Mechanisms for accessing unique features of telephony networks from a protocol-Independent data transport interface

US5674003A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• David B. Andersen · Silverthorne, US
• Tsung-Yuan C. Tai · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 1995
• Grant date: Oct 7, 1997
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S370/905
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

In a computer video conferencing system it is often necessary to transmit multiple channels of information between remote computers, such as a video channel, an audio channel and data sharing channel. A socket based transport interface can be utilized to establish communication channels between remote computers over a connection oriented telephony network. A plurality of sockets are created at each endpoint, one for each type of data stream to be transferred between the computers. The sockets are formed into a group to indicate to the computer transport service provider that the data streams from the sockets can utilize the same telephony connection, and a quality-of-service specification is associated with the socket group so that the telephony connection can be established according to the requirements of the socket group. If a new data stream needs to be transmitted and there is already a telephony connection established, a new socket is created and added to the existing socket group. If the newly added socket significantly affects the quality-of-service requirements of the socket group, a new quality-of-service may be negotiated with the telephony network.