Abstract: A method and system for certified publication of content. A content-supplier provides content and supplies an access-server with a content-description and digital signature. A content-certifier obtains an access-token from the access-server and submits the access-token to the content-supplier with a request to obtain the content to be certified. The content-supplier works with the access-server to validate the token and then provides the content to the content-certifier. After validating the digital signature, the content-certifier certifies the content and provides a certification-flag to the access-server, and the access-server updates a content-catalog entry for the content to indicate that the content is certified. An analogous process can be carried out to thereafter deliver the content to a third party. The invention is particularly useful to facilitate certification of test scripts, but the invention can be used in other contexts as well, such as to certify media in a peer-to-peer distribution system.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communications in a packet-based real-time media conference. A conference server determines whether a given conference session should operate in half-duplex mode or in full-duplex mode, and the server instructs at least one participating station accordingly. In the half-duplex mode of operation, for instance, a station may engage in an implicit floor control process, in which the station treats an incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial. On the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of operation, a station would not treat an incoming stream as an implicit floor denial.

Abstract: A method and system for actually identifying a source of real-time media within an RTP stream. A sending node such as a client station or conference server inserts into an RTP header of at least one packet of the RTP stream an actual identification of the media source, such as a text representation of the name or e-mail address of a user who provided the media or a phone number of the station that provided the media. For instance, the sending node could insert the actual identification into an RTP header extension. A receiving node can then receive the RTP stream, read the actual identification from the RTP header, and present the actual identification to a user while playing out the underlying media to the user.

Abstract: A method and server are disclosed for providing floor control in a full-duplex communication session. When no participant currently holds the floor, a server grants the floor in response to receipt of a media stream from a participant, by outputting the participant's media more loudly than one or more other participants' media, while concurrently outputting media from multiple participants. Further, the server may grant levels of the floor with varying levels of loudness, perhaps based on an order in which the server receives media streams as implicit floor requests from the various participants.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communications in a packet-based real-time media conference. A conference server determines whether a given conference session should operate in half-duplex mode or in full-duplex mode, and the server instructs at least one participating station accordingly. In the half-duplex mode of operation, for instance, a station may engage in an implicit floor control process, in which the station treats an incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial. On the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of operation, a station would not treat an incoming stream as an implicit floor denial.

Abstract: A method and system for actually identifying a source of real-time media within an RTP stream. A sending node such as a client station or conference server inserts into an RTP header of at least one packet of the RTP stream an actual identification of the media source, such as a text representation of the name or e-mail address of a user who provided the media or a phone number of the station that provided the media. For instance, the sending node could insert the actual identification into an RTP header extension. A receiving node can then receive the RTP stream, read the actual identification from the RTP header, and present the actual identification to a user while playing out the underlying media to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for implicitly controlling the floor during a packet-based real-time media conference. A participating station implicitly requests the floor by simply beginning to send media to the conference server. If no other participant currently holds the floor, the server grants the floor to the first station from which the server receives an incoming media stream. Further, in a half-duplex conference, if a participating station receives an incoming media stream when it is sending an outgoing media stream, the station treats the incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial and responsively alerts a user that the floor is denied.

Abstract: A method and system that helps to reduce delay in initiating communication sessions. A network entity operates as a signaling agent on behalf of a terminating node and positively acknowledges a session initiation request on behalf of the terminating node without first receiving a positive acknowledgement from the terminating node. For example, the network entity may first send an alert message to the terminating node and then positively respond to the session initiation request before receiving from the terminating node a response to the alert message. As another example, the network entity may first positively respond to the session initiation request and then send an alert message to the terminating node. This arrangement can advantageously allow the session setup process to continue, without first waiting for an actual positive acknowledgement from the terminating node.