Automated Real-Time Data Stream Switching in a Shared Virtual Area Communication Environment

Apparatus for connecting network nodes associated with respective objects in a virtual area, comprising

• non-transitory memory storing processor-readable instructions, and
• a processor coupled to the memory, operable to execute the instructions, and based at least in part on the execution of the instructions operable to perform operations comprising:
• sending to the network nodes computer readable instructions for establishing one or more real-time data stream connections between the network nodes according to a virtual area specification comprising a description of a spatial layout of zones that are fixed in relation to geometric elements of the virtual area, wherein each of the zones is associated with a different respective zone boundary in the virtual area and a respective switching rule, and each switching rule specifies a stream connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type within the zone boundary of a respective designated source one of the zones and sinks of the respective real-time data stream type within the zone boundary of a respective designated sink one of the zones;
• and
• wherein execution of the instructions causes the network nodes to perform operations comprising, for each switching rule, establishing a respective stream connection for streaming the respective real-time data stream type between (i) a first one of the network nodes that is associated with an object within the zone boundary of the respective designated source zone and (ii) a second one of the network nodes that is associated with an object within the geometric boundary of the respective designated sink zone.

At least one computer-readable medium comprising computing instructions for connecting network nodes associated with respective objects in a virtual area, the computing instructions comprising:

• a code segment to send to the network nodes computer readable instructions for establishing one or more real-time data stream connections between the network nodes according to a virtual area specification comprising a description of a spatial layout of zones that are fixed in relation to geometric elements of the virtual area, wherein each of the zones is associated with a different respective zone boundary in the virtual area and a respective switching rule, and each switching rule specifies a stream connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type within the zone boundary of a respective designated source one of the zones and sinks of the respective real-time data stream type within the zone boundary of a respective designated sink one of the zones;
• and
• wherein execution of the instructions causes the network nodes to perform operations comprising, for each switching rule, establishing a respective stream connection for streaming the respective real-time data stream type between (i) a first one of the network nodes that is associated with an object within the zone boundary of the respective designated source zone and (ii) a second one of the network nodes that is associated with an object within the geometric boundary of the respective designated sink zone.