Hybrid server architecture for mixing and non-mixing client conferencing
US6683858B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/6418
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system, method and computer program product which allows both mixing (e.g., PC-based) and non-mixing (e.g., phone-based) clients to participate in a single audio conference. The system includes a hybrid multi-point control unit (i.e., conferencing server) that performs mixing for phone-based clients and multiplexing for PC-based clients. The method and computer program product determines which clients have the capability to mix multiple audio streams and which do not. For those clients capable of mixing, the server multiplexes the packets of audio data received from each client on the active speakers list into a multiplexed stream. For those clients that are not capable of mixing, the server mixes the packets of audio data received from each client on the active speakers list into one combined packet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.