Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080211901 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCALABLE AND LOW-DELAY VIDEOCONFERENCING USING SCALABLE VIDEO CODING - Scalable video codecs are provided for use in videoconferencing systems and applications hosted on heterogeneous endpoints/receivers and network environments. The scalable video codecs provide a coded representation of a source video signal at multiple temporal, quality, and spatial resolutions. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218584 | Multi-Point Conference System and Multi-Point Conference Device - There are provided a multi-point conference system and a multi-point conference device capable of using an SIP terminal as a conference terminal and clearly and smoothly performing speaker switching without requesting a conference terminal to transmit an intra frame when a speaker is detected. The multi-point connection device includes an image processing unit for accumulating in a memory ( | 09-11-2008 |
20080218585 | APPEARANCE MATCHING FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING - Methods and systems for presenting video images generated by multiple endpoints in a videoconference such that the displayed images have consistent appearance, for example consistent brightness levels are disclosed. Sampling methods and algorithms are used to calculate an appropriate amount of correction for each video image and the images are adjusted accordingly. Brightness correction may implement one or more brightness sampling and analyzing logical modules (BSAM) and one or more transforming logical module (TLM). The brightness matching methods may be implemented in centralized architecture, for example, as part of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Alternatively, the methods may be implemented using a distributed architecture. | 09-11-2008 |
20080218586 | Multipoint Conference Video Switching - A method includes receiving a plurality of audio signals, wherein the audio signals each include a plurality of packets containing voice data associated with conference participants. One or more of the audio signals is associated with a video signal and at least one of the audio signals is associated with a voice-only conference participant. The method further includes determining an activity metric for each of the plurality of audio signals, wherein the activity metric indicates a confidence value that the audio signal is associated with a conference participant that is currently speaking. The method also includes encoding, for each of the plurality of audio signals, one or more packets of the plurality of packets with the activity metric and sending the plurality of audio signals encoded with an activity metric to a conference bridge. | 09-11-2008 |
20080231687 | Minimizing fast video update requests in a video conferencing system - In one embodiment, a method includes dropping an initial series of video frames received by a video conferencing system from a first endpoint that has entered a video conference session as a first participant. One or more fast video update (FVU) messages received by the video conferencing system from the first endpoint during an enabling time period are then discarded. A single FVU message is then to the first endpoint after the video conferencing system has become enabled with respect to the first endpoint. An I-frame received from the first endpoint in response to the single FVU message is then sent back to the first endpoint. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231688 | Video Bit-Stream Gamma-Correction Method And A Multipoint Control Unit - A video bit-stream gamma characteristic correction method and a multipoint control unit in video communication field resolve the gamma distortion problem of video image in the existing multimedia communication. In the method, the receiving end carries out correction once through carrying the gamma characteristic parameter of the transmission end in the video bit-stream; or the multipoint control unit and the receiving end correct gamma distortion of the video image in multiple steps. A multipoint processor ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080239062 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPOINT CONFERENCING WITH SCALABLE VIDEO CODING SERVERS AND MULTICAST - A multicast scalable video communication server (MSVCS) is disposed in a multi-endpoint video conferencing system having multicast capabilities and in which audiovisual signals are scalably coded. The MVCVS additionally has unicast links to endpoints. The MSVCS caches audiovisual signal data received from endpoints over multicast communication channels, and retransmits the data over either unicast or multicast communication channels to an endpoint that requests the cached data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080246834 | TELEPRESENCE SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A video conferencing system provides realistic presence of participants in a videoconference by way of standards-based communication. The system includes three large displays, and at least one slave codec and one camera for each display. In addition, there is an extra codec installed which is the master codec. The master codec is able to establish a conference by instructing the slave codecs at its own site and at the other participating sites to set up point-to-point connections with other slave codecs at different participation sites in a pattern providing an optimal feeling of natural communication so that when a user A talk to user B at another site, user B will experience that the user A turns to him. | 10-09-2008 |
20080266383 | Method and system for identifying a multipoint control unit for hosting a conference - A method for identifying a multipoint control unit (MCU) for hosting a conference includes receiving a notification indicating one or more conference parameters and ranking a plurality of MCUs wherein the ranking is based on one or more, network conditions. The method includes selecting a first MCU based on a rank associated with the first MCU and determining whether the first MCU is capable of hosting the conference. In response to determining that the first MCU is capable of hosting the conference, the method includes assigning the conference to be hosted by the first MCU. | 10-30-2008 |
20080266384 | Media detection and packet distribution in a multipoint conference - A method for distributing media packets in a multipoint conference includes receiving a plurality of audio signals. Each of the plurality of audio signals includes audio packets, wherein one or more audio packets from each of the plurality of audio signals is coded with an audiometric, the audiometric including an acoustic measurement from a conference site. The method further includes, for each of the plurality of audio signals, extracting an audiometric from one or more audio packets and selecting an active audio signal based on the extracted audiometrics. In addition, the method includes determining a change in the active audio signal and in response to determining a change in the active audio signal, updating a media forwarding table, the media forwarding table including a directory for routing one or more of the plurality of audio signals. The method further includes distributing audio packets to one or more conference sites in accordance with the media forwarding table. | 10-30-2008 |
20080266385 | Automatically calibrating a video conference system - A method of automatically calibrating a video conference environment is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes initiating a calibration sequence in the video conferencing system, routing a test signal through the audio and video components of the video conferencing system, measuring a time delay associated with the test signal and utilizing the time delay to calibrate subsequent audio and video signal transmissions by the video conferencing system. | 10-30-2008 |
20080316295 | Virtual decoders - In various embodiments, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) or another video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to another video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, the video frame may be separated into its separate images using, for example, metadata sent along with the video frame. The metadata may include video image identifiers and location information (e.g., coordinates in the video frame) of the video images. In some embodiments, the separated video images may be provided to a compositor that may composite the separated video images, for example, into a new layout. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316296 | Video Conferencing System which Allows Endpoints to Perform Continuous Presence Layout Selection - In various embodiments, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) or another video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to another video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, the video frame may be separated into its separate images using, for example, metadata sent along with the video frame. The metadata may include video image identifiers and location information (e.g., coordinates in the video frame) of the video images. In some embodiments, the separated video images may be provided to a compositor that may composite the separated video images, for example, into a new layout. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316297 | Video Conferencing Device which Performs Multi-way Conferencing - In various embodiments, a video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to a video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, coordinate information sent along with the video frame (e.g., in metadata) may be used by the video conferencing endpoint to determine the locations of the video images in the video frame to facilitate separation of the video images. By transmitting and receiving video frames with multiple video images (from different video conferencing endpoints), multiple video conferencing endpoints can implement a multi-way video conference call without using an MCU. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316298 | Video Decoder which Processes Multiple Video Streams - In some embodiments, a spatially multiplexed output decoder may spatially multiplex video packets received in a time multiplexed video stream. A video stream with video packets from two or more sources may be received along with metadata. In some embodiments, a decoder may organize the video packets into respective buffers (e.g., each buffer including video packets for a respective video image). The spatially multiplexed output decoder may spatially multiplex the video images (which are made up of data from the respective video packets) into a video frame to be outputted (e.g., to a separate buffer). The video images in the video frame may then be demultiplexed in other parts of the system (e.g., in a virtual decoder) using information provided about the video frame (e.g., in metadata formed with the video frame). | 12-25-2008 |
20090015659 | Method and System for Moderating Multiparty Video/Audio Conference - A method and a system are provided for moderating multiparty video/audio conferencing. The method includes the controlled initiation and termination of the video/audio stream from each participant. The method further includes the communication between the moderators and participants and between the multi-point control unit and endpoints. The moderator decides which request among requests from multiple participants should be approved to be broadcast to all participants. Video/audio streams are captured from the approved participant's computer and broadcast to all other participants' computers. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015660 | Virtual TV room service with interactive capabilities signaling - A virtual TV room service configured with a virtual TV room session responsive to a unique session set-up protocol between participants in the virtual TV room session and a conference server unit hosting the virtual TV room service wherein the conference server unit is defined by a unique Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier formed by concatenating the public portion of the Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier signaled in the electronic server/program guide for the mobile TV channel and the private portion of the Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier unique to the virtual TV room community and arranged such that each of the participants in the virtual TV room session is watching the same mobile TV channel. The capabilities of media control that are available to the participants in the virtual TV room session are specified in an XML file configured for communication during the setting up of the virtual TV room session. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015661 | Virtual Multiway Scaler Compensation - In various embodiments, a multipoint control unit (MCU) may arrange incoming video images into a composite video image and define their respective coordinate information including the size of the original composite video image. The MCU may subsequently scale the composite video image. The coordinate information for the scaled composite video image may be reformatted for the resized video images. When the endpoint receives the scaled composite video image, the endpoint may detect the actual size of the scaled composite video image and may determine the new coordinates of the video images in the scaled composite video image using a ratio of the size of the original composite video image to the actual size detected by the endpoint. These new coordinates may then be used to separate the images in the scaled composite video image to use in compositing a new composite video image. | 01-15-2009 |
20090033739 | DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF PICTURE QUALITY IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH DIVERSIFIED CONSTRAINTS - In one embodiment, a method dynamically configures a BL bandwidth in a conference based on bandwidth capabilities in the video conferencing network. In one embodiment, the conference may include any combination of endpoints characterized as BL endpoints and SVCL endpoints. The method includes determining one or more bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference. The bandwidth capabilities for each respective endpoint may be based on its video decoding capability, the maximum bit-rate it can accept, the video encoding capability of the other endpoints, or a bandwidth constraint manifestation in a portion of the network, etc. | 02-05-2009 |
20090040288 | Video conference system and method - Various embodiments of a video conference system and method are disclosed. | 02-12-2009 |
20090147070 | PROVIDING PERSPECTIVE-DEPENDENT VIEWS TO VIDEO CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS - During a video conference between a local endpoint and a remote endpoint, a display at the local endpoint may be configured to provide perspective-dependent views to local video conference participants. A local endpoint may receive a plurality of video streams and identify a first video stream that provides a first view of a remote participant and a second video stream that provides a second view of that participant taken concurrently from a different angle. A display at the local endpoint may display the first video stream at a first viewing angle that only allows the first view of the remote participant to be seen from a first region. The display may also concurrently display the second video stream at a second viewing angle that only allows the second view of the remote participant to be seen from a second region different than the first region. | 06-11-2009 |
20090160929 | System and Method for Video Conferencing - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream. | 06-25-2009 |
20090174764 | System and Method for Displaying a Multipoint Videoconference - A method for displaying a multipoint videoconference includes receiving a plurality of video signals generated at a plurality of remote conference sites. The method includes assigning a plurality of video signals generated at a first remote conference site to a first monitor of a plurality of monitors at a local site and assigning a plurality of video signals generated at a second remote conference site to a second monitor of the plurality of monitors at the local site. In addition, the method includes selecting, for each of the first and second monitor, a video signal of the plurality of video signals assigned to the monitor, and displaying each selected video signal on its respective monitor. | 07-09-2009 |
20090195638 | Method and apparatus for face recognition enhanced video mixing - A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of user devices coupled to the network; a multipoint control unit coupled to the network and configured to supervise multipoint conferencing among the plurality of user devices, the multipoint control unit including a presentation mixer, the presentation mixer configured to remove one or more backgrounds from a presentation and mix a live video feed into the presentation as a substitute background; a screen for displaying a resulting mixed presentation such that a full area of the screen is used to display the mixed presentation; and a feature recognition system configured to identify a party from one or more features displayed on the screen and selectively adjust a transparency of said one or more features other than said party. | 08-06-2009 |
20090207232 | MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE SYSTEM, MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A multipoint videoconference server is made to swiftly respond to a video switching request from a terminal and a degree of computational complexity is made lower. A server | 08-20-2009 |
20090207233 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEOCONFERENCE CONFIGURATION - Systems and methods for providing camera configuration for points in a multi-point videoconference system are provided. First configuration information is determined for a first point of a multi-point videoconferencing system. Second configuration information is determined for a second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system. One or more first cameras at the first point or one or more second cameras at the second point of the multi-point videoconferencing system are reconfigured based on the first configuration information or the second configuration information. | 08-20-2009 |
