US5867653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for multi-cast based video conferencing
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-18
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Granted: 1999-02-02
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Expires: 2016-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A distance learning system consists of a plurality of multi-cast clients of various classes and priorities with one multi-cast client as a primary multi-cast client, a multi-cast server, arbitrator and a distance learning session coordinator. The primary multi-cast client provides the default or primary Audio-Visual Material (AVM) stream. The Multi-Cast Server (MCS) setups a multi-cast over a point to multi-point connection which connects all multi-cast clients that are to take part in a particular distance learning session, along with the Primary multi-cast client. Additionally, the primary multi-cast client is connected to the MCS via a point-to-point link. The multi-cast clients and the primary multi-cast client receive an AVM material stream from the multi-cast server via the point to multi-point connection. When a multi-cast client wishes to speak, a speaking request is sent to the arbitrator, the arbitrator determines whether to grant or deny the speaking request. If permission is granted then a point-to-point link is established between the requesting multi-cast client and the MCS. The requesting multi-cast client then provides an AVM stream to the multi-cast server over the newly established point-to-point connection and the multi-cast server switches or provides the AVM stream associated with the requesting multi-cast Client over the point to multi-point connection. When the requesting multi-cast client is through speaking the MCS switches the AVM stream associated with the primary multi-cast client onto the point to multi-point connection and the point-to-point link with the requesting multi-cast client is terminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Caglan M. Aras
- 👤 Roch A. Guerin
- 👤 Gerald Lebizay
- 👤 Raif O. Onvural
- 👤 Gary Roy Shippy
- 👤 Ling-Ching Wang Tai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L12/1822; G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/08; G09B5/14; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04N7/152; H04Q; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13034; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13242; H04Q2213/1325; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A video-conferencing system, comprising a communication network supporting multi-casting of an AVM stream from a multi-cast ("MC") server to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session over point-to-multi-point connections, wherein the first plurality of MC clients are each participating in a first session, each MC client capable of receiving a selected AVM stream from the communication network and transmitting an associated AVM stream onto the communication network; wherein the primary MC client is participating in the first session, the primary MC client capable of receiving the selected AVM stream from the communications network and transmitting a default AVM stream onto the communications network from the primary MC client to the MC server over a point-to-point connection, and wherein the MC server provides the selected AVM stream to the first plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client via a first point-to-multi-point connection on said communications network, the MC server receiving the default AVM stream from the primary MC client and multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point-to-multi-point connections, said MC server switching between multi-casting the default AVM stream and a client AVM stream associated with any one of the MC clients granted permission to speak after the one of the MC clients has requested permission to speak wherein the client AVM stream is provided to the MC server via a dynamically created point-to-point link existing only for the duration of the client AVM transmission wherein the default AVM stream is maintained between the primary MC client and the MC server during the time the client AVM stream is transmitted to the MC server and wherein the dynamically created point-to-point link is torn down when the one of the MC clients is finished speaking and wherein the default AVM stream is then again multi-casted over the point-to-multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of the MC clients and the primary MC client.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A video-conferencing system, comprising a communication network supporting multi-casting of an AVM stream from a multi-cast ("MC") server to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session over point-to-multi-point connections, wherein the first plurality of MC clients are each participating in a first session, each MC client capable of receiving a selected AVM stream from the communication network and transmitting an associated AVM stream onto the communication network; wherein the primary MC client is participating in the first session, the primary MC client capable of receiving the selected AVM stream from the communications network and transmitting a default AVM stream onto the communications network from the primary MC client to the MC server over a point-to-point connection, and wherein the MC server provides the selected AVM stream to the first plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client via a first point-to-multi-point connection on said communications network, the MC server receiving the default AVM stream from the primary MC client and multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point-to-multi-point connections, said MC server switching between multi-casting the default AVM stream and a client AVM stream associated with any one of the MC clients granted permission to speak after the one of the MC clients has requested permission to speak wherein the client AVM stream is provided to the MC server via a dynamically created point-to-point link existing only for the duration of the client AVM transmission wherein the default AVM stream is maintained between the primary MC client and the MC server during the time the client AVM stream is transmitted to the MC server and wherein the dynamically created point-to-point link is torn down when the one of the MC clients is finished speaking and wherein the default AVM stream is then again multi-casted over the point-to-multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of the MC clients and the primary MC client.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the MC server and primary MC are collocated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the MC server combines the client AVM stream with the default AVM stream to form the selected AVM stream during the client AVM transmission.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the MC server only permits establishment of one client connection at a time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a coordinator for joining and dropping MC clients from the first session and causing the MC server to add or delete MC clients from the first point-to-multi-point connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the communications network is an ATM communications network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the multi-cast server performs switching by virtual circuit re-routing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of MC Clients, the primary MC client and the multi-cast server are each equipped with ATM adapter for receiving and transmitting AVM streams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the multi-cast server performs switching by virtual circuit re-routing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the multi-cast server performs switching by virtual circuit re-routing on the ATM adapter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the first point to multi-point connection is established using a multi-cast tree.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a video-conferencing system, a method comprising the steps of: establishing a point to multi-point connection, the point to multi-point connection for providing from an MC server and AVM stream to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session, sending a default AVM stream over a point-to-point connection from the primary MC client to the MC server, multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point to multi-point connection; requesting permission to speak by a first MC client; granting the first MC client permission to speak; establishing a first point-to-point connection between the first MC client and the MC server; sending the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the first point to point connection from the first MC client to the MC server while maintaining the provision of the default AVM stream from the primary MC client to the MC server; multi-casting the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the point to multi-point connection, tearing down the first point-to-point connection when the first MC client is finishing speaking; and again multi-casting the default AVM stream, received from the primary MC client, over the point to multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a video-conferencing system, a method comprising the steps of: establishing a point to multi-point connection, the point to multi-point connection for providing from an MC server and AVM stream to a plurality of MC clients and a primary MC client participating in a video-conferencing session, sending a default AVM stream over a point-to-point connection from the primary MC client to the MC server, multi-casting the default AVM stream over the point to multi-point connection; requesting permission to speak by a first MC client; granting the first MC client permission to speak; establishing a first point-to-point connection between the first MC client and the MC server; sending the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the first point to point connection from the first MC client to the MC server while maintaining the provision of the default AVM stream from the primary MC client to the MC server; multi-casting the AVM stream associated with the first MC client over the point to multi-point connection, tearing down the first point-to-point connection when the first MC client is finishing speaking; and again multi-casting the default AVM stream, received from the primary MC client, over the point to multi-point connection between the MC server and the plurality of MC clients and the primary MC client.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of repeating the requesting, granting, establishing, multi-casting and tearing down steps for other MC clients.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of: joining one or more MC clients to the multi-cast tree.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of: dropping one or more MC clients from the multi-cast tree.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of: presenting the multi-cast AVM stream.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the AVM streams are transmitted in real-time to provide a real-time and continuous audio and visual output to the clients.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the multi-casting steps transmit the AVM streams in real-time over the point to multi-point connection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the default AVM stream and the client AVM stream are concurrently multi-casted over the point to multi-point connection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the default AVM stream and the client AVM stream are concurrently multi-casted over the point to multi-point connection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker and a display device coupled to each of the primary MC client and the plurality of MC clients, wherein the speakers and the display devices output the received AVM streams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12, wherein each of the MC clients includes a speaker and a display device coupled thereto for outputting the received AVM streams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the multi-cast server and the primary MC client do not move to other data processing systems within the video-conferencing system as each of the other MC clients are given permission to speak.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the primary MC client and the multi-cast server remain established at their respective data processing systems within the communications network even as different MC clients are granted permission to speak.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |