Patent ID: 8023437
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating streaming data between a plurality of users participating in a real-time communications event over a packet based data network, the method comprising the steps of: a first of the plurality of users using a locator table that resolves request aliases to identify a first sink useful to process a first request, a second of the plurality of users using said locator table to identify said first sink useful to process a second request, a third of the plurality of users using said locator table to identify said first sink useful to process a third request, each of said first, second and third requests including at least a method and one or more method parameters; said first, second and third users using one or more sink tables that are different from the locator table to determine an address corresponding to said first sink and communicating said first, second and third requests to said first sink; said first sink performing the steps of: using a forwarding data depository to identify a second sink useful to execute said first request and forwarding said first request to said second sink; using a redirect data depository to redirect said second request by communicating a redirect address obtained from said redirect data depository to said second user; executing said third request by executing said method using said one or more method parameters from said third request and communicating a response to said third user; whereby each of said users utilizes said first sink to communicate real time audio or video data to one another over the network while participating in the real time communications event, and wherein said first sink executes a communicated request when said first sink is capable of executing said communicated request, forwards said communicated request when said first sink is not capable of executing said communicated request and information regarding said communicated request is stored in said forwarding table, and uses said redirect data depository when said first sink is not capable of executing said communicated request and information regarding said communicated request is not stored in said forwarding table.