20090207234 | Telepresence system for 360 degree video conferencing - Systems and methods for image processing, comprising receiving a video frame, coding a first portion of the video frame at a different quality than a second portion of the video frame, based on an optical property, and displaying the video frame. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213206 | Aggregation of Video Receiving Capabilities - Video receiving capabilities of participants and source capabilities are compared and conference capabilities for providing different resolutions, frame rates, bit rate, and number of streams are determined by maintaining a conference receiving capability list updated as number and capability of participants' changes. Preferred receiving capabilities of participants are also taken into account in determining conference characteristics based on comparison with allowed capabilities. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213207 | System and Method for Single Action Initiation of a Video Conference - A method is provided for configuring a video conference endpoint. The method comprises receiving session data that comprises endpoint connection data for remote endpoints associated with scheduled conferences, and receiving a signal from a user interface indicating a user has activated a control associated with a selected conference, identifying the endpoint connection data for the remote endpoint associated with the selected conference, and establishing a media session with the associated remote endpoint. A video conference endpoint system also is provided. The system comprises a controller coupled to a memory, and a user interface coupled to the controller. The user interface includes a command button associated with a conference. The controller periodically receives session data associated with the scheduled conferences, stores the session data in the memory, and establishes the selected conference in response to a user activating the command button. | 08-27-2009 |
20090231415 | Multiple Video Stream Capability Negotiation - Video send and receive capabilities of participants are determined by the respective machines determining available combinations, as well as preferences for the receivers. Receiver capabilities are forwarded to the source for computation of negotiated video capabilities through a logic intersection of the determined capabilities based on desired number of streams and resolutions. If a resolution of a send capability exists within the receive capability, the highest frame and/or bit rate may be selected for transmission. | 09-17-2009 |
20090244257 | VIRTUAL ROUND-TABLE VIDEOCONFERENCE - A system and method for creating a virtual round table videoconference is described. An embodiment of the system comprises a plurality of displays arranged in an arc configuration with a table to create a virtual round table. Cameras are arranged around the plurality of displays such that when a participant looks at a display with an image of a remote participant, the camera associated with the display captures an image of the participant's gaze, making eye contact with the camera. The image is displayed at the remote participant's endpoint creating the effect of eye contact between the participants. In another embodiment, audio speakers are arranged to provide directional sound such that the video source for a display and the audio source for the associated speaker are from the same endpoint. | 10-01-2009 |
20090251529 | NETWORK MANAGEMENT SERVER FOR MANAGING MULTIPLE OPERATING MODES OF A CONFERENCING NETWORK WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF POLICIES - A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed to manage multiple operating modes in a video conferencing network under which different sets of policies can operate. The system is a network management server, designated herein as the Elastic Gatekeeper, that includes a Conference Management System, which selectively implements one or more different sets of operating policies. The Conference Management System is integrated and linked with a gatekeeper, which is responsible for setting up calls that are using end point alias addresses. The gatekeeper works with the Conference Management System to control access to network resources. Upon receiving a request to access a call, the gatekeeper passes the request to the Conference Management System for its approval. The Conference Management System has access to a robust set of policies, a detailed description of the network resources, and an awareness of the current System Operational Mode upon which to base a decision about the conditions and resources that can be granted to the requested call. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256902 | Implementation of MPCP MCU technology for the H.264 video standard - A method for generating a video output signal. The method may include receiving a plurality of input video signals from each of the participants. Each of the input video signals may have a plurality of input frames. Each of the input frames may have a source slice carrying an image. Each of the input frames may be encoded using the respective reference frame at an encoding time. The method may include a step for generating the video output signal for transmission to the participants. The video output signal may comprise a plurality of output frames. A first of the output frames generally has at least a first slice having (a) a first coded portion carrying the image from a first of the participants and (b) a first unencoded portion for the image from a second of the participants. A second of the output frames generally has at least a second slice having (a) a second coded portion carrying the image from the second participant and (b) a second unencoded portion for the image from the first participant. The frames of the video output signal are generated as soon as one of the frames of the video input signal are received. | 10-15-2009 |
20090268008 | MEDIA CONFERENCE SWITCHING IN A MULTI-DEVICE CONFIGURATION - The network communication system includes a network interface to receive audio confidence levels for multiple participants in a conference from one or more multipoint devices, each multipoint device to connect one or more of the participants to the conference. The network communication system further includes a switching controller to select at least one of the participants to provide a contribution to the conference based, at least in part, on the received audio confidence levels, and to provide switching information to the one or more multipoint devices via the network interface, the switching information to prompt the multipoint devices to provide the contribution of the selected participant to non-selected participants of the conference. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268009 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CONNECTION CONTROLLER, TERMINAL, AND CONTROL METHOD - In a system including a plurality of terminals and a connection controller that controls connection among the respective terminals, the connection controller records terminals of a previous connection session and information on participants as session history information. In response to a request for a connection destination candidate from a terminal, the connection controller references the session history information and presents connection destination candidate terminals. The plurality of terminals transmits a connection request to the connection controller and receives a list of connection destination candidate terminals from the connection controller. | 10-29-2009 |
20090295905 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONFERENCE SERVER ARCHITECTURE FOR LOW DELAY AND DISTRIBUTED CONFERENCING APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals. | 12-03-2009 |
20090315975 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR PROVIDING CASCADED MULTI-POINT VIDEO CONFERENCING UNITS - Systems, methods, and media for providing cascaded multi-point video conferencing units are provided. In some embodiments, systems for providing cascaded multi-point conference units are provided, the systems comprising: at least one encoder that encodes a video signal into representations using a scalable video protocol based on required configurations of parameters for a first multi-point conferencing unit (MCU) and a second MCU; and at least one interface that distributes a first one of the representations to the first MCU and a second one of the representations to the second MCU without distributing the first one of the representations to the second MCU. | 12-24-2009 |
20100013905 | FLOOR CONTROL IN MULTI-POINT CONFERENCE SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, a conference with multiple end points is provided. At the locations, multiple screens may be configured to display video from a portion of the multiple end points. Video from multiple locations is output onto the multiple screens, such as video streams from N different segments are output on N different screens. The video output may be determined based on a first dimension of the floor control algorithm. A push-to-talk input may then be received from a button. A video segment associated with the push-to-talk button is then determined and the video segment is output on one of the multiple screens in response to receiving the push-to-talk input. The push-to-talk input may be used by users that cannot actively participate in the first dimension of the floor control algorithm. For example, users using sign language cannot speak louder and thus by using the push to talk button or hand gestures can indicate their desire to be switched in as one of the displayed segments. | 01-21-2010 |
20100020156 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPOINT DISTRIBUTING OF VIDEO, VOICE AND DATA - The present invention provides a system and method for distributing video, voice and data simultaneously to multiple end-points over packet switching networks, compliant with H.323 or SIP standard. A customer connected to the H.323 or SIP compliant LAN receives a copy datagram stream produced by one-to-many proxy server (OTMPS). Control is granted to customer, subject to permission by a control module, also connected to the LAN. | 01-28-2010 |
20100039498 | CAPTION DISPLAY METHOD, VIDEO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE - A caption display method in a video communication includes the following steps. A video communication is established. Speech signals of a speaker are recognized and converted to text signals. The text signals and picture video signals that need to be received by and displayed to other conference participators are superposed and encoded, and are sent through the video communication. A video communication system and device are also described. Users directly decode display pictures and character information corresponding to a speech. The method is simple, and a real-time performance is high. | 02-18-2010 |
20100066808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENCODING CHANGES FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING THROUGH A SET-TOP BOX - A system and method for adjusting resolution for a video conference through a set-top box. An invitation to accept a video conference is accepted through a set-top box. A line resolution for the video conference is set based on user input. A determination is made whether available bandwidth is at a threshold to support the line resolution. The line resolution is adjusted based on the determination. The video conference is implemented utilizing the adjusted line resolution. | 03-18-2010 |
20100073457 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REALIZING PRIVATE SESSION IN MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE - A method for realizing a private session in a multipoint conference is provided. The method includes: establishing, by a multipoint control unit (MCU), a private session according to a private session establishment request carrying private session participant identifiers (IDs) sent by a private session initiator, and sending audio code streams of private session participants corresponding to the private session participant IDs. A device for realizing a private session in a multipoint conference is further provided. Thus, a part of participants can discuss privately while normally listening to the content of the multipoint conference. | 03-25-2010 |
20100079574 | Multi-media controlling system, device and method for controlling data transmission and processing - A multi-media equipment controlling system, a device and method for controlling data transmission and processing are disclosed. Controlling data corresponding to multiple media type streams is sent to a controlled terminal equipment, the controlled terminal equipment controls multi-media equipments generating corresponding media type stream respectively, according to the controlling data corresponding to the media type streams. Thus the invention can perform corresponding controlling to the multi-media equipments corresponding to the multiple media type streams. | 04-01-2010 |
20100085419 | Systems and Methods for Selecting Videoconferencing Endpoints for Display in a Composite Video Image - In some embodiments, a videoconferencing endpoint may be an MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) or may include embedded MCU functionality. In various embodiments, the endpoint may thus conduct a videoconference by receiving/compositing video and audio from multiple videoconference endpoints. The endpoint may select a subset of endpoints and form a composite video image from the subset of the videoconference endpoints to send to the other videoconference endpoints. In some embodiments, the subset of endpoints that are selected for compositing into the composite video image may be selected according to criteria such as the last N talking participants. In some embodiments, the master endpoint may request the non-talker endpoints to stop sending video to help conserve the resources on the master endpoint. In some embodiments, the master endpoint may ignore video from endpoints that are not being displayed. | 04-08-2010 |
20100091086 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR PROCESSING IMAGES DURING VIDEO CONFERENCING - A method, device, and computer-readable-medium are disclosed for processing images during a conference between a plurality of video conferencing terminals. The method uses a processor to input a first image from a first camera at a first video conferencing terminal, a second image from a second camera at a second video conferencing terminal, and a third image from a third camera at a third video conferencing terminal. The processor then generates a first composite image that has the third image inserted at a first position into the second image, and a second composite image that has the third image inserted at a second position into the first image. The first position and the second position are located in horizontally opposite portions of the first composite image and the second composite image, respectively. Further, the first and second composite images are sent to the first and second video conferencing terminals, respectively. | 04-15-2010 |
20100103245 | Dynamic Adaption of a Continuous Presence Videoconferencing Layout Based on Video Content - Dynamically adapting a continuous presence (CP) layout in a videoconference enhances a videoconferencing experience by providing optimum visibility to regions of interest within the CP layout and ignoring regions of no interest. Based on the CP layout, a CP video image can be built, in which a conferee at a receiving endpoint can observe, simultaneously, several other participants' sites in the conference. For example, more screen space within the CP layout is devoted to presenting the participants in the conference and little or no screen space is used to present an empty seat, an empty room, or an unused portion of a room. Aspect ratios of segments of the CP layout (e.g., landscape vs. portrait) can be adjusted to optimally present the regions of interest. The CP layout can be adjusted as regions of interest change depending on the dynamics of the video conference. | 04-29-2010 |
20100110161 | System, Method, and Apparatus for Extending Wireless Personal Area Networks Using Conferencing Connection - A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed whereby a wireless Personal Area Network such as a Bluetooth piconet may be extended to a remote location beyond the normal range by means of a conferencing connection. The conferencing connection may comprise, for example, one or more ISDN lines or an IP connection between two or more conference endpoints. The broadband connection may include a video channel, an audio channel, a control channel, and a Bluetooth channel. | 05-06-2010 |
20100118113 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPOINT VIDEO TELECONFERENCING - In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods disclosed herein provide for multipoint video teleconferencing via a communication network utilizing a relay communication device. The system comprises a plurality of video teleconferencing sites adapted to transmit and receive audio and video data via the relay communication device. Each video teleconferencing site is adapted to transmit audio and video data to the relay communication device. Each video teleconferencing site is adapted to receive audio and video data from the relay communication device, assemble the received audio and video data from each of the other video teleconferencing sites, and present the assembled audio and video data to one or more viewers via an audio and video interface. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118114 | Video rate adaptation for congestion control - Exchanging of videoconference data between a first endpoint and a second endpoint via a network includes receiving, at the first endpoint, statistical data relating to transmission of first videoconference data. In particular, the first videoconference data is data that is transmitted previously from the first endpoint to the second endpoint via the network, and the statistical data relates to network performance characteristics during transmission of the first videoconference data. An approximately optimized data transmission rate for the network performance characteristics is determined, based on the statistical data. The output bit rate of a video encoder associated with the first endpoint is adjusted, such that second videoconference data, relating to the same videoconference at a time that is later than the first videoconference data, is encoded to provide output data at an adjusted output bit rate for being transmitted via the network at approximately the optimized data transmission rate. | 05-13-2010 |
20100134589 | VIDEOCONFERENCE SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT METHOD THEREOF - A videoconference system and a management method thereof are provided. The videoconference system includes: terminals; multipoint control units (MCUs), as the superior level for the terminals, for controlling the corresponding terminals; conference management systems, as the superior level for the MCUs, for performing dispatching and control for the local conference site; and conference coordination systems, as the superior level for the conference management systems, for coordinating corresponding conference management systems and neighboring conference coordination systems to perform dispatching and control for the entire conference. The videoconference management method includes: a subscriber requesting for conference dispatching to the home conference management system; the home conference management system managing the corresponding local conference site directly at the dispatching request, and transferring the dispatching across conference management systems to the corresponding conference coordination system; and the conference coordination system dispatching the corresponding master and slave conference management systems at the dispatching request. | 06-03-2010 |
