Directory server for providing dynamically assigned network protocol addresses
US6185184A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2203/4536
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication protocol for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between computer users over a computer network includes a directory server apparatus for providing the current dynamically assigned Internet Protocol addresses of client processes currently connected to the computer network. The server maintains a list of entries, each entry including the Internet Protocol address of a user currently connected to the network. In response to identification of one of the entries by a requesting client process, the server provides the corresponding Internet Protocol address of the entry to the requesting client process. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the directory server monitors the status of client processes connected to the network via periodic notification from the client processes. The server dynamically modifies the time interval at which client processes notify the server, depending on the demand for server resources.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.