within said first and second teleconferences; a second apparatus adapted to store and modify a list of members of said first and second teleconferences; and a computer readable apparatus comprising media adapted to contain a computer program having a plurality of instructions which, when executed; transmit a first message to one or more members of at least one of said first or second teleconferences, said first message comprising at least a first unique conference identifier and a second unique conference identifier; responsive to receipt of said first message, cause said one or more members to join said second teleconference to said first teleconference by negotiating one or more communications links; and create a merged teleconference comprised of at least a subset of the members of said first teleconference and said second teleconference. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for merging at least two teleconferences by an initiating member, comprising:
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receiving a first message from said initiating member, wherein said first message comprises a merge request, a first unique conference identifier corresponding to a first teleconference, and a second unique conference identifier corresponding to a second teleconference; determining first and second lists of members, wherein said first list of members corresponds to said first unique conference identifier, and said second list of members corresponds to said second unique conference identifier; for at least one member of said first or second list, transmitting a second message initiating communication with said at least one member; receiving a third message, sent in response to said second message, from said at least one member of said first or second list, wherein said third message establishes a connection; and merging said first and second teleconferences based at least in part on said third message. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for merging at least two conferences by an initiating member, wherein said initiating member is participating in at least one of said conferences, said at least two conferences comprising a first conference and a second conference, said first conference having a first membership and a first unique conference identifier associated therewith, and said second conference having a second membership and a second unique conference identifier associated therewith, said method comprising:
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transmitting at least a first message, wherein said first message comprises said first and second unique conference identifiers and a request to merge said first conference with said second conference, said first message causing at least one of said first membership or said second membership to establish at least one communications link; and allowing merging said first membership with said second membership based at least on said first or second unique conference identifier. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus adapted to merge at least two conferences, said at least two conferences comprising a first conference and a second conference, said first conference having a first membership and a first conference identifier associated therewith, and said second conference having a second membership and a second conference identifier associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:
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a digital processor; a storage medium in data communication with said processor, comprising at least one table, said at least one table comprising a plurality of unique conference identifiers and corresponding memberships; and at least one computer program resident in said storage medium, said at least one program comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed; transmit at least a first message, wherein said first message comprises a request to merge said first conference with said second conference, said first message being configured to cause at least one of said first membership or said second membership to establish at least one communications link; and allow a merge of said first membership with said second membership based at least on said first or second conference identifier. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An apparatus adapted to merge at least two sessions, said at least two sessions comprising a first session and a second session, said first session having a first membership and a first identifier associated therewith, and said second session having a second membership and a second identifier associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:
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a digital processor; a storage medium in data communication with said processor; and at least one computer program resident in said storage medium, said at least one program comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed; transmit at least a first message, wherein said first message comprises said first and second unique conference identifiers and a request to merge said first session with said second session, said first message being configured to cause at least one of said first membership or said second membership to establish at least one point-to-point communications link; and allow a merge of said first membership with said second membership based at least on said first or second identifier and said first message. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. A method for attaching an auxiliary media source having a first identifier to an ongoing first conference having a plurality of members and a second identifier, said method comprising:
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identifying at least one of the members of said first conference; transmitting a first message, wherein said first message comprises a request to provide a media stream from said auxiliary media source to said at least one member; responsive to said first message, said at least one member establishing at least one communications link with said auxiliary media source; and associating said auxiliary media source with said first identifier. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification