Network operation method

Abstract

The present invention provides a network operation method that can reduce congestion on a network. A network operation method may include communicating data between a network and a plurality of clients, and placing each of the plurality of clients in VoIP communication with the network. A network operation method may include a step of tagging data for each client to communicate with the network with a quality of service (QoS) level, and a step of setting the QoS level for each client. The network operation method may include a step of reducing network congestion by controlling the amount of data communicated with the network by each client.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application with application date of August 11, 2020, application number 202080071328.6, and invention name “Optimizing data priority by managing network resources”. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to network communications, and more particularly, to methods and related apparatus for reducing delays in communications between a server and a plurality of clients over a network, for example. Background Art

[0003] As used herein, a network may include the Internet cloud and other networks ranging from local to global. As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art upon studying this disclosure, a network may include, for example, a cellular telephone network (e.g., 4G or 5G), a text messaging network (such as an MMS or SMS network), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and combinations thereof. As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art upon studying this disclosure, a network may include, for example, data storage devices, input / output devices, servers, routers, switches, databases, computers, wireless communication devices, access points, cellular networks, optical devices, lines and other communication paths, and other hardware and operable software. A network may be wired (e.g., optical, electromagnetic), wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), electromagnetic), or a combination of wired and wireless, and a network may at least partially comply with various standards (e.g., ANT, ZigBee, FDDI, ARCNET IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.20, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 1394-1995, USB).

[0004] Some networks can include hundreds or even thousands of clients connected to a specific segment of the network. These clients are generally configured as computers. In addition, there may be other clients that are not connected to the network but are close to the network. As used herein, as those skilled in the art will readily recognize when studying the present disclosure, computers can, for example, include but are not limited to single-processor or multi-processor computers, systems on a chip (system-on-a-chip), minicomputers, mainframe computers, personal computers, cloud-based computing, handheld computing devices, mobile devices, cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, watches, microcontrollers and other processor-based devices. In various implementations, as those skilled in the art will readily recognize when studying the present disclosure, computers can include memory, display, mouse, keyboard, (one or more than one) data storage device and (one or more than one) I / O device, etc. The use of the term "client" herein does not necessarily mean a specific network hierarchy or network architecture.

[0005] Certain actions may be performed regardless of whether the client is connected to the network. For example, a client may maintain a list of Wi-Fi networks, known as known networks, that the client has connected to in the past, and the client may continuously probe to search for known networks or to search for better access points to the network. This probing produces congestion as described below. In addition, many clients may communicate data via the network, such as by browsing the Internet, tweeting, or downloading email. The congestion caused by client activity on the network creates unacceptable delays in data communications between, for example, multiple clients and servers with which the multiple clients communicate via the network. As used herein, latency refers to the delay in the communication of data packets on a network, and jitter refers to the variation in latency.

[0006] As an example, it is theoretically possible but impractical to avoid network congestion by requiring users of various clients that can communicate with the network to turn off the client or use airplane mode. Requiring users to turn off their clients for short periods of time can increase compliance, but is not sufficient to solve network congestion or latency issues.

[0007] Currently, in various practical implementations, buffers are added to help data communication. However, buffers may triple the delay, resulting in unacceptable data communication performance of the network. For example, a user speaks a voice to a client, which communicates the voice as data to a server via a network, and the server converts the data into an audio broadcast from a speaker. In this example, the delay in the data communication via the network causes the user to hear the delay of the voice broadcast from the speaker relative to the voice spoken to the client, which may interfere with the speaker. In this example, the use of a buffer increases the delay, and therefore increases the delay between the voice spoken to the client and the voice broadcast from the speaker. In other implementations, the delay in the data communication via the network may cause other problems.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for improved apparatus, and related methods, that eliminate network congestion including, for example, delays in data communications between multiple clients and servers via a network. Summary of the invention

[0009] These and other needs and disadvantages can be overcome by the methods and related apparatus and combinations of materials disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon studying the present disclosure.

