Patent ID: 7656870

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for establishing and maintaining a real time data streaming communication session between a first endpoint and second and third endpoints in a peer-to-peer network using a non-proprietary protocol, the method comprising: sending an authentication message to an access sewer by the first endpoint; receiving a profile and a routing table from the access sever by the first endpoint in response to the authentication message, wherein the profile identifies the second and third endpoints as endpoints with which the first endpoint has permission to communicate, and the routing table contains address information needed for the first endpoint to communicate directly with the second and third endpoints; sending a notification message from the first endpoint directly to the second and third endpoints using the address information to inform the second and third endpoints that the first endpoint is online; sending a request message from the first endpoint directly to the second and third endpoints using the address information to request the establishment of the real time data streaming communication session; receiving, by the first endpoint, first and second response messages directly from the second and third endpoints, respectively; establishing the real time data streaming communication session by the first endpoint directly with each of the second and third endpoints only if the respective first and second response messages grant permission; and directly streaming data in real time from the first endpoint simultaneously to the second and third endpoints, wherein all signaling and media traffic messages are sent directly from the first endpoint to the second and third endpoints and directly from the second and third endpoints to the first endpoint.