Synchronization source (SSRC) mapping for real-time interactive multipoint server-routed conferencing with dynamic renegotiation of multimedia-sending participants

A method for routing a web conference comprising:

• generating a media flow correlation pool including a plurality of paired server and sender media flow correlations each comprising a synchronization source identifier, a media stream identifier, and a media type identifier for each of a plurality of potential participants, the server media flow correlations each being unique in the web conference and assigned to the web conference server, the sender media flow correlations being unassigned until a non-participant joins the web conference, the media flow correlation pool including a first sender media flow correlation for a first non-participant and additional sender media flow correlations for at least one additional non-participant;
• beginning the web conference;
• providing the entire media flow correlation pool, including additional sender media flow correlations that are not yet assigned, to each participant in the web conference;
• receiving a request to join a web conference from the first non-participant;
• assigning the first sender media flow correlation from the media flow correlation pool to the first non-participant;
• responding to the first non-participant accepting the first non-participant as a first participant in the web conference by indicating to the first participant in a manner conforming to the WebRTC specification, including an indication of an assigned synchronization source identifier, media stream identifier, and media type identifier from the first sender media flow correlation, that the first participant has joined the web conference in response to the request;
• and
• continuing the web conference with the first sender media flow correlation assigned to the first participant and the additional sender media flow correlations available in the media flow correlation pool for use by subsequent non-participants in the web conference who may request to be added to the conference as a participant such that communications sent to a particular server media flow correlation are translated and sent by a web server as communications to a corresponding sender media flow correlation.

Apparatus comprising a non-volatile, machine-readable medium storing a program having instructions which when executed by a processor will cause the processor to serve as a web conference server, the instructions of the program for:

• generating a media flow correlation pool including a plurality of paired server and sender media flow correlations each comprising a synchronization source identifier, a media stream identifier, and a media type identifier for each of a plurality of potential participants, the server media flow correlations each being unique in the web conference and assigned to the web conference server, the sender media flow correlations being unassigned until a non-participant joins the web conference, the media flow correlation pool including a first sender media flow correlation for a first non-participant and additional sender media flow correlations for at least one additional non-participant;
• beginning the web conference;
• providing the entire media flow correlation pool, including additional sender media flow correlations that are not yet assigned, to each participant in the web conference;
• receiving a request to join a web conference from the first non-participant;
• assigning the first sender media flow correlation from the media flow correlation pool to the first non-participant;
• responding to the first non-participant accepting the first non-participant as a first participant in the web conference by indicating to the first participant in a manner conforming to the WebRTC specification, including an indication of an assigned synchronization source identifier, media stream identifier, and media type identifier from the first sender media flow correlation, that the first participant has joined the web conference in response to the request;
• and
• continuing the web conference with the first sender media flow correlation assigned to the first participant and the additional sender media flow correlations available in the media flow correlation pool for use by subsequent non-participants in the web conference who may request to be added to the conference as a participant such that communications sent to a particular server media flow correlation are translated and sent by a web server as communications to a corresponding sender media flow correlation.