[0010] In various aspects, the method of network operation disclosed herein includes the steps of communicating data between a network and a plurality of clients, and placing each of the plurality of clients in VoIP communication with the network. The method of network operation may include the steps of marking the data communicated by each client with the network with a quality of service (QoS) level, and the step of setting the QoS level for each client. The method of network operation may include the step of reducing network congestion by controlling the amount of data communicated by each client with the network. In various aspects, the step of reducing network congestion by controlling the amount of data communicated by each client with the network may include: the step of prompting each operating system of each client to initiate a VoIP connection with the network, the step of generating data by activating a data source of each client to initiate processing of the operating system of each client, the processing affecting the data communication between each client and the network, and the step of dumping data from the network stack on at least one of the plurality of clients to prevent the data from being transmitted from the at least one client over the network. In various aspects, the data source may be selected as a microphone, a camera, or a sensor.

[0011] In some aspects, the method of network operation may include the step of limiting the amount of data communicated with the network from all clients of the network other than the selected client during the period of communicating data from the microphone of the selected client with the network, wherein there are at least two clients of the network. In some aspects, the method of network operation may include the step of not limiting the amount of data communicated with the network from all clients of the network except during the period of communicating data from the microphone of the selected client with the network.

[0012] In some aspects, a method of network operation can cause the network to change between a noisy operating state and a quiet operating state with multiple clients in unrestricted data communication with the network. Some clients are in restricted data communication in the quiet operating state. Related devices and combinations of substances are also disclosed herein.

[0013] This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows. Therefore, this summary is not intended to identify key elements or delineate the scope of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1A An exemplary implementation of a network communication system in a noisy operating state is illustrated by way of a schematic diagram.

[0015] Figure 1B The schematic diagram shows the quiet operation state. Figure 1A An exemplary implementation of a network communication system; and

[0016] Figure 2 An exemplary method of operation of the exemplary network communication system of FIG. 1 is illustrated by a process flow diagram.

[0017] The figures are exemplary only, and the implementations shown therein are selected for ease of explanation. Unless explicitly stated, the figures including the combination of the devices, methods and substances shown in the figures should not be considered to be restrictive. For example, the components of the various devices shown in the figures can be selected for the purpose of explanation, and the components can be grouped in the figures in various ways for ease of description, so that in other implementations, the devices can include various other components, or the components can be grouped in various other ways. For example, in other implementations, the steps in the various methods shown in the figures can be performed in other orders, or the steps in the various methods can be divided or subdivided in various ways. In other implementations, the methods can include steps other than those shown, or some steps of the methods shown may not be included. The information flows and processing flows in the figures included herein are indicated by arrows and are selected for the purpose of explanation. It should be understood that in various other implementations, other information flows can occur between various components, and other processing flows can occur. The number, position, relationship and size of the elements shown in the figures for forming the various implementations described herein are explained in this article, or are understandable to those of ordinary skill in the art when studying the present disclosure. In the case of use in each figure, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar elements. Additionally, when the terms "top," "bottom," "right," "left," "front," "rear," "first," "second," "inner," "outer," and similar terms are used, these terms should be understood with reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the figures and used to facilitate the description thereof. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon studying this disclosure, relative terms such as typically, about, approximately, substantially, and the like used herein may indicate engineering, manufacturing, computing, or scientific tolerances (such as ±0.1%, ±1%, ±2.5%, ±5%, or other such tolerances). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In various aspects, methods and related apparatus disclosed herein minimize congestion on a network communicating with a plurality of clients by, for example, simulating a shutdown of data communications with the network by clients other than selected clients. In various aspects, all clients other than the selected clients are placed in a defined state in which the clients communicate only a restricted amount of data with the network, thereby minimizing network congestion on the network. In various aspects, some clients may be placed in a defined state in which the clients communicate only a restricted amount of data with the network, and the remaining clients are allowed to variously communicate an unrestricted amount of data with the network or to communicate a partially restricted amount of data with the network.

[0019] In various aspects, the number of multiple clients can be 10, 10 2 , 10 3 or more orders of magnitude. In various aspects, the method may include initiating a sequence of events in an operating system of each client that limits data communications between each client and the network. For example, when so initiated, the sequence of operations may limit data communicated with the network to data generated only by a data source of each client, and the data source may vary between clients. The data source may include, for example, a microphone, camera, or sensor of the client. The sensor may be, for example, a temperature sensor or a device orientation sensor. In various aspects, the method may initiate the sequence of operations automatically with the permission of the corresponding user of each client and with minimal inconvenience to the user of each client.

[0020] In various aspects, a first step of the exemplary method is to register each of the plurality of clients with a network and then install a client app on each of the plurality of clients.

[0021] In various aspects, in the second step of the exemplary method, the network resource manager sends data to the client app on each client via the network, which causes the client app to temporarily activate the client's data source. In various operating systems, activating the data source can initiate a sequence of operations that prevents the client from communicating any data with the network except data generated by the data source. In such aspects, the data sources of all clients are generating data that will normally be communicated to the network when the second step is completed.

[0022] However, in various aspects, the third step of the exemplary method applies to all clients except the selected client specified by the network resource manager from all clients. The data source of the selected client (such as the microphone of the selected client) is the only data source allowed to communicate data with the network in a normal manner in various aspects. In various aspects, data from the data sources of all clients except the selected client is attenuated or completely dumped as needed, so that minimal data from the data sources of all clients except the selected client is communicated with the network, or no data from the data sources of all clients except the selected client is communicated with the network. In various aspects, the selected client is allowed to send data from the data source to the network, and the selected client can be prevented from sending data to the network except for data generated by the data source of the selected client.

[0023] As an example, consider a plurality of clients that are all arranged in an auditorium and communicate with a network, wherein one of the clients is designated as a selected client. In this example, the clients may all be smart phones, and the data source of each client is selected as a microphone. Then in this example, data from the data source (e.g., microphone) of the selected client is communicated with the network. In this example, clients other than the selected client do not communicate data with the network or communicate minimal data with the network. Note that the client can save power by checking each network connection to detect an idle connection. If no data is being communicated, the client may first lose the priority state, and then the network connection may be closed. Therefore, in various aspects, some minimal data may be communicated with the network from each client in order to maintain the priority state and prevent the closure of the network connection.

[0024] Thus, in this example, the network is substantially free of competing data (congestion) from clients other than the selected client, thereby allowing data from a data source (e.g., audio data from a microphone) to be communicated from the selected client via the network with minimal latency and maximum fidelity. The data communicated from the selected client via the network can then be broadcast to an audience via (one or more) speakers in operative communication with the network, in this example.

[0025] Figure 1A , 1B An exemplary communication system 10 is shown that can limit congestion on a network 30. Figure 1A , 1B As shown, the exemplary network communication system 10 includes a server 20 including a computer, a network 30, and clients 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d, each of which includes a computer. The network communication system 10 may be configured to Figure 1A The noise operating state shown is 11 and Figure 1B The quiet operating state 13 shown changes between them.

[0026] The network communication system 10 disclosed herein, including the network resource manager 22 and the client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, may be implemented at least in part as operational software, and such as the exemplary method 200 (see Figure 2 ) and other related methods are implemented in operable software. This document thus discloses a combination of matter including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-readable instructions, which when executed cause one or more computers to function as at least a portion of the network communication system 10 disclosed herein or to implement method steps of a method disclosed herein (such as method 200).

[0027] The software may be in the form of, for example, a high-level code (such as C or Java), or may be in the form of a machine code. The software may be executed, for example, on a computer. The software may be executed, for example, in a container such as a Docker container. In other implementations, two or more computers may communicate with each other via a network, and the software may be organized in various ways so that parts of the software may be operably distributed on two or more computers to be executed by two or more computers. Although generally described as being implemented by software for the purpose of explanation, in various implementations, the methods and devices disclosed herein may be implemented at least in part with hardware or firmware or with various combinations of hardware, firmware, and software. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art when studying the present disclosure, the combination of methods, devices, and materials disclosed herein may be practiced in a distributed computing environment, where certain tasks are performed by processors linked by a network. The nominal representation of data may be the data itself or a pointer, description, or other data that may be used to create data.

