Method for creating peer-to-peer connections over an interconnected network to facilitate conferencing among users
US6167432A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/1822
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for facilitating the creation and maintenance of network connections over an interconnected network for the purpose of facilitating the creation and participation of on-line conferences in accordance to the peer-to-peer paradigm is disclosed. A designated location on the network (e.g. a web site) on an interconnected network such as the internet is setup in such a manner that a conference may be created and conference participants can be easily connected into the created conference by making a few simple selections. The IP addresses of the conference participants are maintained at the designated site and are transmitted to a new conference participant to allow the new conference participant to connect directly into the conference without the new participant having to know the IP addresses of the conference participants. The new participant may be connected to any one of the existing conference participants. Once the conference is established, no data goes through the designated site or a central host. Data packets are directly sent to and received by the respective application program of each participant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.