Method and server for real-time data streaming in a media session

A system for balancing the data streaming load of a media session being conducted by a plurality of clients, where the plurality of clients are connected to routing devices, and where the routing devices are connected to each other and exchange media data for the media session, comprising:

• means for sending to a load balancer, a request for the identity of a routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• means for receiving from the load balancer, an identity of a first routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• means for receiving a plurality of requests to join the media session from a corresponding plurality of clients and instructing those clients to connect to the first routing device until a predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the first routing device, or until a predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the first routing device was received from the load balancer;
• means for sending to the load balancer, a renewed request for the identity of a routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session when the predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the first routing device, or when the predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the first routing device was received from the load balancer;
• means for receiving, in response to the renewed request and from the load balancer, an identity of a renewed routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• and
• means for receiving a plurality of requests to join the media session from a corresponding plurality of clients and instructing those clients to connect to the renewed routing device until a predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the renewed routing device, or until a predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the renewed routing device was received from the load balancer.

A system configured to balance the data streaming load of a media session being conducted by a plurality of clients, where the clients are connected to routing devices, and where the routing devices are connected to each other and exchange media data for the media session, the server comprising:

• a load balancer comprising at least one processor;
• and
• a messaging server comprising at least one processor, wherein the messaging server is configured to perform a method comprising:
• A. sending, to the load balancer, a request for the identity of a routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• B. receiving, from the load balancer, an identity of a first routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• C. receiving a plurality of requests to join the media session from a corresponding plurality of clients and instructing those clients to connect to the first routing device until a predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the first routing device, or until a predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the first routing device was received from the load balancer;
• D. sending, to the load balancer, a renewed request for the identity of a routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session when the predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the first routing device, or when the predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the first routing device was received from the load balancer;
• E. receiving, in response to the renewed request and from the load balancer, an identity of a renewed routing device to which clients may connect to participate in the media session;
• F. receiving a plurality of requests to join the media session from a corresponding plurality of clients and instructing those clients to connect to the renewed routing device until a predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the renewed routing device, or until a predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the renewed routing device was received from the load balancer;
• and
• G. repeating steps D through F when the predetermined number of clients have been instructed to connect to the renewed routing device, or when the predetermined period of time expires since the identity of the renewed routing device was received from the load balancer.