US5963547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for centralized multipoint conferencing in a packet network
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1996-09-18
•
Granted: 1999-10-05
•
Expires: 2016-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A centralized multipoint conferencing arrangement uses a combination of multicast and unicast transmissions that is bandwidth efficient. A method of conferencing includes transmitting multimedia streams from endpoint terminals to a central resource such as a multipoint control unit (MCU) using unicast transmission. The multimedia streams are processed in the MCU and transmitted back to the endpoint terminals using multicast transmission. In addition, the MCU transmits other multimedia streams to selected endpoint terminals using unicast transmission. At the selected endpoint terminals, processing of the multimedia streams is inhibited in favor of processing the other multimedia streams.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. O'Neil
- 👤 George W. Kajos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/40; H04L65/403; H04L65/4038; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L12/1827; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/567; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/148; H04N7/15; H04N7/152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting first multimedia streams from endpoint terminals to a central resource, each first multimedia stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; processing the first multimedia streams in the central resource to generate second and third multimedia streams; transmitting the second multimedia streams from the central resource to the endpoint terminals in a multicast packet transmission and transmitting the third multimedia streams to selected endpoint terminals, each third multimedia stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting processing of the second multimedia streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting first multimedia streams from endpoint terminals to a central resource, each first multimedia stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; processing the first multimedia streams in the central resource to generate second and third multimedia streams; transmitting the second multimedia streams from the central resource to the endpoint terminals in a multicast packet transmission and transmitting the third multimedia streams to selected endpoint terminals, each third multimedia stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting processing of the second multimedia streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inhibiting comprises transmitting a control message from the central resource to the selected endpoint terminals, the control message suspending a logical channel at the selected endpoint terminal associated with the second multimedia streams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inhibiting comprises ignoring the second multimedia streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein a selected endpoint terminal ignores a second stream upon determining that the second stream includes information from the first multimedia stream of that selected endpoint terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting the third multimedia streams includes transmitting a unicast video stream to a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated video broadcaster.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting the third multimedia streams includes transmitting a unicast audio stream to a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated audio broadcaster.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia streams comprise video and audio streams.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting first video streams from endpoint terminals to a central resource, each first video stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; processing the first video streams in the central resource to generate second and third video streams; transmitting the second video streams from the central resource to the endpoint terminals in a multicast packet transmission and transmitting the third video streams to selected endpoint terminals, each third video stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting processing of the second video streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting first video streams from endpoint terminals to a central resource, each first video stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; processing the first video streams in the central resource to generate second and third video streams; transmitting the second video streams from the central resource to the endpoint terminals in a multicast packet transmission and transmitting the third video streams to selected endpoint terminals, each third video stream being transmitted in a unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting processing of the second video streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method o f claim 8 wherein the step of inhibiting comprises transmitting a control message from the central resource to the selected endpoint terminals, the control message suspending a logical channel at the selected endpoint terminal associated with the second video streams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inhibiting comprises ignoring the second video streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 ewherein a selected endpoint terminal ignores a second stream upon determining that the second stream includes information from the first multimedia stream of that selected endpoint terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the selected endpoint terminals are each associated with a designated video broadcaster.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A multipoint conferencing system for use in a packet network, the system comprising: endpoint terminals for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams, the terminals transmitting first multimedia streams using unicast packet transmission; a central resource operative to receive the first multimedia streams, process the first multimedia streams to generate second and third multimedia streams, transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting means for inhibiting processing of the second multimedia streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A multipoint conferencing system for use in a packet network, the system comprising: endpoint terminals for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams, the terminals transmitting first multimedia streams using unicast packet transmission; a central resource operative to receive the first multimedia streams, process the first multimedia streams to generate second and third multimedia streams, transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmission; and inhibiting means for inhibiting processing of the second multimedia streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the inhibiting means transmits a control message from the central resource to the selected endpoint terminals, the control message suspending a logical channel at the selected endpoint terminal associated with the second multimedia streams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A multipoint conferencing system for use in a packet network, the system comprising: endpoint terminals for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams, the terminals transmitting first multimedia streams using unicast packet transmission; a central resource operative to receive the first multimedia streams, process the first multimedia streams to generate second and third multimedia streams, transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmission; wherein the selected endpoint terminals ignore the second multimedia streams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A multipoint conferencing system for use in a packet network, the system comprising: endpoint terminals for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams, the terminals transmitting first multimedia streams using unicast packet transmission; a central resource operative to receive the first multimedia streams, process the first multimedia streams to generate second and third multimedia streams, transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmission; wherein the selected endpoint terminals ignore the second multimedia streams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 15 wherein a selected endpoint terminal ignores a second stream upon determining that the second stream includes information from the first multimedia stream of that selected endpoint terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 13 wherein a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated video broadcaster receives a unicast video stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 13 wherein a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated audio broadcaster receives a unicast audio stream.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the multimedia streams comprise video and audio streams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
For use in a multipoint conferencing system having endpoint terminals which transmit and receive multimedia streams in a packet network, a multipoint conferencing unit comprising: an interface unit for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams to and from the endpoint terminals, the interface unit being operative to receive first multimedia streams sent from the terminals using unicast packet transmission; a processor unit coupled to the interface unit for processing the first streams to second and third multimedia streams; the interface unit further being operative to transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and to transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmissions; and inhibiting means for inhibiting processing of the second streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
125 words
For use in a multipoint conferencing system having endpoint terminals which transmit and receive multimedia streams in a packet network, a multipoint conferencing unit comprising: an interface unit for transmitting and receiving multimedia streams to and from the endpoint terminals, the interface unit being operative to receive first multimedia streams sent from the terminals using unicast packet transmission; a processor unit coupled to the interface unit for processing the first streams to second and third multimedia streams; the interface unit further being operative to transmit the second streams to the endpoint terminals in multicast packet transmission and to transmit the third streams to selected endpoint terminals in unicast packet transmissions; and inhibiting means for inhibiting processing of the second streams at the selected endpoint terminals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The multipoint conferencing unit of claim 20 wherein the inhibiting means transmits a control message to the selected endpoint terminals, the control message suspending a logical channel at the selected endpoint terminal associated with the second streams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multipoint conferencing unit of claim 20 wherein a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated video broadcaster receives a unicast video stream.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multipoint conferencing unit of claim 20 wherein a one of the selected endpoint terminals associated with a designated audio broadcaster receives a unicast audio stream.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multipoint conferencing unit of claim 20 wherein the multimedia streams comprise video and audio streams.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first multimedia stream from an endpoint terminal to a central resource in a unicast packet transmission; receiving at the endpoint terminal from the central resource a second multimedia stream in a multicast packet transmission and a third multimedia stream in a unicast packet transmission; and selecting one of the second and third multimedia streams for processing at the endpoint terminal.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of conferencing in a packet network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first multimedia stream from an endpoint terminal to a central resource in a unicast packet transmission; receiving at the endpoint terminal from the central resource a second multimedia stream in a multicast packet transmission and a third multimedia stream in a unicast packet transmission; and selecting one of the second and third multimedia streams for processing at the endpoint terminal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of selecting includes suspending a logical channel at the endpoint terminal associated with the second multimedia stream in response to receiving a control message from the central resource.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of selecting includes ignoring the second multimedia stream at the endpoint terminal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the endpoint terminal ignores the second multimedia stream upon determining that the second multimedia stream includes information from the first multimedia stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |