Patent ID: 8161159
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a first video stream from a first client at a first edge server from among multiple edge servers of a virtual meeting room having a central server in communication with the multiple edge servers, the first video stream including live images of a first meeting participant associated with the first client; in response to said receiving, by the first edge server, of the first video stream from the first client, receiving the first video stream from the first edge server at the central server; in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the first video stream from the first edge server, transmitting, by the central server, the first video stream to a first set of edge servers from the multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the first set of edge servers comprising one or more other edge servers being different from the first edge server, without also transmitting the received first video stream to the first edge server; receiving the first video stream, from the central server at the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers; in response to said receiving, by the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, of the first video stream from the central server, transmitting, by each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers, the first video stream to corresponding one or more clients connected to each of the one or more other edge servers from the first set of edge servers; receiving a second video stream from a second client different from the first client at a second edge server from among multiple edge servers of the virtual meeting room, the second video stream including live images of a second meeting participant associated with the second client; in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the second video stream from the second client, transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to the central server; receiving the second video stream from the second edge server at the central server; in response to said receiving, by the central server, of the second video stream from the second edge server, receiving the switching instruction from the central server at the second edge server; and in response to said receiving, by the second edge server, of the switching instruction from the central server, switching from transmitting by the second edge server the first video stream to a set of clients connected to the second edge server to transmitting, by the second edge server, the second video stream to one or more clients connected to the second edge server and being different from the second client, without transmitting the received second video stream to the second client.