Method and system for using mesh control for video conferencing bridges and cascading conferences
A videoconferencing system allows a distributed group of separately addressable multipoint controller signaling layer and multipoint controller application layer units to be logically combined for the purpose of managing a videoconference with a plurality of endpoints. In some embodiments, a primary multipoint controller signaling layer unit may identify other multipoint controller signaling layer units and multipoint controller application layer units to handle requests for joining an ongoing videoconferencing session, routing such requests to the other multipoint controller signaling layer units and multipoint controller application layer units as needed.
1. A videoconferencing control system, the system comprising:
a multipoint controller signaling layer module, configured to provide signaling services for establishing and conducting a videoconferencing session between two or more videoconferencing endpoints; and
a plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules, each configured to control the videoconferencing session between the two or more endpoints,
wherein the videoconferencing session employs the multipoint controller signaling layer module and one or more of the multipoint controller application layer modules.
2. The videoconferencing control system of claim 1 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling module is configured to respond to a request from an endpoint to join the videoconferencing session by selecting a multipoint controller application layer module of the plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules for handling the request.
3. The videoconferencing control system of claim 2 , wherein the selected multipoint controller application layer module already controls the videoconferencing session.
4. The videoconferencing control system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of multipoint controller signaling layer modules,
wherein each multipoint controller signaling layer modules is configured to communicate with each other multipoint controller signaling layer module and each of the multipoint controller application layer modules, and
wherein each of the multipoint controller application layer modules is configured to communicate with each other multipoint controller application layer module and each of the multipoint controller signaling layer modules.
5. The videoconferencing control system of claim 4 , wherein each of the multipoint controller signaling layer modules is associated with a multipoint controller application layer module of the plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules.
6. The videoconferencing control system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of multipoint controller signaling layer modules and at least one of the plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules are assembled as a single entity.
7. The videoconferencing control system of claim 1 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer module and a multipoint controller application layer module of the plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules are assembled as a single entity.
8. The videoconferencing control system of claim 1 , where the multipoint controller signaling layer module and each of the plurality of multipoint controller applications layer modules are individually network addressable.
9. The videoconferencing control system of claim 1 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer module is configured to respond to a request from an endpoint to join the videoconferencing session by asking a multipoint controller application layer module associated with the multipoint controller signaling layer module to identify another multipoint controller application layer module of the plurality of multipoint controller application layer modules to handle the request from the endpoint.
10. The videoconferencing control system of claim 9 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer module is further configured to request the endpoint to forward the request to join the videoconferencing session to another multipoint controller signaling layer module that is associated with the identified multipoint controller application layer module.
11. A multipoint controller signaling layer unit, comprising:
a network interface module that is configured to connect the multipoint controller signaling layer unit with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints, a plurality of other multipoint controller signaling layer units, and a plurality of multipoint controller application layer units;
a multipoint controller signaling layer logical module, configured to conduct signaling operations of a videoconferencing session; and
a multipoint controller signaling layer managing module, configured to respond to a request from an endpoint of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints to join the videoconferencing session by:
identifying a second multipoint controller signaling layer unit for handling the request; and
forwarding the request toward the second multipoint controller signaling layer unit.
12. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a multipoint controller signaling layer table, in which is stored a network address of the second multipoint controller signaling layer unit.
13. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 12 , wherein the network interface module is configured to route information to a multipoint controller signaling layer logical module of the second multipoint controller signaling layer unit based on the network address stored in the multipoint controller signaling layer table.
14. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 11 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer managing module is further configured to respond to a request from a second endpoint to join the videoconferencing session by:
identifying a third multipoint controller signaling layer unit for handling the request from the second endpoint; and
forwarding the request from the second endpoint to the third multipoint controller signaling layer unit.
15. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 11 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer unit is further configured to respond to the request by:
forwarding signaling and control information to a multipoint controller signaling layer managing module of the second multipoint controller signaling layer unit.
16. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 11 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer unit is configured as a primary multipoint controller signaling layer unit and the second multipoint controller signaling layer unit is configured as a secondary multipoint controller signaling layer unit.
17. The multipoint controller signaling layer unit of claim 11 , wherein the multipoint controller signaling layer logical module is created by the multipoint controller signaling layer managing module.
18. A multipoint controller application layer unit, comprising:
a network interface module, configured to connect the multipoint controller application layer unit with a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints, a plurality of other multipoint controller application layer units, a plurality of multipoint controller signaling layer units, and a plurality of multipoint processors;
a multipoint controller application layer logical module, configured to conduct and control an ongoing video conferencing session; and
a multipoint controller application layer managing module, configured to respond to a request from a multipoint controller signaling layer unit regarding a request by an endpoint of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints to join the videoconferencing session by:
identifying a second multipoint controller application layer unit capable of handling the request; and
informing the requesting multipoint controller signaling layer unit of the second multipoint controller application layer unit.
19. The multipoint controller application layer unit of claim 18 , further comprising:
a multipoint controller application layer table, in which is stored a network address of the second multipoint controller application layer unit.
20. The multipoint controller application layer unit of claim 19 , wherein the network interface module is configured to route information to a multipoint controller application layer logical module of the second multipoint controller application layer unit based on the network address stored in the multipoint controller application layer table.