Method and apparatus for controlling communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application by associating each of the ports with a protocol and designating an active port

A method of controlling switching of communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application, comprising:

• opening multiple communication ports on a first network computer executing the multi-user application, through which the multi-user application can send communication signals to other network computers that are participating in the online session, wherein the other network computers store the multi-user application;
• associating each of the communication ports of the first network computer with a protocol such that communication signals that the multi-user application sends and receives will conform to the protocol of each of the communication ports, wherein the multi-user application performs the associating;
• designating an active communication port through which the multi-user application will send and receive communication signals for the first network computer, wherein the designating comprises selecting one of the multiple open communication ports on the first network computer;
• sending a communication signal from the first network computer to one or more of the other network computers participating in the online session, wherein the communication signal from the first network computer identifies the active communication port and the associated protocol for the first network computer;
• receiving a configuration change message from another one of the other network computers participating in the online session, the configuration change message indicating that a communication configuration of the online session has changed;
• and
• designating a new active communication port based upon the changed communication configuration of the online session, wherein the multi-user application performs the designating.

A system that controls switching of communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application, the system comprising one or more processors that execute program instructions of the multi-user application and receive a data set, wherein the program instructions are recorded in a computer-readable media and cause the system to perform operations including:

• opening multiple communication ports on a first network computer executing the multi-user application, through which the multi-user application can send communication signals to other network computers that are participating in the online session;
• associating each of the communication ports of the first network computer with a protocol such that communication signals that the multi-user application sends and receives will conform to the protocol of each of the communication ports;
• designating an active communication port through which the multi-user application will send and receive communication signals for the first network computer, wherein the designating comprises selecting one of the multiple open communication ports on the first network computer;
• and
• sending a communication signal from the first network computer to one or more of the other network computers participating in the online session, wherein the communication signal from the first network computer identifies the active communication port and the associated protocol for the first network computer.

A program product for use in a computer system that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method of controlling communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application, the program product comprising:

• a media that can store program instructions;
• and
• a plurality of computer-readable instructions of the multi-user application that are stored on the media and are executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:
• opening multiple communication ports on a first network computer executing the multi-user application, through which the multi-user application can send communication signals to other network computers that are participating in the online session;
• associating each of the communication ports of the first network computer with a protocol such that communication signals that the multi-user application sends and receives will conform to the protocol of each of the communication ports;
• designating an active communication port through which the multi-user application will send and receive communication signals for the first network computer, wherein the designating comprises selecting one of the multiple open communication ports on the first network computer;
• and
• sending a communication signal from the first network computer to one or more of the other network computers participating in the online session, wherein the communication signal from the first network computer identifies the active communication port and the associated protocol for the first network computer.

A system that controls switching of communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application, the system comprising one or more processors that execute program instructions of the multi-user application and receive a data set, wherein the program instructions are recorded in a computer-readable media and cause the system to perform operations including:

• opening multiple communication ports on a first network computer executing the multi-user application, through which the multi-user application can send communication signals to other network computers that are participating in the online session, wherein the other network computers store the multi-user application;
• associating each of the communication ports of the first network computer with a protocol such that communication signals that the multi-user application sends and receives will conform to the protocol of each of the communication ports;
• designating an active communication port through which the multi-user application will send and receive communication signals for the first network computer, wherein the designating comprises selecting one of the multiple open communication ports on the first network computer;
• sending a communication signal from the first network computer to one or more of the other network computers participating in the online session, wherein the communication signal from the first network computer identifies the active communication port and the associated protocol for the first network computer;
• receiving a configuration change message from another one of the other network computers participating in the online session, the configuration change message indicating that a communication configuration of the online session has changed;
• and
• designating a new active communication port based upon the changed communication configuration of the online session.

A program product for use in a computer system that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method of controlling communication ports for an online session of a multi-user application, the program product comprising:

• a media that can store program instructions;
• and
• a plurality of computer-readable instructions of the multi-user application that are stored on the media and are executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:
• opening multiple communication ports on a first network computer executing the multi-user application, through which the multi-user application can send communication signals to other network computers that are participating in the online session, wherein the other network computers store the multi-user application;
• associating each of the communication ports of the first network computer with a protocol such that communication signals that the multi-user application sends and receives will conform to the protocol of each of the communication ports;
• designating an active communication port through which the multi-user application will send and receive communication signals for the first network computer, wherein the designating comprises selecting one of the multiple open communication ports on the first network computer;
• sending a communication signal from the first network computer to one or more of the other network computers participating in the online session, wherein the communication signal from the first network computer identifies the active communication port and the associated protocol for the first network computer;
• receiving a configuration change message from another one of the other network computers participating in the online session, the configuration change message indicating that a communication configuration of the online session has changed;
• and
• designating a new active communication port based upon the changed communication configuration of the online session.