[0028] like Figure 1A , 1BAs shown, an exemplary implementation of the network communication system 10 includes a server 20 communicating with clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d via a network 30. As shown, a network resource manager 22 is operably received by the server 20, and client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d are operably received by clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, respectively. As shown, the network 30 of the network communication system 10 includes access points 32a, 32b and paths 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d. Although the paths 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d shown in the figure are implemented as wireless, it should be appreciated that in various implementations, the paths 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d can be various wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless. As shown, the server 20 including the network resource manager 22 communicates with the access points 32a, 32b of the network 30 via paths 24a, 24b, respectively, and the server 20 can control the access points 32a, 32b. In various implementations, the paths 24a, 24b can be various wired, wireless or wired and wireless combinations. In this implementation, the clients 40a, 40b communicate with the access point 32a via paths 44a, 44b, and therefore communicate with the server 20 via path 24a. In this implementation, the clients 40c, 40d communicate with the access point 32b via paths 44c, 44d, respectively, and therefore communicate with the server 20 via path 24b. Therefore, in this exemplary implementation of the network communication system 10, clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d including client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d respectively communicate data with a server 20 including a network resource manager 22 via a network 30, and the server 20 including the network resource manager 22 controls at least a portion of the network 30 that communicates with the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d.

[0029] As shown, clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d include client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d operably received by operating systems 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, respectively. As shown, operating systems 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d and client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d communicate with network 30 via network stacks 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, respectively. As shown, clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d include corresponding data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d operably linked to corresponding client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d. Figure 1A , 1BAs shown, data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d can communicate data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d with network 30 via network stacks 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, respectively. Each of data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d can be, for example, a microphone, a camera, or a sensor, so that each of source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d can be audio data, video data, or sensor data corresponding to each of data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively.

[0030] like Figure 1A , 1B As shown, the network 30 may be formed in part as a wireless LAN based on, for example, the 802.11 protocol, and the network 30 may implement the Internet protocol. It should be understood that in various other implementations, the network 30 may include a network as used herein, where the network 30 is local to global in scope. In various implementations, data may be communicated via the network 30 by various wired and wireless technologies and combinations thereof.

[0031] For purposes of explanation, the access points 32a, 32B and the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d of the network communication system 10 are exemplary. Thus, various other implementations of the communication system 10 may have various other configurations of the network 30, may have various numbers of access points (such as the access points 32a, 32B) and various numbers of clients (such as the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), and various numbers of clients may communicate with the network 30. In various implementations, the number of clients may range from a single client to hundreds of clients, thousands of clients, or more, for example.

[0032] like Figure 1A As shown, the network communication system operates in the noise operation state 11. Figure 1A As shown, clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, including client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively, communicate unrestricted data 62 with a server 20 including a network resource manager 22, and each of the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d can communicate an unrestricted amount of data 64. For example, the unrestricted amount of data 64 can be a capacity such as a maximum user signaling rate of the network 30. In the noisy operating state 11, the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d can communicate with the network 30 at generally the same priority.

[0033] like Figure 1BAs shown, the network communication system 10 operates in a quiet operating state 13. In the quiet operating state 13, the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d communicate with the network 30 via VoIP connections 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d. As shown, the network resource manager 22 of the server 20 has designated one of the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d as the selected client 45 in the quiet operating state 13. For the purpose of explanation, in this implementation, the client 40d is designated as the selected client 45. The selected client 45 then performs partially restricted data communications 76 with the network 30 to communicate a partially restricted amount of data 78 with the network 30, while the clients 40a, 40c, 40d other than the selected client 45 perform restricted data communications 72 with the network 30 to communicate a restricted amount of data 74 with the network 30, as shown. In other implementations, there may be more than one selected client 45.