20100149306 | INTELLIGENT GROUPING AND SYNCHRONIZED GROUP SWITCHING FOR MULTIMEDIA CONFERENCING - The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for synchronizing group switching of multimedia streams for conferencing applications. More specifically, the present invention provides mechanisms for grouping, mapping, and switching endpoints for role-based multimedia collaboration. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149307 | Extended Presence for Video Conferencing Systems - Systems and methods of providing extended presence information for multi-user devices are described. Communication devices used in conference rooms represent a different nature than single user devices such as a personal computer. Conference rooms also have attributes that may be added to existing presence information and provide an enhanced experience for scheduling and dissemination of conference room capabilities. Information such as actual people in attendance may be added to the presence information maintained by a presence server to provide an overall enhancement to the meeting room whether it is physically a single conference room or a multitude of endpoints remotely connected to a conference. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149308 | Data processing apparatus and method, and network system - In a network system for sending data to a plurality of terminals, a data processing apparatus has a plurality of coding units that code outgoing data including at least video or voice data for transmission to terminals over a network. The data processing apparatus obtains information about the terminals, groups the terminals according to the information, and transmits the coded outgoing data obtained from each coding unit to a different group of terminals. Appropriate grouping of the terminals conserves both network and coding resources and enables the quality of the data transmitted to the terminals to be improved at a low cost. | 06-17-2010 |
20100157017 | METHOD, DEVICE AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING IMAGES IN A CONFERENCE BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF VIDEO CONFERENCING TERMINALS - Processing images in conference between a plurality of video conferencing terminal. The method includes providing properties of terminals, defining a number of groups based on the properties of the terminals, then determining an ordered list of the a number of groups, and determining a pane layout for displaying images from the terminals. The pane layout is determined based on the provided properties of the terminal the pane layout is displayed on and the properties of the other terminals in the conference. Then, mapping the ordered list of the number of groups to the respective determined pane layout, and providing at least one composite image stream to each of the terminals according to the selected pane layout and mapping of the a number of groups. Different types of telepresence endpoints, (e.g. different manufacturers, numbers of screens/cameras, etc.) can thus interoperate well in the same video conference. | 06-24-2010 |
20100165072 | Video conference system, band control method, conference control device, video conference terminal device and recording medium recording program - A conference control device includes: a communication processing unit which performs transmission/reception processing of conference information containing voice information and image information between the conference control device and a plurality of video conference terminal devices through a network; an information collecting unit which collects information on connection paths between the conference control device and the respective video conference terminal devices; a grouping unit which sorts the plurality of video conference terminal devices into a plurality of groups based on information on the connection paths collected by the information collecting unit; a band monitoring unit which monitors a use band of the communication processing unit in accordance with every group; and a bandwidth control unit which is, when the group having the use band of less than a predetermined value is detected by the band monitoring unit, controls the bandwidth of the video conference terminal devices belonging to the group. | 07-01-2010 |
20100171807 | SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODOLOGY FOR MULTI-LAYERED SITE VIDEO CONFERENCING - A video conferencing system with more than three endpoints and a multipoint control unit displays a merged image of the video conference participants at an endpoint monitor. The participant images are separated from their corresponding background and merged to make all participants appear the same size on the monitor. The system also identifies an active endpoint based on the level of sound received from the endpoints and highlights a corresponding participant as a speaker. | 07-08-2010 |
20100177158 | System and Method for Distributing Video Conference Data over an Internet Protocol Television System - A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs. | 07-15-2010 |
20100188477 | Updating a Local View - A method including creating a local view for a local endpoint, where the local view is created from a local topology for the local endpoint, where the local topology is created from a central topology, scanning for a request to change the local view for the local endpoint, and updating the local view for the local endpoint when the request to change the local view will not violate the local topology for the local endpoint and will not violate the central topology. | 07-29-2010 |
20100194847 | Method and System for Conducting Continuous Presence Conferences - Disclosed are methods and systems for multipoint videoconferencing. A Media Relay MCU (MRM) receives compressed media (audio, video, and/or data) from a plurality of endpoints participating in a video conferencing session. For a given endpoint, the MRM selects which of other endpoints to display in a CP layout at the given endpoint. The MRM transmits the compressed media from the selected endpoints to the given endpoint to be presented in the CP layout. The MRM does not decode the compressed media. | 08-05-2010 |
20100225736 | Virtual Distributed Multipoint Control Unit - A virtual distributed multipoint control unit in a videoconference may be implemented using a master endpoint, one or more facilitator endpoints, and one or more leaf endpoints. The facilitator endpoint(s) may receive video and/or audio from the leaf endpoints (which may provide/receive videoconference audio and video to one or more local participants). The master endpoint may receive video and/or audio from one or more facilitator endpoints (which may include cumulative video stream from multiple leaf endpoints) and/or directly from one or more leaf endpoints. The master endpoint may arrange received video and/or audio and provide cumulative video and/or audio streams to the leaf endpoints (e.g., directly and/or through the facilitator endpoints). The virtual distributed multipoint control unit may support a conference with more leaf endpoints than the master endpoint has input ports and/or decoders. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225737 | Videoconferencing Endpoint Extension - In some embodiments, a primary endpoint may receive a request from an endpoint to begin a videoconference and/or may be managing a videoconference with an endpoint. The primary endpoint may determine whether to switch or direct conference communications from one or more endpoints in the videoconference or attempting to connect to the videoconference to a secondary endpoint and may communicate the instructions to the endpoint and/or secondary endpoint. In some embodiments, the primary endpoint may seamlessly pass one or more of the endpoints to the secondary endpoint such that participants in the videoconference may not be aware that a switch has been performed. In some embodiments, the primary endpoint may contact the secondary endpoint and may then pass endpoints to the secondary endpoint. The primary endpoint may also pass configuration information for the endpoints to the secondary endpoint. | 09-09-2010 |
20100259593 | Endpoints associated with a Session - A machine and method to connect endpoints associated with a session. | 10-14-2010 |
20100283829 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSLATING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS IN A CONFERENCING ENVIRONMENT - A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving audio data from a video conference and translating the audio data from a first language to a second language, wherein the translated audio data is played out during the video conference. The method also includes suppressing additional audio data until the translated audio data has been played out during the video conference. In more specific embodiments, the video conference includes at least a first end user, a second end user, and a third end user. In other embodiments, the method may include notifying the first and third end users of the translating of the audio data. The notifying can include generating an icon for a display being seen by the first and third end users, or using a light signal on a respective end user device configured to receive audio data from the first and third end users. | 11-11-2010 |
20100302346 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING AND SYNCHRONIZING LARGE SCALE VIDEO CONFERENCING AND DOCUMENT SHARING - A method to provide video conferencing includes generating at a client a high quality video stream and a low quality video stream; receiving at a server a plurality of high quality and low quality video streams from a plurality of clients; and sending from the server to each client one high quality video stream and a plurality of low quality video streams. | 12-02-2010 |
20100315484 | IMPLEMENTING MULTIPLE DOMINANT SPEAKER VIDEO STREAMS WITH MANUAL OVERRIDE - In a video conference system capable of providing multiple video streams, displayed streams for participants are configured based on automatic selection by the system (such as active speaker) and manual override by the participants. The displayed views are further enhanced by implementing duplicate detection to avoid display of duplicate streams between the automatic selections and manual selections. | 12-16-2010 |
20100321469 | Video Processing in a Multi-Participant Video Conference - Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing multi-participant video conferences. This architecture has a central distributor that receives video images from two or more participants. From the received images, the central distributor generates composite images that the central distributor transmits back to the participants. Each composite image includes a set of sub images, where each sub image belongs to one participant. In some embodiments, the central distributor saves network bandwidth by removing each particular participant's image from the composite image that the central distributor sends to the particular participant. In some embodiments, images received from each participant are arranged in the composite in a non-interleaved manner. For instance, in some embodiments, the composite image includes at most one sub-image for each participant, and no two sub-images are interleaved. | 12-23-2010 |
20100328422 | Method and System for Composing Video Images from a Plurality of Endpoints - The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints. | 12-30-2010 |
20110018960 | Method and System for Providing Continuous Presence Video in a Cascading Conference - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing continuous presence video stream in a cascading video conference, i.e., a video conference that is conducted over more than one MCU. A cascading continuous presence composition controller (CCCC) selects which endpoints from among all of the endpoints participating in the conference should be displayed in the layout, regardless of which endpoints are associated with which MCU. The CCCC can be resident on one of the MCUs, resident on a cascading conference server, or can be distributed among all of the MCUs involved in a cascading conference. | 01-27-2011 |
20110043600 | Flexible Decomposition and Recomposition of Multimedia Conferencing Streams Using Real-Time Control Information - A multimedia conferencing system is presented that can modify the composite multimedia stream into separate multimedia streams. Two or more video conference participants send multimedia streams, capturing and encoding the conference at the participant's location, to a multimedia server. The multimedia server includes a multipoint control unit that creates a composite multimedia display, which includes video regions corresponding to at least two of the multimedia streams from the participants. A composite multimedia stream describes the composite multimedia display. The ancillary server receives the composite multimedia stream from the multipoint control unit together with static and dynamic control information, which describes the format and layout of the composite multimedia display and the composite multimedia stream. Using the dynamic and static control information, the ancillary server decomposes the composite multimedia stream into two or more constituent streams. The two or more constituent streams may then be separately processed. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043601 | Media Based Collaboration Using Mixed-Mode PSTN and Internet Networks - A method which allows standard telephone users to audio conference with video conferencing participants over IP networks in a private secure environment. A dial-out is performed from one or more conference client terminals bridging audio between the Internet and the PSTN networks. The process uses a mixed mode hybrid network architecture for call set-up, initialization and teardown including the method to mix audio at the desktop terminal instead of in a general purpose server as in the prior art. The method conferences video and audio between multiple clients and include audio from a standard telephone network within the conference. A virtual private network connects all of the IP clients together including the voice over IP server used to transcode the proprietary audio into the H.323 standard for transport into the telephony network. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043602 | CAMERA-BASED FACIAL RECOGNITION OR OTHER SINGLE/MULTIPARTY PRESENCE DETECTION AS A METHOD OF EFFECTING TELECOM DEVICE ALERTING - A camera can be associated with each conference participant endpoint. The camera, either frame or video-based, can monitor and detect one or more of gestures, facial recognition, emotions, and movements of the conference participant. Based on the detection of one or more of these triggering events, a correlation to an action corresponding the triggering event can be evoked. For example, if a participant raises their hand, e.g., a triggering event, the system can recognize that this is a request to speak. The participant can then be queued in the system based, for example, relative to other participants' requests. When the other participants have finished speaking, and it is the time for the user who raised their hand to speak, the system can optionally queue the user by modifying the endpoint with which they are associated. | 02-24-2011 |
20110058013 | Email Based Scheduling Mechanism for Conference Calls - A system and method for a management server to schedule a conference call. The management server may manage conferencing equipment, including a schedule for the managed conferencing equipment. The management server may receive scheduling information for the conference call, which may specify a time and two or more endpoints for the conference call. At least one of the endpoints may be managed by the management server. The management server may determine whether the conference call is possible, based on the scheduling information and the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment. If the conference call is determined to be possible, the conference call may be scheduled, in which case the management server may enter the scheduling information into the schedule for managed conferencing equipment. | 03-10-2011 |
20110063406 | System and method for cascaded teleconferencing - A system and method for forming a cascaded teleconference between digital telephony devices is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a plurality of digital telephony devices for a teleconference. Each digital telephony device includes a microphone, a speaker, an input port, and at least one output port. A cascaded peer to peer network is formed between the selected digital telephony devices. A sum of the local microphone signal and at least one conference microphone signal is transmitted at the output of each of the plurality of digital telephony devices. The at least one conference microphone signal is broadcast over the speaker at each of the plurality of digital telephony devices to provide the cascaded teleconference. | 03-17-2011 |
20110063407 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE - A method and an apparatus for controlling a multipoint conference are disclosed. The method includes: determining resolution-layered coding parameters of each terminal, and sending them to their corresponding terminals; receiving the code streams sent by each terminal, selecting code streams to be displayed by each terminal among the received code streams according to the display requirements of each terminal, and transcoding or mapping the selected code streams to the code streams decodable by the terminal; and sending the code streams decodable by each terminal to their corresponding terminals. The embodiments of the present invention use an MCU to control the resolution-layered coding, and therefore, the system can include both the terminal supporting the layering protocol and the terminal supporting no layering protocol. In addition, the calculation is reduced, and the system efficiency is improved. | 03-17-2011 |
20110069141 | Communication Between Scheduled And In Progress Event Attendees - An event management system is configured to receive a first communication from a person associated with a scheduled event and provide a second communication associated with the first communication to at least one endpoint of an in progress event. | 03-24-2011 |
20110085019 | MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT CASCADED SYSTEM, COMMUNICATIONS METHOD AND DEVICE - A Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) cascaded system is provided, which includes a plurality of MCUs under the management of a service management center. The cascade manner between the MCUs in the system is a reticulated cascade. A communications method for an MCU cascaded system, an MCU, and a service management center are also provided. In the embodiments of the present invention, because the connection and networking mode of MCUs in a cascaded system is changed, a transmission path passing the least MCUs can be selected according to a connection situation between the MCUs. Therefore, transmission delay and decrease of video and audio quality due to multiple forwarding by MCUs can be effectively avoided, and thus the media stream transmission time is reduced, and the play quality of the media stream is guaranteed in an overall manner. | 04-14-2011 |
20110090302 | Method and System for Adapting A CP Layout According to Interaction Between Conferees - A system and method is disclosed for adapting a continuous presence videoconferencing layout according to interactions between conferees. Using regions of interest found in video images, the arrangement of images of conferees may be dynamically arranged as displayed by endpoints. Arrangements may be responsive to various metrics, including the position of conferees in a room and dominant conferees in the videoconference. Video images may be manipulated as part of the arrangement, including cropping and mirroring the video image. As interactions between conferees change, the layout may be automatically rearranged responsive to the changed interactions. | 04-21-2011 |
