Abstract: Direct network connections using cloud instance for Internet application services is provided between two or more computers on a network. A first computer sends a request to start an Internet application service to a server. The server requests a computing cloud to launch a cloud instance for the first computer. The computer cloud launches a bank of cloud instances offering the Internet application service. The computing cloud attempts to connect to the cloud instances, and selects the fastest cloud instance to respond as the first computer cloud instance. The first computer cloud instance sends its connection information to the server. A second computer may make a request to the server to join the Internet application service of the first computer. The server sends to the second computer the connection information for the first computer cloud instance.

Abstract: Direct network connections using cloud instance for multipoint meeting service is provided between two or more computers on a network to facilitate a variety of activities, including desktop sharing, web-meetings, and web-conferences. A first computer sends a request to start a multipoint meeting to a server. The server requests a computing cloud to launch a cloud instance for the first computer. A second computer uses connection information for the first computer cloud instance to send to the first computer cloud instance connection information for the second computer via direct network connection. From this point on, the first computer and the second computer exchange data for multipoint meeting via a direct network connection using the first computer cloud instance, independently of the server.