[0034] The VoIP connections 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d are implemented using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as IP telephony. VoIP is a method and a set of technologies for delivering voice communications and multimedia sessions over an Internet Protocol network such as network 30. Voice over IP can be implemented in various ways using proprietary VoIP protocols and open standard VoIP protocols. Exemplary VoIP protocols include Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), H.323, Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), H.248, Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP), Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), Session Description Protocol (SDP), Inter-Asterisk Exchange (IAX), Extensible Message Presence Protocol (XMPP), Jingle Protocol, and Skype Protocol.

[0035] like Figure 1BAs shown, because client 40d has been designated as the selected client 45, client 40b is in partially restricted data communications 76 with network 30. As shown, selected client 45 communicates a partially restricted amount of data 78 with server 20, including network resource manager 22, via network 30. As shown, clients 40a, 40c, 40d are in restricted data communications 72 with network 30, and thus clients 40a, 40c, 40d communicate a restricted amount of data 74 with network 30. In this implementation, in quiet operating state 13, partially restricted data communications 76 of selected client 45 have a higher priority on network 30 than restricted data communications 72 of clients 40a, 40c, 40d. Because the clients 40a, 40c, 40d communicate a restricted amount of data 74 with the network 30, and because the selected client 45 communicates a partially restricted amount of data 78 with the network 30, congestion on the network 30 can be reduced, thereby reducing the delay of the partially restricted data communication 76 of the selected client 45 with priority to the network 30. Therefore, in this implementation, in the quiet operating state 13, all clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d are placed in a defined state, in which the clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d communicate a restricted amount of data 74 or a partially restricted amount of data 78 with the network 30, thereby minimizing network congestion and thus reducing delays on the network 30. In other implementations, the selected client 45 can be in unrestricted data communication 62 to communicate an unrestricted amount of data 64 with the network 30. In other implementations, clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d may be in various combinations of unrestricted data communications 62 for communicating an unrestricted amount of data 64, partially restricted data communications 76 for communicating a partially restricted amount of data 78, and restricted data communications 72 for communicating a restricted amount of data 74. The unrestricted amount of data 64, the restricted amount of data 74, and the partially restricted amount of data may include source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d from data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively.

[0036] The partially restricted data communication 76 may be implemented at least in part by communicating only source data from a data source, such as source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d from data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively, with the network 30. The restricted data communication 72 may be implemented at least in part by communicating only a portion of source data from a data source, such as source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d from data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively, with the network 30. The source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d from data sources 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, respectively, is communicated to the network 30 via the network stacks 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, respectively. At least a portion of the source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d may be dumped from the network stack 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, respectively, before the remainder of the source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d (if any) is sent to the network 30.

[0037] When the clients 40a, 40c, 40d are in limited data communication 72 with the network 30, the clients 40a, 40c, 40d, respectively controlled by the client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, typically communicate no more than a limited amount of data 74. The limited amount of data 74 may be defined as the amount of data that is minimally required to maintain data communication between each of the clients 40a, 40c, 40d and the network 30. For example, when the client 40a is in limited data communication 72, the client app 42a may communicate the limited amount of data 74 with the network resource manager 22 to maintain communication between the client 40a and the server 20, and the network resource manager 22 may communicate the limited amount of data 74 with the client app 42a to maintain data communication between the network resource manager 22 and the client 40a. For example, in some implementations, the limited amount of data 74 may be substantially zero. In this implementation, communication of the limited amount of data 74 prevents the VoIP connections 80a, 80c, 80d from timing out due to lack of activity.

[0038] When the selected client 45 is in the partially restricted data communication 76 controlled by the client app 42b, in this implementation, the selected client 45 can communicate with the network 30 no more than the partially restricted data amount 78. The partially restricted data amount 78 can include data communications minimally required to maintain data communications between the selected client 45 and the network 30, and can include additional data communications. In various implementations, the partially restricted data amount 78 can be greater than the restricted data amount 74 but less than the unrestricted data amount 64.

