System for terminating multicast channel and data broadcast when at least two second endpoints do not transmit positive acknowledgement message to first endpoint

Abstract

A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message. Then, for each acknowledgment message received from certain of the plurality of second endpoints, the first endpoint deactivates the point-to-point communication channel and the certain of the plurality of second endpoints.

Description

[0001]This application is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,977, issued Dec. 7, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 468,715, now abandoned, filed Jun. 5, 1995, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 396,198, filed Feb. 24, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,898 issued Dec. 29, 1998. Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,977. The reissue applications are application Ser. Nos. 10 / 857,798 (now U.S. Pat. No. RE40,704), 10 / 857,799, 10 / 857,805, 10 / 857,806, and 12 / 210,847.[0002]This application is related to copending reissue patent application Ser. No. 10 / 857,799, for “System for Terminating Multicast Channel and Data Broadcast When at Least Two Second Endpoints Do Not Transmit Positive Acknowledgement Message to First Endpoint”, filed May 28, 2004.[0003]This application is related to copending reissue patent application Ser. No. 10 / 857,798, for “System for Terminating ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, a wide variety of features has been implemented in different teleconference applications, and the proliferation of different types of computer systems with different capacities, and different networking media has created challenges for teleconferencing.

However, with the wide diversity of systems having different computation capacities, and in addition, the wide variety of networking media, that certain systems may not have certain capabilities.

Of course, this results in certain inefficiencies, especially if both of the participants are capable of transmitting in a higher capacity than the system with the least possible capability.

Another issue in teleconference applications is the ability of certain stations to participate in more than one teleconference.

That is, that while a single station is merging more than one conference it is participating in, a second station at a remote location may further have other operating circumstances changing (e.g., participants leaving, entering, or otherwise joining an on-going teleconference), and thus, the management of such merging operations becomes unduly burdensome.

Certain prior art teleconferencing applications lack these abilities.

Images