Identifying an appropriate connection point for connecting to an application layer session

Abstract

A multi-party application layer session, such as, for example, an electronic conference, is configured to make efficient use of resources associated with lower layer connections that connect computer systems participating in the multi-party application layer session. In response to receiving an invitation to join a multi-party application layer session, a joining computer system calculates a closeness metric value at least to one or more zones of the multi-party application layer session. A closeness metric value is calculated from measured and/or pre-configured characteristics of lower layer connections. The joining computer system identifies an application layer connection point within a specified threshold of closeness to the joining computer system. The joining computer system establishes an application layer connection to the identified application layer connection point. Accordingly, a joining computer system considers the characteristics of lower layer connections when determining where to connect to a multi-party application layer session.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . In a source computer system that is network connectable to at least one other participating computer system such that the source computer system and the at least one other participating computer system are participating in an multi-party application layer session, a method for the source computer system to configure application layer data for transfer to the at least one other participating computer system in a manner that conserves resources associated with lower layer connections, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication that application layer data is to be transferred to each participating computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session;   identifying zones of participating computer systems of the multi-party application layer session wherein each zone is connected to another zone through a participating computer system of that zone; and   for each identified zone other than the zone of the source computer system,
 checking closeness metric values for the participating computer systems of the zone of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric value representing a lower layer resource cost associated with transferring the application layer data from the source computer system to a participating computer system of the zone; 
 configuring a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to a designated participating computer system of the zone, the data packet being configured based on a lower layer resource cost represented in a checked closeness metric value; and 
 transferring the configured data packet towards the designated participating computer system of the zone 
 wherein upon receiving the transferred data packet, the designated participating computer system of the zone transfers the application layer data to the other participating computer systems of the zone. 
   
   
   
       36 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the receiving of an indication that application layer data is to be transferred comprises receiving an indication that conferencing data is to be transferred. 
   
   
       37 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the configuring of a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to a participating computer system comprises routing information in a data stream header to indicate to intermediate computer systems how the data packet is to be forwarded. 
   
   
       38 . A computer program product for use in a source computer system that is network connectable to other participating computer systems such that the source computer system and the other participating computer systems are participating in an multi-party application layer session, the computer program product for implementing a method for the source computer system to configure application layer data for transfer to the other participating computer systems in a manner that conserves resources associated with lower layer connections the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the source computer system to perform the following comprising:
 identify zones of participating computer systems of the multi-party application layer session wherein each zone is connected to another zone through a participating computer system of that zone;   receive an indication that application layer data is to be transferred to each participating computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session;   check closeness metric values for participating computer systems of the identified zones of the multi-party application layer session to designate a participating computer of each zone, each closeness metric value representing a lower layer resource cost associated with transferring the application layer data from the source computer system to a participating computer system in the zone;   configure a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to the designated participating computer system of a zone, the data packet being configured based on a lower layer resource cost represented in a checked closeness metric value; and   transfer the data packet towards the designated participating computer system of the zone so that the designated participating computer system of a zone transfers the application layer data to the other participating computer systems of that zone.   
   
   
       39 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media. 
   
   
       40 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory. 
   
   
       41 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38  wherein the source computer system transfers the data packet to only one participating computer system of a zone. 
   
   
       42 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38  wherein the closeness metric value for the source computer system and a participating computer system is calculated from characteristics of the lower layer connection between the source computer system and the participating computer system. 
   
   
       43 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38  wherein the identifying of zones includes determines which participating computer systems have a closeness metric value that are within a specified threshold of closeness. 
   
   
       44 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 38  wherein the zones are identified based on closeness metric values stored in a data structure that contains a closeness metric value for each pair of participating computer systems. 
   
   
       45 . A source computer system for, while participating in an multi-party application layer session, configuring application layer data for transfer to other participating computer system of the multi-party application layer session, the participating computer system being connected via lower layer connections, comprising:
 a component that identifies zones of participating computer systems of the multi-party application layer session wherein each zone is connected via a lower layer connection to another zone through a participating computer system of that zone;   a component that receives an indication that application layer data is to be transferred to each participating computer system participating in the multi-party application layer session;   a component that checks closeness metric values for a participating computer system of the identified zones of the multi-party application layer session, each closeness metric value representing a lower layer resource cost associated with transferring the application layer data from the source computer system to another participating computer system; and   a component that, for each zone,
 selects a participating computer system of that zone; 
 configures a data packet containing application layer data for delivery to the selected participating computer system of that zone; and 
 transfers the data packet to the selected participating computer system of that zone so that the selected participating computer system of that zone transfers the application layer data to the other participating computer systems of that zone 
   wherein the components are implemented as computer-executable instructions stored in memory of the computer system for execution by a processor of the computer system.   
   
   
       46 . The source computer system of  claim 45  wherein the source computer system transfers the data packet to only one participating computer system of a zone. 
   
   
       47 . The source computer system of  claim 45  wherein the closeness metric value for a pair of participating computer systems is calculated from characteristics of the lower layer connection between the participating computer systems. 
   
   
       48 . The source computer system of  claim 45  wherein the identifying of zones includes determines which participating computer systems have a closeness metric value that are within a specified threshold of closeness. 
   
   
       49 . The source computer system of  claim 45  wherein the zones are identified based on closeness metric values stored in a data structure that contains a closeness metric value for each pair of participating computer systems.