Abstract: Packet rate control methods and related systems are disclosed for interactive music systems. In certain embodiments, an interactive music client system combines captured audio data from audio inputs with audio input data from one or more peer interactive music client systems within an interactive music session and outputs the combined audio data to an audio output subsystem. The interactive music client system further determines performance parameters associated with the interactive music sessions and adjusts audio input/output packets based upon the performance parameters. The performance parameters can include, for example, session packet rates or other parameters. Adjustments can include aggregating audio frames, reducing packet rates, and adjusting audio frames within a jitter queue receive buffer. The jitter queue receive buffer, for example, can be adjusted so that is contents are reduced towards zero and/or to zero within a predetermined time duration. Other variations can also be implemented.

Abstract: Network connection server systems and related methods are disclosed for interactive music systems. In certain embodiments, a network connection server system communicates network packets with interactive music client systems associated with music sessions and communicates directly with one or more ISPs to facilitate network packet communications for the music sessions. A plurality of network interfaces can also be provided, and latency determinations can be used to select communication paths. A plurality of server devices and related interfaces can also be used. Peer-to-peer connections can also be used and selected based upon latency determinations. The network connection server system can also be used to aggregate audio frames, to mix audio data, to download mixed audio data, to store recordings of mixed audio data, to broadcast mixed audio data, and/or for other purposes to facilitate communication of network packets associated with the interactive music sessions. Other variations can also be implemented.

Abstract: Packet rate control methods and related systems are disclosed for interactive music systems. In certain embodiments, an interactive music client system combines captured audio data from audio inputs with audio input data from one or more peer interactive music client systems within an interactive music session and outputs the combined audio data to an audio output subsystem. The interactive music client system further determines performance parameters associated with the interactive music sessions and adjusts audio input/output packets based upon the performance parameters. The performance parameters can include, for example, session packet rates or other parameters. Adjustments can include aggregating audio frames, reducing packet rates, and adjusting audio frames within a jitter queue receive buffer. The jitter queue receive buffer, for example, can be adjusted so that is contents are reduced towards zero and/or to zero within a predetermined time duration. Other variations can also be implemented.

Abstract: Capability scoring server systems and related methods are disclosed for interactive music systems. In certain embodiments, an interactive music server system communicates network packets with interactive music client systems associated with one or more interactive music sessions and determines operational parameters associated with the interactive music client systems. The operational parameters can include, for example, latency score results for network latency testing for the interactive music client systems. The latency score results can be used for a variety of purposes including predicting latency score results, controlling access to interactive music sessions, filtering lists of interactive music client systems, and/or other purposes. The operational parameters can also include, for example, internal capabilities information for the interactive music client systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for proxying communications between devices on an IP telephony network. In a preferred embodiment, an appliance comprising a network server and proxy server software includes filtering rules which can be modified to enable proxied communication between an IP phone on a first data network, such as, for example, the internet, and a call processing server located on a second data network. In another embodiment, an appliance comprises a proxy server that proxies call-processing and signaling communications between an authenticated IP phone on a first data network and a call processing server located on a second data network. In another embodiment, the appliance relays voice traffic between IP phones. In another embodiment, the proxy server software operates in a secure mode to permit encryption and decryption of voice and control communications.