US 12,425,337 B2
Routing virtual area based communications
Robert J. Butler, Coralville, IA (US); Joseph Altmaier, Eugene, OR (US); and David Van Wie, Eugene, OR (US)
Assigned to Sococo, LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Sococo, LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/532,947.
Application 14/045,562 is a division of application No. 12/630,973, filed on Dec. 4, 2009, granted, now 8,578,000, issued on Nov. 5, 2013.
Application 18/532,947 is a continuation of application No. 17/856,911, filed on Jul. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,876,707.
Application 17/856,911 is a continuation of application No. 16/910,674, filed on Jun. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,418,440, issued on Aug. 16, 2022.
Application 16/910,674 is a continuation of application No. 15/696,135, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,728,144, issued on Jul. 28, 2020.
Application 15/696,135 is a continuation of application No. 14/810,371, filed on Jul. 27, 2015, granted, now 9,755,966, issued on Sep. 5, 2017.
Application 14/810,371 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/722,156, filed on May 27, 2015, granted, now 10,158,689, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Application 14/810,371 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/251,505, filed on Apr. 11, 2014, granted, now 9,411,490, issued on Aug. 9, 2016.
Application 14/722,156 is a continuation of application No. 14/045,562, filed on Oct. 3, 2013, granted, now 9,055,131, issued on Jun. 9, 2015.
Application 14/810,371 is a continuation of application No. 13/763,913, filed on Feb. 11, 2013, abandoned.
Application 14/251,505 is a continuation of application No. 13/422,757, filed on Mar. 16, 2012, granted, now 8,732,593, issued on May 20, 2014.
Application 14/810,371 is a continuation of application No. 13/404,453, filed on Feb. 24, 2012, granted, now 9,762,641, issued on Sep. 12, 2017.
Application 13/404,453 is a continuation of application No. 12/818,517, filed on Jun. 18, 2010, granted, now 8,578,044, issued on Nov. 5, 2013.
Application 13/422,757 is a continuation of application No. 12/418,243, filed on Apr. 3, 2009, granted, now 8,191,001, issued on May 29, 2012.
Application 12/818,517 is a continuation of application No. 11/923,629, filed on Oct. 24, 2007, granted, now 7,769,806, issued on Aug. 3, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/597,757, filed on Feb. 11, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/120,372, filed on Dec. 5, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/042,714, filed on Apr. 5, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2024/0106747 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. H04L 45/00 (2022.01); G06T 11/60 (2006.01); G06T 13/40 (2011.01); G06T 15/20 (2011.01); G06T 17/05 (2011.01); G06T 19/00 (2011.01); G06T 19/20 (2011.01); H04L 65/61 (2022.01); H04L 65/75 (2022.01); H04L 67/131 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 45/54 (2013.01) [G06T 11/60 (2013.01); G06T 13/40 (2013.01); G06T 15/205 (2013.01); G06T 17/05 (2013.01); G06T 19/006 (2013.01); G06T 19/20 (2013.01); H04L 65/61 (2022.05); H04L 65/765 (2022.05); H04L 67/131 (2022.05); G06T 2200/04 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10012 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10016 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10072 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30196 (2013.01); G06T 2215/16 (2013.01); G06T 2219/024 (2013.01); G06T 2219/2004 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method system comprising:
means, including an intermediate network node, for creating, based on stream routing instructions, between a first network node and a second network node a stream router comprising a directed graph of processing elements operable to receive network data, process the received network data, and output the processed network data, wherein: on a first network connection between the intermediate network node and the first network node, the intermediate network node is capable of receiving an input data stream derived from output data generated by the first network node in association with a virtual area;
the intermediate network node is capable of processing the input data stream through the stream router to produce an output data stream; and
on a second network connection between the intermediate network node and the second network node, the intermediate network node is capable of sending the output data stream to the second network node, wherein sending the output data stream to the second network node comprises routing the output data stream of a first data stream type over a first type of network connection between client network nodes of users who are copresent in the virtual area;
means including one or more processors, for ascertaining, responsive to an event, the second type of network connection between client network nodes of users who are copresent in the virtual area, wherein the first and second types of network connections are different, and the switching predicate is based on one or more of a count of client network nodes of users who are copresent in the virtual area, one or more types of data streams being communicated between client network nodes of the copresent users, bandwidth capabilities of client network nodes of the copresent users, attributes of the virtual area, and network latencies experienced by client network nodes of the copresent users;
means, including one or more processors, for routing, responsive to a determination that a network connection of the second type currently exists, one or more data streams of the first data stream type over the second type of network connection between client network nodes of users who are copresent in the virtual area, and tearing down the one or more corresponding network connections of the first type; and
means for establishing, responsive to a determination that the second type of network connection currently does not exist, one or more network connections of the second type and routing one or more data streams of the first data stream type over the established second type of network connection between client network nodes of users who are copresent in the virtual area.