[0039] Figure 2An exemplary method 200 is shown for limiting congestion on a network, such as network 30. Other implementations may, for example, include additional steps to the steps of exemplary method 200, various modifications of the steps of exemplary method 200, or may not include certain steps of exemplary method 200.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, the exemplary method 200 is used in a Figure 1A The noise operating state 11 shown and the noise operating state such as Figure 1B The data communication system such as the data communication system 10 changes between the quiet operating states such as the quiet operating state 13 shown. Figure 2 As shown, the method 200 is entered at step 201 , wherein the data communication system is in a noisy operating state.

[0041] At step 205 , a network resource manager, such as network resource manager 22 , is operably received on a server, such as server 20 .

[0042] At step 210, a client app, such as client apps 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, is operably received onto a respective client, such as each of clients 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d.

[0043] At step 215, the client app is placed in communication with the network resource manager via a network such as network 30. All clients including corresponding client apps now communicate in both directions with the server including the network resource manager via the network. All clients communicate unrestricted data such as unrestricted data communications 62 with the network, and all clients communicate unrestricted amounts of data such as unrestricted amounts of data 64 with the network. At step 215, the data communication system may, for example, conform to Figure 1A The data communication system in a noisy operating state is shown. Note that in some implementations, a rogue client, meaning a client that has not yet admitted a client app or otherwise communicated with the network resource manager, can be deauthenticated from the network by the network resource manager.

[0044] At step 220, the known network list is removed from each client to prevent probing. The known network list may be restored as appropriate.

[0045] At step 225, the network explorer on the server can distribute a list of all clients and associated users to each client app. The network explorer requires a list of all clients and associated users, while having a list of all clients and associated users is optional for the client. The client can be used to selectively present a profile of the user of each client, such as a resume, photo, Facebook page, or Linkedin page.

[0046] At step 230, one or more clients may request designation as a selected client, such as selected client 45, using a client app. The request to be designated as a selected client is communicated from the client(s) to the network resource manager.

[0047] At step 235, the network resource manager designates a selected client (eg, selects a client to speak). The server designates the selected client from the clients that requested designation as the selected client.

[0048] At step 240, the network resource manager on the server sends instructions prompting the operating system on each client (such as operating system 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) to establish a VoIP connection (such as VoIP connection 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d) between each client and the server. The client app can cooperate with the operating system to prompt the operating system to establish the VoIP connection. In this implementation, the VoIP connection gives the client app of the selected client exclusive access to the network, thereby minimizing background operations and network usage.

[0049] At step 245, the limited data volumes (such as limited data volume 74) and partially limited data volumes (such as partially limited data volume 78) communicated between the client and the server via the VoIP connection are marked with appropriate quality of service (QoS) levels. The QoS level ensures that the data packets including the data receive appropriate priority. QoS prioritizes the bandwidth relationships between various applications or protocols according to the following five classes:

[0050] Maximum - This class offers maximum priority and should be used sparingly.

[0051] Advanced - The second highest bandwidth class, handshakes and ICMP packets fall into this class by default. Most VoIP and video services will work fine in this class if Fast is not enough.

[0052] Fast - The Fast class is used for interactive applications that require bandwidth higher than the Standard service so that the interactive applications can run smoothly.

[0053] Standard - All services not otherwise specifically classified will fall under the Standard category.

[0054] Bulk - The Bulk class is allocated remaining bandwidth only when the remaining classes are free. If the line is full of traffic from other classes, Bulk will be allocated only 1% of the total aggregate limit. Use this class for download services like P2P and FTP.

[0055] QoS can be used to allocate bandwidth based on the following "minimum to maximum" percentages of downlink and uplink values ​​for individual classes:

[0056] ■Maximum: 75%-100%

[0057] ■Advanced: 50%-100%

[0058] ■Fast: 25%-100%

[0059] ■Standard: 15%-100%

[0060] ■Batch: 5%-100%

[0061] For example, 10000 kbit of uplink traffic, "standard" class traffic may be reduced and de-prioritized to 15% or 1500 kbit when concurrent express or higher priority services require the downlink / uplink pipe at the same time.

[0062] Upon completion of step 245, all clients except the selected client perform limited data communication with the network. Upon completion of step 245, the selected client performs partially limited data communication with the network.