20110109717 | MULTIPLE CAMERA GROUP COLLABORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An improved group collaboration system providing control and management of multiple cameras for multiple users (members). The system includes a server for system management and a server for video data. Multiple clients, each having multiple cameras, may access the system simultaneously. Each client has a browser interface that allows a user to access multiple member cameras. Each selected camera is displayed simultaneously in the selecting user's interface. A bandwidth distribution algorithm provides quality of service for the multiple camera feeds. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115876 | Determining a Videoconference Layout Based on Numbers of Participants - Determining a videoconference layout based on numbers of participants. Videoconference data may be received from a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. The videoconference data may include audio and video. Information may be stored which identifies a number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. Video from each of the videoconferencing endpoints may be combined to form composite video. The composite video may include portions corresponding to each of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. A respective size of each of the portions may be based on the information identifying the number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. The composite video may be provided to videoconferencing endpoint(s) over a network | 05-19-2011 |
20110141222 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC CAMERA CONTROL - A method including: obtaining a sequence of pictures from a camera associated with a video conferencing endpoint; determining a presence of a target point coinciding with an optical source within a field of view of the camera, wherein the optical source emits pulses of electromagnetic radiation at a rate that causes the camera to capture some frames with a pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source and some frames without the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source; determining a location of the target point within one or more of the pictures by comparing a first frame from the camera that includes the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source and a second frame from the camera that does not include the pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the optical source; moving the camera so that a center of one or more subsequent pictures obtained by the camera coincides with the target point; and zooming the camera until receipt of an instruction to stop zooming is received, or until maximal zoom is achieved. | 06-16-2011 |
20110149013 | Remotely Monitoring and Troubleshooting a Videoconference - System and method for performing a videoconference. One or more computers are utilized to passively monitor a videoconference call between a plurality of participants at respective participant locations, where the videoconference call is performed using a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints at respective ones of the participant locations, and where the monitoring includes monitoring one or more parameters from each of the videoconferencing endpoints. The videoconference call is actively monitored upon detecting values of the one or more parameters from a first videoconferencing endpoint indicating a lack of call quality, thereby generating active monitor data. The active monitor data is automatically analyzed to determine at least one problem causing lack of call quality, and at least one action is automatically determined and performed to address the at least one problem. The active monitoring may also be invoked manually, e.g., in response to user input. | 06-23-2011 |
20110169910 | Providing Presentations in a Videoconference - System and method for performing a videoconference. One or more computers are utilized to schedule a videoconference call in response to user input requesting the videoconference call, where the user input further specifies presentation materials for presentation during the videoconference call. The presentation materials are uploaded to a content server computer, and the videoconference call is conducted between a plurality of participants at respective participant locations, where the videoconference call is performed using a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints at respective ones of the participant locations, and where the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints are coupled to the content server computer over a network. During the videoconference call, the presentation materials are provided to each of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints from the content server computer over the network, where the provided presentation materials are presented by each videoconferencing endpoint. | 07-14-2011 |
20110187813 | Method of Connecting Mesh-Topology Video Sessions to a Standard Video Conference Mixer - A multimedia conferencing system, includes a multipoint control unit for distributing audio and video among a first set of n endpoints, where n≧ | 08-04-2011 |
20110187814 | Automatic Audio Priority Designation During Conference - During a conference, a multipoint control unit (MCU) designates priority and non-priority endpoints. The MCU forms priority audio from the priority endpoint and sends that audio to the other endpoints at a normal level. However, the MCU forms non-priority audio from the non-priority endpoint and handles that audio based on whether the input audio from the priority endpoint is from speaking or not. If the priority endpoint's audio indicates a participant at that endpoint is speaking, then the MCU sends the non-priority audio to the other endpoints at a reduced level. Designation of which endpoint has priority can be based on which endpoint has a current duration of audio indicative of speech that is longer than other endpoints. Alternatively, the designation can be based on which endpoint is currently presenting content during the conference or based on a mix of speech audio and content presentation. | 08-04-2011 |
20110221860 | MULTICAST VIDEOCONFERENCING - In one embodiment, the invention is a method of transferring data. The method includes receiving a first video data stream at a first machine. The method also includes multicasting the first video data stream in uncompressed and raw form through a network. The method further includes receiving the first video data stream at a second machine. The method also includes playing the first video data stream on the second machine. | 09-15-2011 |
20110261150 | Selective Audio Combination for a Conference - Selective audio combination for a conference. The conference may be initiated between a plurality of participants at respective participant locations. The conference may be performed using a plurality of conferencing endpoints at each of the participant locations. Audio may be received from each of the plurality of conferencing endpoints. Audio level information may also be received from each of the plurality of conferencing endpoints. The audio may be combined from a plural subset of the plurality of conferencing endpoints to produce conference audio. The plural subset is less than all of the plurality of conferencing endpoints. The audio may be combined based on the audio level information. The conference audio may be provided to the plurality of conferencing endpoints. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261151 | VIDEO AND AUDIO PROCESSING METHOD, MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT AND VIDEOCONFERENCE SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a video processing method, an audio processing method, a video processing apparatus, an audio processing apparatus, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU), and a videoconference system. The video processing method includes: obtaining N video streams sent by a first conference terminal on N channels; determining a second conference terminal that interacts with the first conference terminal, where the second conference terminal supports L video streams, and L is different from N; adding N-channel video information carried in the N video streams to L video streams; and transmitting the L video streams to the second conference terminal. The embodiments of the present invention implement interoperability between the sites that support different numbers of media streams, for example, telepresence sites, dual-stream sites, and single-stream sites, thus reducing the construction cost of the entire network. | 10-27-2011 |
20110279632 | Multiway Telepresence without a Hardware MCU - System and method for performing a videoconference. The videoconference may be established between at least three videoconferencing locations. Each videoconferencing location may include respective pluralities of displays, video inputs, and videoconferencing units. A first videoconferencing unit at a first videoconferencing location may receive an indication that there is an active talker at the first videoconferencing location. An indication that there is an active talker at the first videoconferencing location may also be provided to a second videoconferencing unit at the first videoconferencing location. The first and second videoconferencing units may provide signals to corresponding videoconferencing units at second and third videoconferencing locations indicating that videoconferencing signals from the first videoconferencing location should be displayed. The second and third videoconferencing locations may switch to display videoconferencing signals from the first videoconferencing location based on the signals which indicate that videoconferencing signals from the first videoconferencing location should be displayed. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279633 | Telepresence Between a Multi-Unit Location and a Plurality of Single Unit Locations - Performing a videoconference. The videoconference may be established at a first videoconferencing location between at least three videoconferencing locations. The locations may include the first location, a second location, and a third location. The first location may maintain a plurality of videoconferencing units and the second and third locations may each maintain a single videoconferencing unit. A first videoconferencing unit of the first location acts as a multipoint control unit (MCU) of the videoconference. The MCU may receive respective videoconferencing information from each videoconferencing unit of the videoconference. The MCU may provide active videoconferencing information of an active participant to ones of the videoconferencing units at the second and third locations corresponding to non-active participants. The MCU may provide second and third videoconference information from the videoconferencing units of the second and third locations for presentation at the first location. This provision may be performed independently of the active participant. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279634 | Systems and methods for real-time multimedia communications across multiple standards and proprietary devices - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds from video conference endpoints that can be either proprietary or standards-based and enable a multi-party video conferencing session among the plurality of participants. Each single VMR can be implemented across an infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access. Each VMR also gives its users a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing users. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279635 | Systems and methods for scalable composition of media streams for real-time multimedia communication - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds from video conference endpoints that can be either proprietary or standards-based and enable a multi-party video conferencing session among the plurality of participants by composing one composite audio and video stream for each of the participants. Each single VMR can be implemented across an infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access. Each VMR also gives its users a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing users. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279636 | Systems and methods for scalable distributed global infrastructure for real-time multimedia communication - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. A globally distributed infrastructure that supports operations of the VMR through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit) built from off-the-shelf components instead of custom hardware as media processing nodes, each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time. Each single VMR can be implemented and supported across the infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access, wherein such massively distributed architecture can support thousands of simultaneously active VMRs and yet is transparent to the users of the VMRs. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279637 | Systems and methods for security and privacy controls for videoconferencing - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints and enables a multi-party video conferencing session in real time among the plurality of participants. Each of the participants is offered a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing participants and a moderator of the video conference is further offered with in-meeting management and control over a plurality of security and privacy settings during the video conference. These interactions encompass controlling of a video conferencing session, its configuration, privacy, security, the visual layout of the participants, customization of the VMR and adaptation of the room to different vertical applications. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279638 | Systems and methods for novel interactions with participants in videoconference meetings - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides various ways for the participants to the video conference to access, control, and interact with each other during the conference for a customized personal experience. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279639 | Systems and methods for real-time virtual-reality immersive multimedia communications - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach further utilizes virtual reality and augmented-reality techniques to transform the video and audio streams from the participants in various customizable ways to achieve a rich set of user experiences. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time. | 11-17-2011 |
20110285808 | Videoconferencing Endpoint Having Multiple Voice-Tracking Cameras - A videoconferencing apparatus automatically tracks speakers in a room and dynamically switches between a controlled, people-view camera and a fixed, room-view camera. When no one is speaking, the apparatus shows the room view to the far-end. When there is a dominant speaker in the room, the apparatus directs the people-view camera at the dominant speaker and switches from the room-view camera to the people-view camera. When there is a new speaker in the room, the apparatus switches to the room-view camera first, directs the people-view camera at the new speaker, and then switches to the people-view camera directed at the new speaker. When there are two near-end speakers engaged in a conversation, the apparatus tracks and zooms-in the people-view camera so that both speakers are in view. | 11-24-2011 |
20110316965 | COMBINING DIRECT AND ROUTED COMMUNICATION IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE - A video conference cross-links at least a portion of the clients for point to point communication while still using a video conference server. The video conference server continues to manage some aspects of the video conference for the cross-linked clients and may be configured to perform audio/video processing for some of the clients in a video conference. For example, the video conference server may perform audio/video processing and routing of streams for clients that do not have the capabilities to perform the processing directly. Clients that are able to process their audio/video needs may directly connect to other clients through cross-links while still using the video conference server for management. | 12-29-2011 |
20120002002 | Capturing and Controlling Access to Muted Content from a Conference Session - Techniques are provided for receiving multimedia from a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference session, including multimedia from an endpoint that was muted during the conference session. A muting state is detected at a particular endpoint during the conference session and the multimedia from the particular endpoint is recorded even though it is not forwarded and rendered to the other endpoints during the conference session. Information associated with the multimedia data for the conference session is stored to indicate the time period during which the muting state was detected at the particular endpoint. Techniques are also provided for granting access at a later time to the stored multimedia data for conference session, including access controls to the muted multimedia. | 01-05-2012 |
20120007944 | Method for Creating a Videoconferencing Displayed Image - The present disclosure provides methods and systems of multipoint videoconferencing wherein layout description information is used to create videoconferencing displayed images of a composite video of one or more video images and one or more accessory elements. The layout description information is responsive to events in the videoconferencing session. Synchronization between the images of the composite video and the one or more accessory elements is done by using synchronization information that reflects the event. | 01-12-2012 |
20120026281 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR SEGMENTAL PROCESSING OF INPUT DATA, SYSTEMS USING THE APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DATA TRANSMITTAL - There is provided a data processing apparatus for segmental processing of input data. The apparatus includes a plurality of data processors connected in a series configuration, the plurality of data processors being able to transmit discrete data packets over a video bus to one another, with the plurality of data processors being divided into a plurality of data processing sets; and a central controller coupled to the plurality of data processors for controlling allocation of the input data to the plurality of data processing sets, the central controller being also for controlling transmission of output data from the apparatus. The apparatus incorporates several varying methods for data transmittal amongst data processors and has several applications which will be described. | 02-02-2012 |
20120038740 | IMAGE-BASED VIDEO CONFERENCE CONTROL METHOD, TERMINAL, AND SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention disclose an image-based video conference control method, terminal, and system. The method includes the following steps: sending a control request message to a network-side device ( | 02-16-2012 |
