Method and apparatus for supporting multipoint communications in a protocol-independent manner
US5841976A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/1813
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enabling a computer system to initiate, conduct, and terminate a multipoint computer conference regardless of the underlying network protocols. The computer system executes software which determines whether the network supports rooted control and rooted data. When the network supports rooted control, the computer system waits for a connect signal sent from a control leaf node of a plurality of control leaf nodes when the computer system is a control root node and the computer system is to wait for the connect signal. The receipt by the control root node of the connect signal causes the control leaf node to join the conference. The computer system sends the connect signal to the control leaf node when the computer system is the control root node and the computer system is not to wait for the connect signal. The receipt by the control leaf node of the connect signal causes the control leaf node to join the conference. The connect signal is sent from the control root node and from the control leaf node using a function call with arguments identifying the control leaf node and the control root node.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.