[0063] At step 250, the network resource manager on the server sends a limited amount of data to each client, for example, in order to maintain data communication with each client or test network performance. In some implementations, the limited amount of data sent to the selected client can be different from the limited amount of data sent to the client except the selected client. The limited amount of data communicated to all clients at step 250 can include triggering the operating system (such as operating system 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d) of each client to activate the command of the data source (such as data source 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d), which can be operatively engaged with the client to generate source data (such as source data 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d). Generating source data can be completed in a loop with high priority, and the loop continuously triggers each client to activate the corresponding data source. Note that in some implementations, the limited amount of data sent to the selected client can include, for example, sidetone.

[0064] In step 255, clients other than the selected client communicate a limited amount of data with a network such as a resource manager on a server to maintain data communication with the server. The limited amount of data communicated with the network resource manager at step 255 can indicate, for example, signal strength, delay, timing information, and location. In some implementations, data is not sent to the server from clients other than the selected client. In order to achieve such minimization of data communication from each client other than the selected client, each client other than the selected client behaves as if participating in low-latency data communication. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art when studying this disclosure, although the client app on each client other than the selected client generates source data, for example, using a data source operably coupled to the client, the source data can be dumped from a network stack (such as network stacks 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d) before being sent to the network in various ways as a limited amount of data. For example, the source data may be placed in a buffer operably included with the network stack and then at least a portion of the source data (if any) is flushed from the buffer before the remainder of the source data (if any) is sent to the network as a limited amount of data through the network stack.

[0065] At step 255, each client except the selected client is prohibited from probing the network, and each client except the selected client communicates restricted data via the network.

[0066] At step 260, the selected client communicates the partially restricted amount of data with the network resource manager on the server through the network. The partially restricted amount of data may include all source data generated by the data source of the selected client. The server including the network resource manager can utilize the partially restricted amount of data to, for example, output audio to the audience from the data source of the selected client. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying this disclosure, when the selected client is in partially restricted data communication, certain types of data communication between the selected client and the network, such as email communication, web browsing, and text messaging, etc., may be restricted. At step 260, the network communication system operates in a quiet operating state.

[0067] At step 265, the network resource manager on the server does not specify the selected client. Other clients may then be specified at the selected client.

[0068] The network resource manager terminates the VoIP connection with all clients at step 270. When the VoIP connection is terminated at step 270, the network communications are changed from a quiet operating state to a noisy operating state. After the VoIP connection is terminated, all clients are now in unrestricted data communications with the network.

[0069] Method 200 terminates at step 281 .

[0070] The foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings disclose and describe only various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but rather to help understand the context of the language used in this specification and claims. The abstract is presented only to meet the requirements of 37 CFR § 1.72(b). Therefore, the abstract is not intended to identify the key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to depict their scope. When studying the exemplary implementations of the present disclosure and this article, a person of ordinary skill in the art can easily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0071] Citation of Related Applications

[0072] This application claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 885,360, filed on August 12, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Claims

1. A network operation method, comprising the following steps: (A) registering all of the plurality of clients communicating with the network with a network resource manager, and installing a client app on each client that communicates with the network resource manager via the network; (B) selecting a selected client group from the plurality of clients, the selected client group including at least one client from the plurality of clients but less than all clients from the plurality of clients; (C) limiting data from each of the plurality of clients being communicated with the network by performing the following steps according to an instruction of the network resource manager to the client app of each of the plurality of clients, and placing the network in a quiet operating state during the communication of data from the data source of each of the clients in the selected client group: (i) triggering a process in an operating system of each of the plurality of clients that restricts data being communicated by each client with the network except for data from a data source of each client; (ii) dumping at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source by each client not in the selected client group, thereby preventing at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source of each client not in the selected client group from being communicated with the network; as well as (iii) communicating with the network all data from data sources of each client in the selected group of clients.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: Based on the instructions of the network resource manager to the client app of each client, the network is placed from the quiet operating state to the noisy operating state by terminating the processing of the operating system of each of the multiple clients, thereby not limiting the data from each client that is communicating with the network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of triggering the operating system of each of the multiple clients to limit the processing of data being communicated by each client with the network except for data from the data source of each client includes the following steps: establishing a VoIP connection between the data source of each client and the network by the client app of each client.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The following steps are also included: Set the QoS level for the VoIP connection.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The VoIP connection is established between the data source of each client and the network resource manager.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Data from data sources of each client in the selected client group is being communicated to the network resource manager.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: A data source for a client among the plurality of clients is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, and a sensor.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of dumping, by clients not in the selected group of clients, at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source includes dumping data from a network stack of the at least one client.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The selected client group consists of one client among the plurality of clients.