20120056974 | REMOTE USER SIGNAL IDENTIFICATION METHOD, REMOTE CONFERENCE PROCESSING METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A method for identifying user signals in remote presentation conferences includes: obtaining user sign-in information and/or sign-out information from remote presentation conference halls, and identifying present user areas and absent user areas according to the user sign-in information and/or sign-out information; and determining that signals from the absent user areas are invalid signals and that signals from the present user areas are valid signals. In the remote presentation application scenario, attendance information in each user area can be identified through the user registration apparatus arranged on the terminal side. | 03-08-2012 |
20120062689 | PERSONALIZED VIRTUAL VIDEO MEETING ROOMS - A videoconferencing system allows host users to personalize virtual meeting rooms (VMR). A multipoint control unit (MCU) generates VMRs using associated VMR configuration parameters, which include personal VMR parameters specified by the host user, and admin VMR parameters specified by an administrator of the videoconferencing system. The host user can connect to a server at the MCU to request a list of personal VMR parameters, for which the host user can specify values. The server can receive and store the specified values for the personal parameters. The MCU can combine the values of personal VMR parameters with values of admin VMR parameters in generating VMR configuration. | 03-15-2012 |
20120075408 | TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING IN-BUILT AUDIO/VIDEO BRIDGE ON ENDPOINTS CAPABLE OF VIDEO COMMUNICATION OVER IP - A system and method for providing in-built audio/video bridge on endpoints capable of video communication over Internet protocol (IP) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a modified video communication terminal (MVCT), one or more of video communication terminals (VCTs) and one or more of voice over IP communication terminals (VoCTs) are connected via an IP network. Further, the MVCT includes an audio/video bridging module (AVBM). Furthermore, the audio/video bridging of incoming audio/video streams from the one or more of VCTs and VoCTs via the IP network is enabled by the AVBM for conferencing the participants. | 03-29-2012 |
20120086770 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING LARGE CAPACITY CALLS BY USING H.323 PROTOCOL STACK - A method and system for implementing large capacity calls by using the H.323 protocol stack are provided in the present invention. The method comprises: a plurality of protocol stacks are deployed in a multi-point control unit; an IP address of a third protocol stack is pre-configured as a uniform IP address of the multi-point control unit, wherein the IP address acts as an incoming address when the multi-point control unit is called, and the third protocol stack is used to perform the H.225 signaling interaction with the opposite end when the multi-point control unit is a called party; when the multi-point control unit is a calling party, a first protocol stack, the number of processable calls of which does not exceed a limit number, is selected to perform the H.225 signaling interaction with the opposite end, and a second protocol stack, the number of processable calls of which does not exceed a limit number, is selected to perform the H.245 signaling interaction with the opposite end; when the multi-point control unit is a called party, a fourth protocol stack, the number of processable calls of which does not exceed a limit number, is selected to perform the H.245 signaling interaction with the opposite end. In the present invention, the H.245 messages from different ends are distributed to a plurality of protocol stacks for processing, which thereby improves the processing efficiency. | 04-12-2012 |
20120113212 | Terminal, Multipoint Control Unit, System and Method for Implementing High Definition Multiple Pictures - A terminal, multipoint control unit, system and method for implementing high definition multiple pictures are provided by the present invention. The method comprises the following steps of: a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) calculating a high definition video code stream format according to video conference control information, and sending a capability set containing the high definition video code stream format to a selected terminal; based on the high definition video code stream format in the capability set, the selected terminal encoding a high definition video image and sending the encoded high definition video code stream to the MCU; according to the video conference control information, the MCU synthesizing the received high definition video code stream image into multiple pictures, and obtaining the high definition multi-picture video code stream image and sending it to the terminals attending the conference. | 05-10-2012 |
20120127262 | Automatic Layout and Speaker Selection in a Continuous Presence Video Conference - Techniques are provided for managing display layouts for a continuous presence video conference. Each display layout has a fixed number of positions, and one of the display layouts has a maximum number of positions for display to participants in the video conference. The display layouts comprise video display positions for participants in a video conference. When the number of participants is greater than a threshold, one of the positions in that layout is used as a shared position assigned to a video stream of participants not assigned to fixed positions in that layout. The shared position is used in a scanning manner such that video streams of participants not assigned to fixed positions in the layouts are classified as scanning streams and are displayed in the non-fixed (shared) position over a predetermined time interval. | 05-24-2012 |
20120127263 | MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE SCALABILITY FOR CO-LOCATED PARTICIPANTS - A terminal device associated with a participant of the multipoint session can be identified. The multipoint session can be associated with a video and an audio stream. The terminal device can be a computing device comprising of an audio and video input, and a video output. The multipoint session can be a conference associated with a telephony session. The location of the terminal device and a conferencing device can be determined. The conferencing device can be associated with an audio input and output. If the terminal device is proximate to the conferencing device, a terminal device audio stream can be terminated and a conference device audio stream can be received. A video stream and an audio stream can be simultaneously presented upon the audio and video output of the conferencing device and terminal device. The video and the audio stream can be a synchronized stream of the session. | 05-24-2012 |
20120147130 | Appearance Matching for Videoconferencing - Methods and systems for presenting video images generated by multiple endpoints in a videoconference such that the displayed images have consistent appearance, for example consistent brightness levels are disclosed. Sampling methods and algorithms are used to calculate an appropriate amount of correction for each video image and the images are adjusted accordingly. Brightness correction may implement one or more brightness sampling and analyzing logical modules (BSAM) and one or more transforming logical module (TLM). The brightness matching methods may be implemented in centralized architecture, for example, as part of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Alternatively, the methods may be implemented using a distributed architecture. | 06-14-2012 |
20120154516 | AGGREGATION OF VIDEO RECEIVING CAPABILITIES - Video receiving capabilities of participants and source capabilities are compared and conference capabilities for providing different resolutions, frame rates, bit rate, and number of streams are determined by maintaining a conference receiving capability list updated as number and capability of participants' changes. Preferred receiving capabilities of participants are also taken into account in determining conference characteristics based on comparison with allowed capabilities. | 06-21-2012 |
20120169835 | MULTI-PARTY AUDIO/VIDEO CONFERENCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS SUPPORTING HETEROGENEOUS ENDPOINTS AND PROGRESSIVE PERSONALIZATION - In a method and architecture for multimedia conferencing, each upstream and downstream traffic flow is processed in a custom manner. The custom processing is capable of handling diverse capabilities of end-user devices, diverse access networks over which each conference participant joins the multimedia conference, and/or customizing personalized conference experience for each conference participant. | 07-05-2012 |
20120182384 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCING - A system and method for Internet video conferencing is provided. Efficient interactive video conferencing protocols for routing video streams greatly reduce the loads on the attendee's device and on the central server. Additionally, efficient control protocols simulate complex human group procedures and control who is speaking (who has the floor) in three distinct modes of conference interaction: class mode (at least one facilitator/moderator/teacher/leader), group mode (no facilitator), and multi-interactive mode (subgroups of a main group, preferably of a main group which is in group mode). | 07-19-2012 |
20120200661 | Reserved Space in a Videoconference Layout - Reserving a space in a videoconference layout. The videoconference layout may be displayed at a first participant endpoint and may include images of a plurality of participants during the videoconference. A first portion of the videoconference layout may include a plurality of portions for the plurality of participants. A second portion of the videoconference layout may be used for an active speaker of the plurality of participants. When a first participant displayed in a first portion of the plurality of portions becomes an active speaker in the videoconference, the first participant may be displayed in the second portion of the videoconference layout and the first portion of the plurality of portions may be reserved for the first participant. | 08-09-2012 |
20120200662 | Method and System for Controlling Multipoint Video Conference, Central Control Subsystem and Video Terminal - A system and method for controlling multipoint video conference, a video terminal and a central control subsystem are provided by the present invention. The system includes a central control subsystem and a video terminal at the conference place side, and central office equipment at the network side. The central control subsystem is configured to transmit a multipoint video conference control command to the video terminal; the video terminal is configured to transmit the received multipoint video conference control command to the central office equipment at the network side; the central office equipment is configured to control the video terminal of each conference place according to the received multipoint video conference control command. The scheme of the present invention maintains the good usability of the central control subsystem and guarantees the safety and the stability of the central office system. | 08-09-2012 |
20120206561 | REMOTE CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING THE SAME - A remote conference management system includes a conferencing control terminal and a conferencing terminal in electronic communication with the conferencing control terminal. The conferencing control terminal includes a multipoint control unit that stores a plurality of predetermined face images of anticipated meeting participants. The conferencing terminal includes an image recording unit and a signal control unit. The image recording unit records face images of current participants. The signal control unit receives the face images from the image recording unit and transmits the face image to the MCU. The MCU compares the received face images with the prestored face images, and creates and communicates attendance information of the current participants according to the comparison. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206562 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVING IMAGES FROM A PLURALITY OF VIDEO CHANNELS AND FOR ALTERNATELY CONTINUOUSLY TRANSMITTING TO EACH OF A PLURALITY OF PARTICIPANTS IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE INDIVIDUAL IMAGES CONTAINING INFORMATION CONCERNING EACH OF SAID VIDEO CHANNELS - A method and apparatus is provided for video conferencing. The method and apparatus continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and alternately continuously transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method and apparatus only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206563 | Method and System for Composing Video Images from a Plurality of Endpoints - The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206564 | Control Unit for Multipoint Multimedia/Audio System - The present invention is a system and a method for providing a control unit for a multipoint multimedia/audio conference that enables one or more participants to take part in more than one conference simultaneously. The control unit can operate in audio and/or video sections of an MCU and/or Management and Control System (MCS). The MCS, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, controls the participation of at least one participant in more than one conference simultaneously by using a Cross-Conference Database (CCDB). The MCU performs connection changes affecting which participants are associated with one or more conferences based on the information that is stored in the CCDB. | 08-16-2012 |
20120224023 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING AUDIO MIXING - A method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing audio mixing are provided. The method for implementing audio mixing includes: receiving an audio signal sent by each sending conference site, where the audio signals include an audio channel-based audio signal and an audio object-based audio signal; selecting an audio signal for each receiving conference site from the received audio signals; processing the selected audio signals according to types of receiving conference sites, where the receiving conference sites include an audio channel-based receiving conference site and an audio object-based receiving conference site; and sending the processed audio signal to each receiving conference site respectively according to the type of the receiving conference site. The present invention is applicable to a multipoint conference where audio mixing is performed on an audio channel-based audio signal and an audio object-based audio signal. | 09-06-2012 |
20120236109 | METHOD FOR SHARING RESOURCE OF A VIDEOCONFERENCE USING A VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM - A resource sharing method for sharing user interfaces and multimedia files uses a video conferencing system which includes at least one computer, a local video terminal, a multipoint control unit (MCU), and at least one remote video terminal. The resource method includes steps where the at least one computer analyzes the format of the multimedia files and determines whether or not the local video terminal can support the format(s) of the multimedia files. The at least one computer may transmit the multimedia file(s) to the local video terminal and a multipoint control unit (MCU) and to the at least one remote video terminal through the MCU. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236110 | MULTIPOINT CONFERENCE SCALABILITIY FOR CO-LOCATED PARTICIPANTS - A terminal device associated with a participant of the multipoint session can be identified. The multipoint session can be associated with a video and an audio stream. The terminal device can be a computing device comprising of an audio and video input, and a video output. The multipoint session can be a conference associated with a telephony session. The location of the terminal device and a conferencing device can be determined. The conferencing device can be associated with an audio input and output. If the terminal device is proximate to the conferencing device, a terminal device audio stream can be terminated and a conference device audio stream can be received. A video stream and an audio stream can be simultaneously presented upon the audio and video output of the conferencing device and terminal device. The video and the audio stream can be a synchronized stream of the session. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236111 | Method and System for Switching Between Video Streams in a Continuous Presence Conference - An MRC system includes an MRM and an MRE that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that MRC videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring MRE requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting MRE, an MRM may respond by requesting the presenting MRE to send a temporary video stream toward the requiring MRE while sending in parallel a normal stream toward the rest of the MREs. | 09-20-2012 |
20120242778 | Streaming of Telepresence Video Content - Solutions for distributing telepresence content to users and devices that are not direct participants in the telepresence session in which the content is created. For example, in some cases, a collector device might receive telepresence content from a dedicated telepresence endpoint and/or transmit that content, through a firewall, to a system that is outside the firewall and therefore is accessible from the Internet. In an aspect, such embodiments might employ a protocol that does not require any incoming connection from the outside system and therefore does not require any modification of the firewall policies in order to provide such content. | 09-27-2012 |
20120262538 | System And Method For Video Conferencing - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first module that causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. The apparatus includes a second module that causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream. | 10-18-2012 |
20120287228 | VIDEO CONFERENCE BRIDGE SETTING, SHARING, PUSHING, AND RATIONALIZATION - A conference system is provided with enhanced settings capabilities. A controller can poll for settings at each endpoint in a conference system and be able via the video stream to selectively display and compare settings among the endpoints. One location can push its settings to one or more locations to overcome failures or degradation in the conference. The settings between different controllers may be rationalized via a common denominator method or tabular method to build a knowledge of how to configure conferences and to automate responses to problems. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287229 | IMPLEMENTATION OF MPCP MCU TECHNOLOGY FOR THE H.264 VIDEO STANDARD - A method for generating a video output signal that may receive a plurality of input video signals from a number of participants. The input video signals may have a plurality of input frames. The video output signal may comprise a plurality of output frames. A first of the output frames generally has at least a first slice having (a) a first coded portion carrying the image from a first of the participants and (b) a first unencoded portion for the image from a second of the participants. A second of the output frames generally has at least a second slice having (a) a second coded portion carrying the image from the second participant and (b) a second unencoded portion for the image from the first participant. The frames of the video output signal are generated as soon as one of the frames of the video input signal are received. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287230 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SWITCHING VIDEO PICTURES - A method and device for switching video pictures are disclosed in the invention, which belong to video conference field. Said method includes: obtaining correspondence relations between participants and venues; finding, when a participant is called, a venue corresponding to the called participant according to the correspondence relations; and switching the video pictures to the venue corresponding to the called participant. According to the invention, it is possible to find the venue corresponding to the called participant according to the correspondence relations, and automatically switch the video to the venue or request to an MCU for switching the video to the venue, without a manual intervention of the participant or waiting for a response from the participant, so that continuity of the video conference is ensured, the video pictures can be switched in time, and “face to face” communion experience of the participants in the video conference is improved. | 11-15-2012 |
