Patent ID: 6529950
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for provisioning a media flow between a media server and a client of multimedia services in a distributed computer network comprising a plurality of media servers having media content and a plurality of clients, said system comprising:service requestor means for receiving a request for media service from a client application, said service requestor means implementing a directory means comprising a list of potential,negotiator means and their corresponding capabilities/specialties for determining a negotiator means to which to forward said request; negotiator means for receiving a request for media service from said service requestor means, said request including a service identifier indicating request for a media service; said negotiator means applying pre-conditions to said request, as necessary, according to preferences of a requestor and generating a modified request set; and mapping means for receiving said modified request set and locating possible media server devices capable of offering a requested media service, said mapping means returning a media server match set comprising said possible media server devices to said negotiator means for forwarding to a client application, whereby a possible media server is selected for providing a requested media service flow to said client application.