EP0592846A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Call setup and channel allocation for a multi-media network bus
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-09-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for call set-up and channel resource allocation between a plurality of parties in a multi-media conference call that consists of receiving notice that a Sender (the initiator of the conference) wants to commence a video conference. At that point, the number of channels required by the proposed call is determined. Subsequently, each requested participant is identified as available, busy, or no answer. If the receiver is available and sufficient channels are available, the call is set-up and the present members of the conference are notified of what channel each should transmit on and what channel(s) to listen to for the other participants. As each receiver is added, the Sender may conference with the present Receiver. If it is decided at this point, that the receiver will not participate in the conference, the call to that receiver may be terminated, and the procedure continues for other receivers until the full conference is set up. Individuals may leave the conference at any time. When the final two participants hang up, the video conference is terminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon F. Hauris
- 👤 Dennis M. Kalajainen
- 👤 Ronald A. Bowen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for call set-up and allocation for a multi-media exchange of communications among a plurality of parties, said parties connected by a backbone network and a plurality of local area networks, said method comprising the steps of: a) waiting in a quiescent state; b) receiving a call request from a first participant, said call request identifying other participants; c) entering a channel allocate state; d) choosing one of said other participants and determining whether said chosen participant is "busy", no answer or clear; e) if said chosen participant is clear: - assigning a channel to said chosen participant; - notifying said chosen participant of a channel number associated with said assigned channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant; f) if said chosen participant is busy or no answer, identifying said first participant of said chosen participant's state; g) repeating steps c, d, e and f a plurality of times until each of said other participants has been chosen; and h) entering a talk state, during which said first participant and all of said other clear participants communicate, said communication consisting of transmitting and receiving among themselves over said assigned channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method of call set-up and allocation as in claim 1, wherein, during said allocation state: - the number of channels required for communication among said first participant and all of said other participants is determined; - the number of available channels are determined; - allocating the required number of channels to said conference, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and - returning to said idle state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method of call set-up and allocation as in claim 1 or 2, comprising the following additional steps after entering said talk state: - receiving an additional call request from said first participant identifying one or more additional participants; - repeating steps c, d, e, and f of claim 1 until each of said additional participants has been chosen; and - reentering said talk state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method of call set-up and allocation as in claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising the following additional steps after step e of claim 1: - entering an initial talk state during which said first participant and said clear chosen participant can communicate using channels corresponding to said assigned channel number; - continuing to step g of claim 1 if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should remain in the call; and - releasing the assigned channel for said clear chosen participant if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should not remain in the call and returning to step g of claim 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising in addition, releasing said assigned channel when one of said clear participants indicates termination of communication between said clear participant and said other participants.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, comprising in addition, releasing all of said assigned channels when said first participant indicates termination of communications.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
224 words
A system for call set-up and allocation for a multi-media exchange of communications among a plurality of parties, said parties connected by a backbone network and a plurality of local area networks, said system comprising the steps of: a) a means of waiting in a quiescent state; b) a means of receiving a call request from a first participant said call request identifying other participants; c) means for entering a channel allocate state; d) means for choosing one of said other participants and determining whether said chosen participant is "busy", no answer or clear; e) means for assigning a channel to said chosen participant, if said chosen participant is clear and means for notifying said chosen participant of a channel number associated with said assigned channel and channel numbers assigned to the first participant and any other participant, if said chosen participant is clear; f) means for identifying said first participant of said chosen participant's state, said identification occurring if said chosen participant is busy or no answer; g) means for repeating steps c, d, e and f a plurality of times until each of said other participants has been chosen; and h) means for entering a talk state, during which said first participant and all of said other clear participants transmit and receive among themselves over channels corresponding to said assigned channel numbers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system of call set-up and allocation as in claim 7, wherein said means for entering an allocation state comprises, in addition: - means for determining the number of channels required for communication among said first participant and all of said other participants is determined; - means for determining the number of available channels; - means for allocating the required number of channels to said conference, if said number of channels available is at least equal to said number of channels required; and - means for returning to said idle state if said number of channels available is less than said number of channels required.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system of call set-up and allocation as in claim 7 or 8, comprising, in addition: - means for receiving an additional call request from said first participant identifying one or more additional participants; - means repeating steps c, d, e, and f of claim 1 until each of said additional participants has been chosen; and - means for reentering said talk state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system of call set-up and allocation as in claim 7, 8 or 9, comprising, in addition: - means for entering an initial talk state during which said first participant and said clear chosen participant can communicate using channels corresponding to said assigned channel number; - means for continuing to step g of claim 7 if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should remain in the call; - means for releasing the assigned channel for said clear chosen participant if said first participant indicates that said clear chosen participant should not remain in the call and subsequently continuing to step g of claim 7.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, comprising in addition, means for releasing said assigned channel when one of said clear participants indicates termination of communication between said clear participant and said other participants.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, comprising in addition, means for releasing all of said assigned channels when said first participant indicates termination of communications.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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