10. A network operation method, comprising the following steps: (A) registering each of a plurality of clients with a network resource manager, each client communicating with a network, and installing a client app on each client that communicates with the network resource manager via the network; (B) defining a selected client group and an unselected client group, wherein the selected client group includes one or more than one client selected from the plurality of clients but less than all of the plurality of clients, and the unselected client group includes each client of the plurality of clients that is not in the selected client group; (C) limiting data from the unselected client group being communicated with the network by performing the following steps according to an instruction of the network resource manager to the client app of each client in the unselected client group, and placing the network in a quiet operating state during the communication of data from each client in the selected client group with the network: (i) triggering a process in an operating system of each client in the unselected client group that restricts data being communicated by each client in the unselected client group to the network except for data from a data source of each client in the unselected client group; as well as (ii) dumping, by each client in the unselected client group, at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source of each client in the unselected client group, thereby preventing at least a portion of the data from being communicated with the network.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: Based on the instructions of the network resource manager to the client apps of each client in the unselected client group, the network is placed from the quiet operating state to the noisy operating state by terminating the processing of the operating system of each client in the unselected client group, thereby not restricting the data from all clients in the unselected client group that are communicating with the network.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The step of triggering the operating system of each client in the unselected client group to limit the processing of data being communicated between each client in the unselected client group and the network except for data from the data source of each client in the unselected client group includes the following steps: establishing a VoIP connection between the data source and the network by the client app of each client in the unselected client group.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: Set the QoS level for each VoIP connection.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The VoIP connection is established between the data source and the network resource manager.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The data source of the clients in the unselected client group is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, and a sensor.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The step of dumping, by each client in the unselected client group, at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source of each client in the unselected client group includes dumping data from a network stack of the client in the unselected client group.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The selected client group consists of one client among the plurality of clients.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: Data is communicated with a data source of one or more of the selected clients, the data source being selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, and a sensor.

19. A network operation method, comprising the following steps: (A) registering each of a plurality of clients with a network resource manager, each client communicating with a network, and installing a client app on each client that communicates with the network resource manager via the network; (B) placing the network in a quiet operating state during communication of data from a data source of a selected client by limiting data from all of the plurality of clients being communicated with the network by performing the following steps: (i) opening the data source of each client by establishing, by the client app of each client, a VoIP connection with quality of service (QoS) enabled between the data source of each client and the network in accordance with the instructions of the network resource manager, thereby triggering processing by the operating system of each client, which restricts data from each client other than data from the data source being communicated with the network; (ii) dumping at each client other than the selected client at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source of each client other than the selected client, thereby preventing at least a portion of the data being generated by the data source of each client other than the selected client from being communicated with the network; as well as (iii) communicating all data from the data source of the selected client to the network.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: Based on instructions from the network resource manager to client apps on each of the multiple clients, the network is placed from the quiet operating state to a noisy operating state by closing the VoIP connection between each client's data source and the network, thereby closing the data source and not restricting data from all clients communicating with the network.

21. A network operation method, comprising the following steps: (A) registering all of the plurality of clients communicating with the network with a network resource manager, and installing a client app on each client that communicates with the network resource manager via the network; (B) selecting a selected client group from the plurality of clients, the selected client group including at least one client from the plurality of clients but less than all clients from the plurality of clients; as well as (C) placing the network in a quiet operating state during communication of data from a data source of each client by limiting data from each of the plurality of clients being communicated with the network.

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