20120300016 | INTEGRATED MEDIA GATEWAY PROCESSING AND CONTROL TO REDUCE LATENCY FOR 2-WAY VIDEO CONFERENCE APPLICATIONS - In a media gateway (MG) that enables communication with a plurality of client devices, at least a portion of video conferencing (VC) processing during a VC call between at least one of said plurality of client devices and at least one other VC client may be handled by the media gateway. The portion of the VC processing handled by said media is offloaded from a centralized VC multipoint control unit (MCU). The MG may handle one or more VC MCU functions, which may comprise video conferencing call control and/or management and/or audio/video (A/V) transcoding. The MG may adaptively control and/or configure latency associated with handling and/or communication of data by the media gateway's client device during the video conference call. The adaptive latency control and/or configuration may be based on determination of end-to-end latency associated with exchange of data during the video conference call. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300017 | DISTRIBUTED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR A PLURALITY OF LOCAL MEDIA GATEWAYS TO PROVIDE VIDEO CONFERENCING - Media gateways (MGs), grouped into a hierarchy, are operable to provide a multiparty conferencing among client devices. Gateway resources such as processors, Codecs and network interfaces are aggregated at each MG to establish distributed connection sessions based on resource management metrics such as minimizing total network. The distributed connection sessions are utilized to provide the multiparty conferencing. Each MG may aggregate the gateway resources, which may be determined utilizing a look-up table, from other MGs for sharing among the MGs. Each MG may be activated to provide the media gateway controller (MGC) processing utilizing the shared aggregated gateway resources. A MG may be de-activated from the MGC processing when needed and the associated connection sessions may be subsequently released. Gateway resources are managed at each MG based on the resource management metrics in order to establish distributed connection sessions to support the multiparty conferencing among the client devices. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300018 | USING DISTRIBUTED LOCAL QOS OPTIMIZATION TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL QOS OPTIMIZATION FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES - A media gateway (MG) that services a plurality of client devices, may be handled at least a portion of video conferencing (VC) processing during a VC call between at least one of said plurality of client devices and at least one other VC client. The portion of the VC processing handled by the media gateway may be offloaded from a centralized VC multipoint control unit (MCU). The MG may handle one or more VC MCU functions, which may comprise video conferencing call control and/or management and/or audio/video (AV) transcoding. The MG may perform localized quality of service (QoS) management, to select, and adaptively control and/or configure resources and/or local links used in the MG and/or in VC clients or neighboring MGs connected to the MG, during VC operations, such as in generating, handling, and/or communicating data or content exchanged during VC calls. | 11-29-2012 |
20120320146 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CONFERENCE SERVER ARCHITECTURE FOR LOW DELAY AND DISTRIBUTED CONFERENCING APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals. | 12-20-2012 |
20120327182 | Video Conferencing System which Allows Endpoints to Perform Continuous Presence Layout Selection - In various embodiments, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) or another video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to another video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, the video frame may be separated into its separate images using, for example, metadata sent along with the video frame. The metadata may include video image identifiers and location information (e.g., coordinates in the video frame) of the video images. In some embodiments, the separated video images may be provided to a compositor that may composite the separated video images, for example, into a new layout. | 12-27-2012 |
20130021432 | OPTIMIZING BANDWIDTH IN A MULTIPOINT VIDEO CONFERENCE - A plurality of multipoint conference units (MCUs) may optimize bandwidth by selecting particular video streams to transmit to endpoints and/or other MCUs participating in a video conference. An endpoint may generate video streams and audio streams and transmit these streams to its managing MCU. During the video conference, an endpoint may also receive and display different video streams and different audio streams. In a particular embodiment, a controlled MCU receives video streams from its managed endpoints, selects potential video streams based upon the maximum number of video streams that any endpoint can display concurrently, and transmits those potential video streams to a master MCU. The master MCU may also receive video streams from its managed endpoints and may select active video streams for transmission to its managed endpoints and to the controlled MCU, which transmits selected streams to its managed endpoints. | 01-24-2013 |
20130027509 | Performing Failover for a Plurality of Different Types of Videoconferencing Devices - Providing high availability in videoconferences system. A first plurality of videoconferencing devices of a first type may be monitored. Additionally, a second plurality of videoconferencing devices of a second type may be monitored. During this monitoring, at least one device of the first plurality of videoconferencing devices performs activities corresponding to a respective videoconference and at least one device of the second plurality of videoconferencing devices performs activities corresponding to the respective videoconference. In response to failure of a one of the devices associated with the respective videoconference, failover to a second device of the same type may be performed. After performing failover, the second device performs the activities corresponding to the respective videoconference that the original device was performing. | 01-31-2013 |
20130038678 | VIDEO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVER SATELLITE - A videoconference system has videoconference terminals which communicate with a centralized station over satellite. Video signals from each videoconference terminal are unicast to the centralized station via satellite. The centralized station forms a composite signal of all the video signals multicasts the composite signal to the local videoconference terminals over satellite that can be received by hundreds, thousands or more recipients. The system dynamically allocates satellite bandwidth and other network resources to establish a high definition videoconference call on demand. A frequency allocation manager manages the resources available on the satellite network according with the capacity of each transponder and network resources available. It administrates the resources available and dynamically assigns a satellite capacity and network resources. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038679 | VIDEO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVER SATELLITE - A videoconference system has videoconference terminals which communicate with a centralized station over satellite. Video signals from each videoconference terminal are unicast to the centralized station via satellite. The centralized station forms a composite signal of all the video signals multicasts the composite signal to the local videoconference terminals over satellite that can be received by hundreds, thousands or more recipients. The system dynamically allocates satellite bandwidth and other network resources to establish a high definition videoconference call on demand. A frequency allocation manager manages the resources available on the satellite network according with the capacity of each transponder and network resources available. It administrates the resources available and dynamically assigns a satellite capacity and network resources. | 02-14-2013 |
20130063548 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC CALL INITIATION BASED ON BIOMETRIC DATA - A videoconferencing endpoint can provides a caller with the ability to make unscheduled video calls to a callee without having knowledge of dialing information of a videoconferencing endpoint where the callee is currently located. The videoconferencing endpoint searches a location database using an identity of the callee provided by the caller, where the location database can store dialing information of a videoconferencing endpoint where the callee is known to be located. The videoconferencing endpoint can collect biometric data from a user and determine the identity of the user by matching the collected biometric data to biometric data stored in a biometric database. If a match is found, the videoconferencing endpoint updates the location database such that the location database indicates the videoconferencing endpoint as the current location of the user. | 03-14-2013 |
20130106988 | COMPOSITING OF VIDEOCONFERENCING STREAMS | 05-02-2013 |
20130106989 | CLOUD-BASED INTEROPERABILITY PLATFORM FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING | 05-02-2013 |
20130135427 | Techniques For a Rate-Adaptive Video Conference Bridge - A rate adaptive video conference bridge and related techniques are provided. At a video conference bridge, a source video stream is received from a source endpoint device in a network. The source video stream is encoded using a first encoder unit and second encoder unit to generate respective first and second encoded video streams. A determination is made whether to decrease or increase a bit rate of the source video stream based on network condition information. If the bit rate is to be decreased, the first encoder unit is instructed to send the first encoded video stream to a destination endpoint device. If the bit rate is to be increased, the second encoder unit is instructed to send the second encoded video stream to the destination endpoint device. | 05-30-2013 |
20130147906 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OFFLOADING VIDEO PROCESSING OF A VIDEO CONFERENCE - The present application is directed towards systems and methods for providing multi-processing of video and audio portions of a video and audio conference. A media controller within a single integrated device installed as an Ethernet adapter on a computing device intercepts, at a network layer of a network stack of the computing device, a video stream communicated over a transport layer connection established between the computing device and a first device. A communication application executing on the computing device and operating at an application layer of the network stack receives an audio stream, the audio stream comprising an audio portion of a video and audio conference. The communication application executing on the computing device processes the audio stream of the video and audio conference while a processor within the single integrated device processes the video stream comprising a video portion of the video and audio conference. | 06-13-2013 |
20130162758 | VIDEO CONFERENCE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESERVING VIDEO CONFERENCE - Disclosed is a video conference control system which includes a video conference reserving device which receives video conference reservation resource data; a multipoint controller which collects resource data for a video conference according to the video conference reservation resource data to generate a resource management policy; and a multipoint processor which provides a plurality of terminals with a resource for a video conference according to the resource management policy. | 06-27-2013 |
20130176383 | Video Conference System - A method includes receiving a control message that identifies a first video conference terminal as an active talker. The method includes sending, in response to the control message, outgoing video conference data from the first video conference terminal via a first multicast group to two or more video conference terminals joined to the first multicast group. The method also includes sending a command to join a second multicast group in response to the control message. | 07-11-2013 |
20130194378 | VIDEOCONFERENCING SYSTEM PROVIDING VIRTUAL PHYSICAL CONTEXT - In a teleconferencing system, multiple parties participate in a teleconference from different locations. The system is configured such that a filmstrip containing simultaneous images or icons representing the participants are displayed on one or more display screens at a conference location in a spatial relationship that represents their real-world or virtual-world spatial relationships | 08-01-2013 |
20130201279 | System and Method for Scalable and Low-Delay Videoconferencing Using Scalable Video Coding - Scalable video codecs are provided for use in videoconferencing systems and applications hosted on heterogeneous endpoints/receivers and network environments. The scalable video codecs provide a coded representation of a source video signal at multiple temporal, quality, and spatial resolutions. | 08-08-2013 |
20130208079 | System and Method for Handling Critical Packets Loss in Multi-Hop RTP Streaming - Disclosed are example embodiments of a method and system to reduce re-transmission requirements of a compress media transferring system implemented in a network where packet loss could be possible. An extended header for each transmitted packet can indicate the priority of the packet and endpoints can determine if a re-transmission of a missing packet is desired. Buffering of packets at different hops in a multi-hop system could allow for the retransmission request to be satisfied by a more recent hop than the original system transmitting the video packet. In one embodiment three levels of priority are established to achieve a reliable frame rate of 30 frames per second by compressing the first and second levels at 7.5 frames per second and a third level at 15 frames per second. | 08-15-2013 |
20130208080 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ADJUSTING VIDEO CONFERENCE PARAMETERS TO MAINTAIN SYSTEM PERFORMANCE - Systems, methods, and devices for adapting video parameters during a video conference to maintain system performance are provided. One such device may include data processing circuitry ( | 08-15-2013 |
20130222529 | DYNAMIC ADAPTION OF A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE VIDEOCONFERENCING LAYOUT BASED ON VIDEO CONTENT - Dynamically adapting a continuous presence (CP) layout in a videoconference enhances a videoconferencing experience by providing optimum visibility to regions of interest within the CP layout and ignoring regions of no interest. Based on the CP layout, a CP video image can be built, in which a conferee at a receiving endpoint can observe, simultaneously, several other participants' sites in the conference. For example, more screen space within the CP layout is devoted to presenting the participants in the conference and little or no screen space is used to present an empty seat, an empty room, or an unused portion of a room. Aspect ratios of segments of the CP layout (e.g., landscape vs. portrait) can be adjusted to optimally present the regions of interest. The CP layout can be adjusted as regions of interest change depending on the dynamics of the video conference. | 08-29-2013 |
20130235147 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTINUOUS PRESENCE VIDEO IN A CASCADING CONFERENCE - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing continuous presence video stream in a cascading video conference, i.e., a video conference that is conducted over more than one MCU. A cascading continuous presence composition controller (CCCC) selects which endpoints from among all of the endpoints participating in the conference should be displayed in the layout, regardless of which endpoints are associated with which MCU. The CCCC can be resident on one of the MCUs, resident on a cascading conference server, or can be distributed among all of the MCUs involved in a cascading conference. | 09-12-2013 |
20130242036 | DISPLAYING PANORAMIC VIDEO IMAGE STREAMS - Methods and apparatus for displaying video image streams in panorama are useful in video conferencing. | 09-19-2013 |
20130250035 | ANALYTIC RECORDING OF CONFERENCE SESSIONS - A conference server is configured to receive audio signals associated with active speakers at separate conference endpoints, and to mix the audio signals to form a mixed audio signal. The conference server is further configured to record a mixed audio track comprising the mixed audio signal, and to determine a relative loudness of each of the active speakers for given periods of time. The conference server is also configured to record a plurality of original audio tracks that each comprises the original voice of one or more of the active speakers before mixing, wherein the original voice recorded in each of the tracks at the given periods of time is based on the relative loudness of the active speakers. | 09-26-2013 |
20130250036 | Method and System for Determining Reference Points in Video Image Frames - A videoconferencing system for determining alignment information for images captured by two or more cameras is disclosed. The videoconferencing system can include a plurality of endpoints and at least one control unit (CU) such as a multipoint control unit (MCU), for example. An endpoint can include a plurality of cameras and at least one projector. The projector is used to project a pattern at the near end site, which pattern is captured by the plurality of cameras. The image frames produced by the cameras are processed to determine the identity and location coordinates of the images of the projected patterns. The location coordinates can be used as reference points to be used by applications such as telepresence, 3D videoconferencing, and morphing. | 09-26-2013 |
