Selective Connection Between Corresponding Communication Components Involved in a Teleconference

Abstract

A client device selectively establishes connections between selected client communication components and corresponding server communication components. The client device receives data from the corresponding server communication components via the connections between the selected client communication components and the server communication components. The data received via different ones of the connections is associated with a different content stream of a teleconference. During the teleconference, a given connection is suspended. When the given connection is suspended, the client computing device continues to receive data via connections other than the given connection.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for managing a load on a server system during a teleconference, comprising:
 instantiating a hierarchy of server communication components, the hierarchy of server communication components including at least a first server content component and a second server content component;   establishing a first connection, the first connection being between the first server content component and a first client content component on a client device;   establishing a second connection, the second connection being between the second server content component and a second client content component on the client device;   sending data associated with a first content stream of the teleconference to the first client content component via the first connection;   sending data associated with a second content stream of the teleconference to the second client content component via the second connection; and   during the teleconference, suspending the first connection without suspending the second connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein suspending the first connection without suspending the second connection comprises determining whether the server system is experiencing an excessive load. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether the server system is experiencing the excessive load occurs when the server system is unable to maintain a quality of service expected by the client device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein suspending the first connection without suspending the second connection comprises identifying an expendable connection from the first connection and the second connection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the expendable connection is an excessive load active connection that is least likely to significantly disrupt a user's participation in the teleconference if the expendable connection is suspended. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein identifying the expendable connection from the first connection and the second connection is based on an amount of time since content data was last sent on the expendable connection. 
     
     
         7 . A method for managing a load on a server system during a teleconference, comprising:
 establishing a plurality of connections between the server system and one or more client devices to provide the teleconference, each of the plurality of connections being associated with different content streams of the teleconference;   determining whether the server system is experiencing an excessive load;   identifying an expendable connection from the plurality of connections; and   suspending the expendable connection to reduce the load on the server system while a remainder of the plurality of connections continue to receive content streams for the teleconference.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining whether the server system is experiencing the excessive load when the server system is unable to maintain a quality of service expected by the one or more client devices that are receiving data from the server system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the server system is unable to maintain the quality of service when the server system is unable to consistently provide video data to the one or more client devices at that bit rate due to volume of data being processed and/or transmitted. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the expendable connection is an active connection that is least likely to significantly disrupt a user's participation in the teleconference if the expendable connection is suspended. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein identifying the expendable connection from the plurality of connections is based on an amount of time since content data was last sent on the expendable connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein identifying the expendable connection from the plurality of connections is based on whether a content stream associated with the expendable connection is currently in focus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein suspending the expendable connection to reduce the load on the server system includes sending connection suspension instructions to the one or more client devices associated with the expendable connection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one of the one or more client devices identifies the expendable connection from one or more connections between the server system and the one of the one or more client devices. 
     
     
         15 . A server system for managing a load during a teleconference, comprising:
 a processing system; and   a data storage system that stores instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the server system to:
 establish a plurality of connections between the server system and one or more client devices to provide the teleconference, each of the plurality of connections being associated with a different content stream of the teleconference; 
 determine whether the server system is experiencing an excessive load; 
 identify an expendable connection from the plurality of connections; and 
 suspend the expendable connection to reduce the load on the server system while a remainder of the plurality of connections continue to receive content streams for the teleconference. 
   
     
     
         16 . The server system of  claim 15 , wherein the server system is experiencing the excessive load when the server system is unable to maintain a quality of service expected by the one or more client devices that are receiving data from the server system. 
     
     
         17 . The server system of  claim 16 , wherein the server system is unable to maintain the quality of service when the server system is unable to consistently provide video data to the one or more client devices at that bit rate due to volume of data being processed and/or transmitted. 
     
     
         18 . The server system of  claim 15 , wherein the server system identifies the expendable connection from the plurality of connections based on an amount of time since content data was last sent on the expendable connection. 
     
     
         19 . The server system of  claim 15 , wherein the server system suspends the expendable connection to reduce the load on the server system by sending connection suspension instructions to the client device associated with the expendable connection. 
     
     
         20 . The server system of  claim 15 , wherein the server system identifies the expendable connection from the plurality of connections based on whether a content stream associated with the expendable connection is currently in focus.