Routing virtual area based communications

Apparatus, comprising an intermediate network node and a third network node, wherein:

• in association with a virtual area, the intermediate network node is configured to establish a first network connection with a first network node present in the virtual area and establishing a second network connection with a second network node present in the virtual area;
• based on stream routing instructions, the intermediate network node is configured to create between the first network node and the second network node a stream router comprising a directed graph of processing elements operable to receive network data, process the received network data, and output the processed network data;
• on the first network connection, the intermediate network node is configured to receive an input data stream derived from output data generated by the first network node in association with the virtual area;
• the intermediate network node is configured to process the input data stream through the stream router to produce an output data stream;
• on the second network connection, the intermediate network node is configured to send the output data stream to the second network node;
• the third network node is configured to respectively establish a first control session with the first network node, a second control session with the second network node, and a third control session with the intermediate network node, wherein on the first, second, and third control sessions the third network node is configured to transmit to the first, second, and intermediate network nodes control messages that administer establishment of the first and second network connections and transmission of data on the first and second network connections;
• the third network node is configured to send the stream routing instructions to the intermediate network node on the third control session;
• and
• the third network node is configured to determine the stream routing instructions based on a specification of the virtual area and locations of presence of the first and second network nodes in the virtual area, wherein the virtual area specification maps references to generic sub-routes to node-type-specific processing element configurations, and in determining the stream routing instructions the third network node is configured to ascertain the generic sub-routes associated with the locations of presence of the first and second network nodes in the virtual area, ascertain the node-type-specific element configurations corresponding to node types of the first and second network nodes, and create the stream routing instructions based on the ascertained node-type-specific element configurations.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-readable instructions which, when executed by an intermediate network node and a third network node, cause the intermediate network node and the third network node to perform operations comprising:

• in association with a virtual area, establishing, by the intermediate network node, a first network connection with a first network node present in the virtual area and establishing a second network connection with a second network node present in the virtual area;
• based on stream routing instructions, creating, by the intermediate network node, between the first network node and the second network node a stream router comprising a directed graph of processing elements operable to receive network data, process the received network data, and output the processed network data;
• on the first network connection, receiving, by the intermediate network node, an input data stream derived from output data generated by the first network node in association with the virtual area;
• processing, by the intermediate network node, the input data stream through the stream router to produce an output data stream;
• and
• on the second network connection, sending, by the intermediate network node, the output data stream to the second network node;
• respectively establishing, by the third network node, a first control session with the first network node, a second control session with the second network node, and a third control session with the intermediate network node, wherein on the first, second, and third control sessions the third network node transmits to the first, second, and intermediate network nodes control messages that administer the establishing of the first and second network connections and the transmission of data on the first and second network connections;
• sending, by the third network node, the stream routing instructions to the intermediate network node on the third control session;
• and
• determining, by the third network node, the stream routing instructions based on a specification of the virtual area and locations of presence of the first and second network nodes in the virtual area, wherein the virtual area specification maps references to generic sub-routes to node-type-specific processing element configurations, and the determining by the third network node comprises the third network node ascertaining the generic sub-routes associated with the locations of presence of the first and second network nodes in the virtual area, ascertaining the node-type-specific element configurations corresponding to node types of the first and second network nodes, and creating the stream routing instructions based on the ascertained node-type-specific element configurations.