20130250037 | System and Method for the Control and Management of Multipoint Conferences - Systems and methods for the control and management of multipoint conferences are disclosed herein, where endpoints can selectively and individually manage the streams that will be transmitted to them. Techniques are described that allow a transmitting endpoint to collect information from other receiving endpoints, or aggregated such information from servers, and process them into a single set of operating parameters that it then uses for its operation. Algorithms are described for performing conference-level show, on-demand show, show parameter aggregation and propagation, propagation of notifications. Parameters identified for describing sources in show requests include bit rate, window size, pixel rate, and frames per second. | 09-26-2013 |
20130265385 | Method and Apparatus for Adjusting Site Bandwidth, Conferencing Terminal, and Media Control Server - A method and an apparatus for adjusting site bandwidth, a conferencing terminal, and a media control server are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining the number of streams at a multi-screen site, and assigning bandwidth to each stream according to preset total bandwidth of multiple streams, maximum bandwidth of a single stream, and a preset bandwidth assignment method; and obtaining a conference joining state of each stream, and adjusting bandwidth of each stream according to the conference joining state of each stream. The apparatus includes an assigning module, an obtaining module, and a first adjusting module. Embodiments of the present invention implement dynamic adjustment of bandwidth resources of each stream according to the actual condition of a conference, so that bandwidth resources of each site are fully utilized. | 10-10-2013 |
20130335515 | Call Movement in a Conferencing System - Providing high availability multi-way conferencing. Separate signaling and media components may be provided within an MCU or among a cluster of MCUs. A signaling server may control signaling aspects of a conference while a media server may provide media support for the conference. In the event of media server failure, the signaling server may assign a new media server to provide media support for the conference. A backup signaling server may also monitor the signaling server and may provide signaling support for the conference in the event of signaling server failure. | 12-19-2013 |
20140022334 | FACILITATING MULTI-PARTY CONFERENCES, INCLUDING ALLOCATING RESOURCES NEEDED FOR CONFERENCE WHILE ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS WITH PARTICIPANTS - A system includes a network interface for sending and receiving one or more of video data and audio data between two or more endpoints. One or more of a video data source and an audio data source located at more than one endpoint and a control unit for controlling one or more of the video data and the audio data between endpoints. The control unit is operable to execute instructions to specify more than one participant in a conference, wherein at least one participant is remotely located and invoke the conference upon receiving one or more requests to connect to the conference by one or more participants. The control unit is further operable to allocate resources upon the conference being invoked and connect participants to the conference. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022335 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MULTI-END-POINT DATA-CONFERENCING - A multi end-point (EP) conferencing system, including a decentralized scalable network of End-Points that includes a source EP being configured to connect to a non-virtual target EP. The source EP being configured to transmit to the non-virtual target EP a conference list thereof, for distributing to non-virtual EPs and virtual EPs associated with the target EP. It is further configured to receive a conference list of the non-virtual target EP, integrate the received conference list with its conference list to obtain an integrated conference list and distribute the integrated conference list or parts thereof to virtual EPs and non-virtual EPs associated with the source EP. The source EP being further configured to receive a positive selection notification being indicative of a requesting EP from EPs associated with the source EP that would like to get data from the source EP. In response to receipt of the positive selection notification, the source EP being configured to transmit data for receiving by the requesting EP. | 01-23-2014 |
20140028788 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING VIDEO CONFERENCES OF DIVERSE PARTICIPATING DEVICES - A novel universal bridge (UB) can handle and conduct multimedia multipoint conferences between a plurality of MREs and LEPs without using an MRM, an MCU and a gateway. Further, a UB can be configured to allocate and release resources dynamically according to the current needs of each conferee and the session. | 01-30-2014 |
20140049599 | Multi-Participant Conference Setup - Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing a multi-participant conference. This architecture has one participant's computer in the conference act as a central content distributor for the conference. The central distributor receives data (e.g., video and/or audio streams) from the computer of each other participant, and distributes the received data to the computers of all participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor receives A/V data from the computers of the other participants. From such received data, the central distributor of some embodiments generates composite data (e.g., composite image data and/or composite audio data) that the central distributor distributes back to the participants. | 02-20-2014 |
20140055555 | TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, PROGRAM, TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT METHOD - A transmission management apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives, from a first transmission terminal | 02-27-2014 |
20140085406 | INTEGRATED CONFERENCE FLOOR CONTROL - Methods and systems for providing a composite conference environment are disclosed. More particularly, a virtual reality environment (VRE) that can accommodate the inclusion of a conventional multipoint conference as a registered user or individual participants in a conventional multipoint conference as registered users within a composite conference environment hosted by the VRE is provided. Accordingly, a conference that is spread across multiple servers, namely a virtual reality server and a conventional multipoint conference server, can be created and moderated. Moreover, audio/video streams, features, and control can be provided to all users participating in the composite conference environment. | 03-27-2014 |
20140092203 | Systems and Methods for Scalable Composition of Media Streams for Real-Time Multimedia Communication - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds from video conference endpoints that can be either proprietary or standards-based and enable a multi-party video conferencing session among the plurality of participants by composing one composite audio and video stream for each of the participants. Each single VMR can be implemented across an infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access. Each VMR also gives its users a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing users. | 04-03-2014 |
20140098180 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCALABLE DISTRIBUTED GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR REAL-TIME MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION - A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. A globally distributed infrastructure that supports operations of the VMR through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit) built from off-the-shelf components instead of custom hardware as media processing nodes, each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time. Each single VMR can be implemented and supported across the infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access, wherein such massively distributed architecture can support thousands of simultaneously active VMRs and yet is transparent to the users of the VMRs. | 04-10-2014 |
20140098181 | Method, Apparatus, and System for Establishing Multi-Cascade Channel - A method, an apparatus and a system for establishing a multi-cascade channel. The method includes: receiving the site code stream obtaining request, where the request includes at least one identifier of the site; receiving an address and a port that correspond to the identifier of the site according to encoding information of a stream of the site code identified by the identifier of the site, and the address and the port that correspond to the identifier of the site; establishing a multi-cascade channel used for transmitting the code stream of the site identified by the identifier of the site; and sending the code stream of the site identified by the identifier of the site through the multi-cascade channel. | 04-10-2014 |
20140104375 | State Transition Control Method, Multipoint Control Server, and Videoconferencing System - Embodiments of the present invention provide a state transition control method, a multipoint control server, and a videoconferencing system. The method includes: receiving, by a multipoint control server, a conference reservation message, where the conference reservation message carries start time and end time of a reserved conference and an identity of a site centralized control device at a site participating in the reserved conference; and sending a state transition command to the site centralized control device according to the start time and the identity or according to the end time and the identity. In the embodiments of the present invention, through centralized control, in a non-conference state, external devices in a videoconferencing system enter a power-off state, and in a conference state, devices in the videoconferencing system are recovered to a normal working state, thereby improving user experience and reducing power consumption of the videoconferencing system. | 04-17-2014 |
20140118471 | Video Conferencing Method and Device Thereof - A method of video conferencing among two or more video conference endpoints is provided, wherein the method comprises steps of: processing media data of the video conference into unified coding formats while switching media data of the video conference between the two or among more video conference endpoints; and saving the processed media data into recording files of continuous presence mode and lecture mode, wherein the recording file of continuous presence mode saves media data generated by the two or more video conference endpoints, the recording file of lecture mode saves media data generated by a video conference endpoint who is the lecturer in the video conference. Accordingly, a device of video conferencing is provided. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118472 | Active Speaker Indicator for Conference Participants - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving requests to join a conference from a plurality of user devices proximate a first endpoint. The requests include a username. The method also includes receiving an audio signal for the conference from the first endpoint. The first endpoint is operable to capture audio proximate the first endpoint. The method also includes transmitting the audio signal to a second endpoint, remote from the first endpoint. The method also includes identifying, by a processor, an active speaker proximate the first endpoint based on information received from the plurality of user devices. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118473 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMS IN MEDIA RELAY CONFERENCING - A novel technique allows synchronizing a plurality of audio and video streams received at a receiving media relay endpoint via an intermediate node, such as a media relay multipoint control unit. The received streams were generated by a plurality of transmitting media relay endpoints and been relayed to the plurality of receiving media relay endpoints via the intermediate node, but are seen as being using a single time domain, in terms of wall clock and manipulated timestamps, while preserving the correct capture time. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118474 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING AND VIEWING VIDEO-BASED GROUP CONVERSATIONS - A system and method for producing a video-based group conversation for viewing over a network. A template is configured to generate a display at a first user computer which includes a plurality of sections in a single screen display, including at least a preview section configured for previewing a plurality of video feeds, and a media player section configured for displaying a video signal including at least some of the video feeds. The creator of the video-based group conversation controls which users can participate in the video-based group conversation by enabling video streams provided by those users to be displayed on the screen and viewable to other users who access the group conversation. | 05-01-2014 |
20140125759 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS - A videoconferencing architecture that connects various external parties and codecs by establishing outgoing connections from a virtual room to designated video endpoints. | 05-08-2014 |
20140132703 | USING DISTRIBUTED LOCAL QOS OPTIMIZATION TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL QOS OPTIMIZATION FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES - A media gateway (MG) that services a plurality of client devices, may be handled at least a portion of video conferencing (VC) processing during a VC call between at least one of said plurality of client devices and at least one other VC client. The portion of the VC processing handled by the media gateway may be offloaded from a centralized VC multipoint control unit (MCU). The MG may handle one or more VC MCU functions, which may comprise video conferencing call control and/or management and/or audio/video (AV) transcoding. The MG may perform localized quality of service (QoS) management, to select, and adaptively control and/or configure resources and/or local links used in the MG and/or in VC clients or neighboring MGs connected to the MG, during VC operations, such as in generating, handling, and/or communicating data or content exchanged during VC calls. | 05-15-2014 |
20140139618 | Media transmission method and system based on telepresence - A media transmission method based on telepresence is disclosed, comprising: during connection establishment, a master telepresence terminal of a local media transmission system and a remote endpoint perform signaling exchange, to establish a media logical channel between the local media transmission system and the remote endpoint; and transmits the same type of media streams between the local media transmission system and the remote endpoint through a media logical channel or respectively through multiple media logical channels, and receives the same type of media streams through a media logical channel or respectively through multiple media logical channels. A media transmission system based on telepresence is further disclosed correspondingly. Through the disclosure, when a telepresence system of a certain conference site is called, only one number needs to be called, which is easy to operate; moreover, agent information exchange can be performed in the telepresence system, thereby achieving the effect of sound-based localization, solving the problem such as synchronization between streams, and improving user experience. | 05-22-2014 |
20140146128 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIDEO CONFERENCE SERVICE - A system for providing a video conference service is provided. The system includes a Multipoint Processor (MP) configured to process media occurring during a video conference so as to allow the processed media to be transmitted/received between user terminals; and one or more Multipoint Controller (MC) configured to control a session of a user terminal participating in a multi-participant video conference, wherein the MP and the MC are separate from each other. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146129 | Telepresence method, terminal and system - The disclosure discloses a telepresence method, a telepresence terminal and a telepresence system. The system includes a telepresence terminal, multiple audio inputting devices and multiple audio outputting devices and/or multiple video inputting devices and multiple video outputting devices and a remote endpoint, wherein the telepresence terminal has multiple audio and video inputting and outputting interfaces for connecting the multiple audio inputting devices and the multiple audio outputting devices and/or the multiple video inputting devices and the multiple video outputting devices, and is configured to: establish a session, exchange input/output location information of multiple audio streams and/or video streams, perform media capability negotiation, and establish media logical channels with the remote endpoint; encode streams input by the multiple audio inputting devices and/or the multiple video inputting devices, and send the encoded streams to the remote endpoint according to input/output locations of the streams based on the established media logical channels; receive and decode multiple audio streams and/or video streams from the remote endpoint, and forward the decoded streams respectively to audio outputting devices and/or video outputting devices at local locations corresponding to input/output locations of the multiple audio streams and/or video streams received, so that the decoded streams are played by the audio outputting devices and/or the video outputting devices at the local locations. With the disclosure, problems of complicated deployment of an existing telepresence system, intercommunication and stream synchronization within the system are solved. | 05-29-2014 |
20140168354 | AUDIO VIDEO STREAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for supporting a plurality of participants with an audio-video conferencing system including a tracking server and a plurality of streaming servers, the method including: at the tracking server, sending conversation group information to a first device associated with a first user identifier, the conversation group information including a second user identifier and a streaming server identifier for the second user identifier; at a streaming server identified by the streaming server identifier, receiving a second audio stream and a second video stream from a second device associated with the second user identifier, and in response to receipt of the second user identifier from the first device, sending the second audio stream and second video stream to the first device. | 06-19-2014 |
