Abstract: A session manager recognizes the creation of a new collaboration session and creates a new network connection to host the collaboration session using information about the new collaboration session. More specifically, an identifier for the new host network connection is based on the name given to the collaboration session. In this way, other computing devices can discover existing collaboration sessions by scanning the identifiers of existing network connections without actually having to connect to the available networks first.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for resolving a name to a network endpoint. According to one method, naming providers are registered with a computer system that are operative to resolve names to network endpoints for one or more domains. A provider can claim to be a primary provider or a secondary provider for a domain. A provider can also register as a wildcard provider. Once the providers have been registered, requests may be received to resolve an e-mail address into a network address of the corresponding computer system. In response to such a request, one or more of the registered providers are identified as being able to resolve names in the domain to network addresses. Requests are transmitted to the identified providers requesting that they resolve the e-mail address to a corresponding network address. The manner in which the requests are made depends upon whether authoritative results are required.

Abstract: A series of unique records may be published to establish and maintain ad hoc or online meetings on a peer-to-peer network. The published records include a creator record, a presentation record, a file sharing record, a friendly name record, and invitation status record, a capabilities record, and a presence record. Each of the published records has a global unique identifier (GUID) a uniquely and universally identifies each of the record types.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for resolving a name to a network endpoint. According to one method, naming providers are registered with a computer system that are operative to resolve names to network endpoints for one or more domains. A provider can claim to be a primary provider or a secondary provider for a domain. A provider can also register as a wildcard provider. Once the providers have been registered, requests may be received to resolve an e-mail address into a network address of the corresponding computer system. In response to such a request, one or more of the registered providers are identified as being able to resolve names in the domain to network addresses. Requests are transmitted to the identified providers requesting that they resolve the e-mail address to a corresponding network address. The manner in which the requests are made depends upon whether authoritative results are required.

Abstract: A session manager recognizes the creation of a new collaboration session and creates a new network connection to host the collaboration session using information about the new collaboration session. More specifically, an identifier for the new host network connection is based on the name given to the collaboration session. In this way, other computing devices can discover existing collaboration sessions by scanning the identifiers of existing network connections without actually having to connect to the available networks first.