Patent ID: 7580976
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a joining computer system that is network connectable to at least an inviting computer system, the inviting computer system including an inviting computer application layer configured to participate in multi-party application layer sessions, a method for the joining computer system to connect to a previously established multi-party application layer session, the established multi-party application layer session having participating computer systems that are currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, the currently participating computer systems including the inviting computer system, in a manner that promotes conservation of resources associated with lower layer connections being provided by a host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, the method comprising: an act of receiving, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an invitation to join the established multi-party application layer session, the invitation being sent from the inviting computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session to the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session; an act of calculating at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, a closeness metric value for each of a plurality of zones of the established multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric being calculated from two or more different characteristics of a lower layer connection connecting the joining computer system to a corresponding zone, the lower layer connection being provided by the host that does not participate in the established multi-party application layer session, a zone representing a plurality of participating computer systems, the zones being connected to form the established multi-party application layer session; an act of identifying, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an application layer connection point of a zone within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system, the identified application layer connection point being at a participating computer system that is currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session; and an act of establishing, at the joining computer system that is not currently participating in the established multi-party application layer session, an application layer connection to the application layer connection point, the established application layer connection enabling the joining computer system to start participating in the established multi-party application layer session by communicating through the application layer connection point that is a participating computer system of a corresponding zone within the specified threshold of closeness such that, upon establishing the application layer connection to the application layer session, the joining computer system becomes a currently participating computer system in the established multi-party application layer session.