Abstract: Improved virtual collaboration environments allow participants in a primary collaboration session to initiate side conversations with fellow participants based on virtual locations of each participant within a virtual collaboration layout. The virtual collaboration layout defines virtual locations of each participant in the collaboration session. If a virtual distance between two participants a below a threshold, the participants are able to engage in a side conversation. Management information is provided to a collaboration session host. The management information indicates, for example, a volume or frequency of communication occurring on each side conversation, or an elapsed time since the side conversation was initiated.

Abstract: Improved virtual collaboration environments allow participants in a primary collaboration session to initiate side conversations with fellow participants based on virtual locations of each participant within a virtual collaboration layout. The virtual collaboration layout defines virtual locations of each participant in the collaboration session. If a virtual distance between two participants a below a threshold, the participants are able to engage in a side conversation. Management information is provided to a collaboration session host. The management information indicates, for example, a volume or frequency of communication occurring on each side conversation, or an elapsed time since the side conversation was initiated.

Abstract: Improved virtual collaboration environments allow participants in a primary collaboration session to initiate side conversations with fellow participants based on virtual locations of each participant within a virtual collaboration layout. The virtual collaboration layout defines virtual locations of each participant in the collaboration session. If a virtual distance between two participants a below a threshold, the participants are able to engage in a side conversation. Management information is provided to a collaboration session host. The management information indicates, for example, a volume or frequency of communication occurring on each side conversation, or an elapsed time since the side conversation was initiated.

Abstract: A conference system includes a controller and clusters of media nodes. Each media node performs media packet processing operations and connects with other media nodes and client devices. The controller sends to a client device contact information for candidate clusters. The controller receives from the client device a measure of reachability to each candidate cluster as determined by the client device using the contact information. The controller receives from the client device a request to join a communication session. Responsive to the request, the controller determines a best cluster among the candidate clusters to which the client should connect for the communication session based on the measures of reachability to the candidate clusters, and selects a media node in the best cluster. The controller sends to the client device contact information for the media node to enable the client device to connect to the media node for the communication session.

Abstract: A conference system includes a controller and clusters of media nodes. Each media node performs media packet processing operations and connects with other media nodes and client devices. The controller sends to a client device contact information for candidate clusters. The controller receives from the client device a measure of reachability to each candidate cluster as determined by the client device using the contact information. The controller receives from the client device a request to join a communication session. Responsive to the request, the controller determines a best cluster among the candidate clusters to which the client should connect for the communication session based on the measures of reachability to the candidate clusters, and selects a media node in the best cluster. The controller sends to the client device contact information for the media node to enable the client device to connect to the media node for the communication session.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods for dynamic management of names and of named-based requests for media flows in an Information-Centric Network (ICN)-based real-time communication system. The use of different naming schemes on contribution segments and on distribution segments in such architectures results in an effective low latency and scalable communication model based on the notion of active speakers regardless of the underlying mapping between active speakers and participants controlled by the media bridge. Operations are performed both at client side and at media bridge side to dynamically manage binding of names to speakers, while minimizing overhead and complexity of operations involved by a change of active speaker/quality/layout.

Abstract: A conference system includes a controller and clusters of media nodes. Each media node performs media packet processing operations and connects with other media nodes and client devices. The controller sends to a client device contact information for candidate clusters. The controller receives from the client device a measure of reachability to each candidate cluster as determined by the client device using the contact information. The controller receives from the client device a request to join a communication session. Responsive to the request, the controller determines a best cluster among the candidate clusters to which the client should connect for the communication session based on the measures of reachability to the candidate clusters, and selects a media node in the best cluster. The controller sends to the client device contact information for the media node to enable the client device to connect to the media node for the communication session.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods for dynamic management of names and of named-based requests for media flows in an Information-Centric Network (ICN)-based real-time communication system. The use of different naming schemes on contribution segments and on distribution segments in such architectures results in an effective low latency and scalable communication model based on the notion of active speakers regardless of the underlying mapping between active speakers and participants controlled by the media bridge. Operations are performed both at client side and at media bridge side to dynamically manage binding of names to speakers, while minimizing overhead and complexity of operations involved by a change of active speaker/quality/layout.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently managing third-party data communication channel (DCC) channels using an optical network element without an OSI stack in conjunction with an external router are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a gateway network element includes a first port that receives a signal from a network element having a stack associated with a first protocol. The signal includes information contained in a DCC channel. The gateway network element also includes a retrieving mechanism that extracts the information contained in the DCC channel, a second port that supports a point-to-point-over-Ethernet (PPPoE) session with an external router, and a sending mechanism that send the extracted information using the second port through the use of a second protocol.