US 7,460,508 B2 · Methods for cluster-based multi-party conferencing in ad-hoc networks

Abstract

Methods for establishing a cluster-based multi-party conference and for carrying on the conference as participants join or leave the conference are provided. First, two or more terminals participating to the conference are joined in a cluster, wherein one of them is elected as a super member of the cluster. The other terminal is updated with the identity of the super member terminal, the identification of the conference, and with cluster parameters including a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split; and a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster. A method for splitting the cluster, and a method for merging two clusters are also provided.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for establishing a communications conference at least between a first and a second terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

a. one of the first and second terminals inviting the other one of the first and second terminals to join the conference;
b. the first terminal creating a first cluster of terminals including the first and second terminals, wherein step b. comprises the steps of:
b.1. electing a super member terminal for the first cluster;
b.2. sending to the second terminal a message comprising an indication of the identity of the super member terminal, an identification of the conference, and cluster parameters including:
a split value Sv indicative of a maximum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the split value Sv is reached during the conference, the cluster is split;
and
a merge value Mv indicative of a minimum number of terminals that may be part of the cluster, wherein when the merge value Mv is reached during the conference, the cluster is merged with another cluster;
and
c. establishing a communications session between the first terminal and the second terminal.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for cluster-based multi-party conferencing in ad-hoc networks

Life of this patent

Methods for cluster-based multi-party conferencing in ad-hoc networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9