20140176666 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING MEDIA STREAM IN VIDEO CONFERENCING - A method for managing media streams including at least video data and audio data in a multi-party video conference involving one or more groups of one or more nodes respectively receiving a media stream from each of a plurality of associated endpoints is provided. In each of the one or more nodes of each of the one or more groups, the loudest audio of the media streams received from the respective plurality of associated endpoints is determined. An indication of the volume of the determined loudest audio and an identification of the node is transmitted to a decision maker. The highest received volume and the associated identification is determined. The node of the identification is instructed to transmit the received media stream of the endpoint to one of: all nodes in the one or more groups and to a proxy. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176667 | CODE STREAM PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM, MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a code stream processing method and system, and a multipoint control unit. The code stream processing method includes: obtaining code stream information of each site, and type attribute information of a target site; determining a site type of the target site according to the type attribute information, searching a code stream processing policy file to obtain a code stream output policy corresponding to the site type of the target site; and according to code stream output policy, using the code stream information of each site to generate a code stream of the target site and sending it to the target site to present it in the target site. | 06-26-2014 |
20140184731 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION BASED PARTICIPANT SWITCHING IN MULTIPOINT VIDEO CONFERENCES - In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory that stores executable instructions and a processor that executes the instructions in order to determine, for plural received compressed video inputs, at least one motion vector included in each of the plural compressed video inputs; calculate, based on the determined motion vectors, a motion value corresponding to each of the plural compressed video inputs, the motion values representing a level of motion over several frames for each of the plural compressed video inputs; and select, based on the calculated motion values, at least one of the plural compressed video inputs to be displayed. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184732 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND ARCHITECTURE FOR IN-BUILT MEDIA ENABLED PERSONAL COLLABORATION ON ENDPOINTS CAPABLE OF IP VOICE VIDEO COMMUNICATION - A system, method and architecture for in-built media enabled personal collaboration on endpoints are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more personal communication modified video communication terminals (PCMVCTs), one or more of video communication terminals (VCTs), one or more of voices over IP communication terminals (VoCTs), one or more remote servers and/or one or more clients are communicatively coupled via an IP network. Further, the PCMVCT includes a personal collaboration enabling audio/video bridging module (PCEAVBM). Furthermore, the personal collaboration between participants while providing an audio/video bridging of incoming audio/video streams from the one or more PCMVCTs, one or more of VCTs and VoCTs via the IP network is enabled by the PCEAVBM. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184733 | METHOD AND TERMINAL FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION - The present invention discloses a method and a terminal for transmitting information. The method includes: determining shooting width information of a first system; determining an image adjustment parameter according to the shooting width information, where the image adjustment parameter is used to indicate the shooting width information in a form of spatial information; sending the image adjustment parameter to a second system, so that the second system adjusts a received or captured image according to the image adjustment parameter. According to the method and the terminal for transmitting information in embodiments of the present invention, an image adjustment parameter indicating shooting width information in a form of spatial information is sent to a second system, so that the second system can adjust an image according to the image adjustment parameter, thereby effectively obtaining and transmitting information used for image adjustment, improving user experience, and enhancing product competitiveness. | 07-03-2014 |
20140218465 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MULTISTREAM BANDWIDTH CONTROL IN VIDEOCONFERENCING - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory that stores executable instructions and a processor that executes the instructions. The processor may determine, for plural received compressed video inputs received from one or more endpoints in a video conference, at least one motion vector included in each of the plural compressed video inputs. The processor may calculate, based on the determined motion vectors, a motion value corresponding to each of the plural compressed video inputs, the motion values representing a level of motion over several frames for each of the plural compressed video inputs. The processor may allocate, based on the calculated motion values, bandwidth to the one or more endpoints in the video conference. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218466 | AUDIO-VIDEO REMOTE VISITATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY - A telecommunications system for use in a secure facility such as a jail, prison or the like. The systems, devices and methods disclosed provide telecommunications, email, other messaging, financial services, vending, and commissary or canteen services for inmates of a secure facility with respect to family, friends and others. The system also includes a system for video visitation via audio-visual communication. The system includes a phone server adapted to be communicatively connected to an external service provider; a monitoring station communicatively connected to the phone server, an account manager server communicatively connected to the phone server, and at least one telecommunications device disposed at the secure facility for use by the inmate and which is communicatively connected to the phone server. A method of telecommunicating, including video visitation, via the system is also disclosed. | 08-07-2014 |
20140240446 | METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING VIDEO CONFERENCE - A method for establishing a video conference is provided. The method is applied in a video conferencing system. The system has a first electronic device, a second electronic device, a third electronic device, a fourth electronic device, and a server. The first and second electronic devices are associated with a first user. The third and fourth electronic devices are associated with a second user. The method is capable of building an audio communication between the first electronic device and the third electronic device over a telecommunications network; and building a video communication between the second electronic device and the fourth electronic device over an IP network simultaneously, wherein the video communication is parallel to the audio communication. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240447 | Layered Mixing for Sound Field Conferencing System - A conferencing server ( | 08-28-2014 |
20140240448 | COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A communication management system manages communication terminals transmitting and receiving communication data. The system includes a session management unit configured to manage session identifying information and terminal identifying information in an associated manner, the session identifying information being used to identify a communication session being performed among a plurality of communication terminals and the terminal identifying information being used to identify each of the communication terminals; a receiving unit configured to receive, from a conversion system, terminal identifying information about a communication terminal that is being in communication, the conversion system mutually converting a communication scheme of communication data transmitted from one communication terminal and a communication scheme of communication data transmitted from another communication terminal; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the conversion system, session identifying information that is associated with the received terminal identifying information in the session management unit. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240449 | COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING COMMUNICATION CONTROL PROGRAM - A communication management system receives identification information of a first communication terminal, obtains identification information of a candidate second communication terminal that is associated with the identification information of the first communication terminal, and obtains communications protocol information indicating a communications protocol of the candidate second communication terminal using a part of the identification information of the candidate second communication terminal. The communication management system determines whether the communications protocol is the same for the first communication terminal and the candidate second communication terminal, and transmits information based on the determination result. | 08-28-2014 |
20140253675 | Media Detection and Packet Distribution in a Multipoint Conference - A method includes receiving a plurality of audio signals. Each of the plurality of audio signals includes audio packets, wherein one or more audio packets from each of the plurality of audio signals is coded with an audiometric, the audiometric including an acoustic measurement from a conference site. The method further includes, for each of the plurality of audio signals, extracting an audiometric from one or more audio packets and selecting an active audio signal based on the extracted audiometrics. In addition, the method includes determining a change in the active audio signal and in response to determining a change in the active audio signal, updating a media forwarding table, the media forwarding table including a directory for routing one or more of the plurality of audio signals. The method further includes distributing audio packets to one or more conference sites in accordance with the media forwarding table. | 09-11-2014 |
20140267572 | Split Frame Multistream Encode - Presented herein are techniques for creating video for participants in a video conference. A designated primary video stream is decoded and the resulting video composed in accordance with a primary sub-picture portion of a frame. Other video streams are designated as secondary video streams output by secondary entities, and are decoded and composed in accordance with a secondary sub-picture portion of the frame structured for the secondary entities. The composed primary video stream is encoded for display at each secondary entity, to obtain encoded slices of a primary video stream. The composed secondary video stream is encoded for display at one of the secondary entities, to obtain encoded slices of a secondary video stream. The encoded primary and secondary video streams are combined at the encoded slice level into a single video stream for transmission to, and decode and display at, the one of the secondary entities. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267573 | Selection of a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) for a Video Meeting on a Network - To select an appropriate multipoint control unit (MCU) for hosting an upcoming video meeting, video meeting data of previous meetings is stored, including time and location data associated with meetings conducted on a bridge ID and attended by participants located in different regions. The schedule time of an upcoming video meeting using the bridge ID is compared with the time data of previous video meetings on the bridge ID to identify related video meetings among the previous video meetings, the related video meetings being time correlated with the scheduled time of the upcoming video meeting. One of a number of MCUs in the network is selected to be a host MCU to host the upcoming video meeting based on the location data of the related video meetings, in which the host MCU is selected as a function of its proximity to locations of participants of the related video meetings. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267574 | Court video teleconferencing system & method - A court appearance is conducted at a scheduled date and time where at least one attorney or other participant at a remote location appears before a court by video teleconference. The court and the remote participant communicate using video and audio conferencing equipment having the capability of displaying concurrently images of the court and the remote participant during the court appearance. This enables the court and the participant to hear and see video images each other during the court appearance. The operation of the conferencing equipment is initiated and terminated at the scheduled date and time of the court appearance. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267575 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL CAFETERIA - An incidental virtual meeting (IVM) system deployed in multiple rooms can be used to provide a “virtual cafeteria” allowing for incidental meetings and video conferences. Wall endpoints in each room may detect the presence of a person in a proximity to the IVM (wall) endpoint and establish a connection to the associated wall endpoint in the other room, to allow unplanned meetings to occur. A room may have multiple wall endpoints, allowing the room to be connected to more than one other rooms. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267576 | INTELLIGENT LAYOUTS FOR CALL SCALING AND LAYOUT PERSISTENCE - Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and techniques for creating media conferencing layouts that are intelligent (i.e., based on some underlying principle to enhance user-perceived conference quality) and persistent (i.e., consistent within a call and from one call to the next). | 09-18-2014 |
20140267577 | PROVISION OF VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES USING REFLECTOR MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNITS (MCU) AND TRANSCODER MCU COMBINATIONS - Embodiments are described for provision of video conferencing with reflector MCUs, transcoder MCUs, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, a protocol connector module of a video conference system receives information on multi-data stream composition capabilities of a client application for a participant endpoint device of a video conference, session state information is received for creation of a composite of received video conference data streams for presentation at the client application, and instructions are selectively sent for handling media processing for each of the received video conference data stream from other participant devices based on the received multi-data stream composition capabilities information of the client application | 09-18-2014 |
20140313281 | DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF ENCODERS - A method and a device for providing for sharing encoder resources in an MCU without compromising with image quality and bandwidth adaption is provided. The method and device comprises dynamic allocation of encoders in a multi-party video conference of a number of endpoints, wherein the video conference endpoints are adapted to encode and transmit a media stream comprising the steps of creating a new encoder at a request for a new pad, determining whether a maximum number of encoders is reached, if the maximum number of encoders is not reached, then linking the new pad to the new encoder, if the maximum number of encoders is reached, then linking all existing pads to the new encoder, | 10-23-2014 |
20140313282 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING A MOBILE DEVICE TO JOIN A VIDEO CONFERENCE ENDPOINT INTO A VIDEO CONFERENCE - Described herein are methods and systems for joining a video conference endpoint to a video conference. A user may use a mobile device to take a picture of a Quick Response (QR) code or may place the mobile device in close proximity to a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag. Such QR code or NFC tag may be associated with a video conference endpoint. The user may then transmit the information encoded by the QR code or NFC tag, along with a meeting identifier, to a server. The server, in turn, may instruct a video conference endpoint identified by the QR code or NFC tag to join a video conference identified by the meeting identifier. | 10-23-2014 |
20140327730 | OPTIMIZED VIDEO SNAPSHOT - Methods, media and devices for generating an optimized image snapshot from a captured sequence of persons participating in a meeting are provided. In some embodiments, methods media and devices for utilizing a captured image as a representative image of a person as a replacement of a video stream; as a representation of a person in offline archiving systems; or as a representation of a person in a system participant roster. | 11-06-2014 |
20140327731 | Method, System, and Device for Controlling a Token for an Auxiliary Stream in a Multi-Point Double-Stream Conference - A method for controlling a token for an auxiliary stream in a multi-point double-stream conference is provided. In the method, a second conference terminal requests to deprive a token when the token in the multi-point double-stream conference is occupied by a first conference terminal and the auxiliary stream is sent. A Multi-point Control Unit (MCU) receives a token depriving request message sent by the second conference terminal or a chairman conference terminal, judges whether to execute token depriving according to an identifier (ID) carried in the token depriving request message and sends the token depriving request message to the first conference terminal that owns the token after the MCU decides to deprive the token. | 11-06-2014 |
20140333715 | Method and System for Switching Between Video Streams in a Continuous Presence Conference - A media relay conferencing system includes a media relay multipoint control unit and a media relay endpoint that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that media relay videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring media relay endpoint requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting media relay endpoint, a media relay multipoint control unit may respond by requesting the presenting media relay endpoint to synchronize a reference frame in an encoder of the presenting media relay endpoint, which encodes the relevant relay compressed video stream, with a reference frame in a decoder of the requiring media relay endpoint. | 11-13-2014 |
20140340469 | MODERATOR METHODS, SYSTEMS AND PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MANAGING VIDEO CONFERENCES - A video conference system in which a plurality of users communicate video to one another over a data network in a video conference and at least one moderator that moderates the video conference. At least one conference server links users and at least one moderator over a data network so users can communicate at least one video data stream to others. A hierarchical arrangement of control parameters control communications between the users over the at least one conference server. Moderator control parameters in the hierarchical arrangement permit the at least one moderator to specify control parameters from the hierarchical arrangement for one or more of the plurality of users and/or participation rights of one or more of the plurality of users. Computer program products provide a moderator with control or participation of users in accordance with a user set of parameters. | 11-20-2014 |
20140354765 | MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT AND SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD THEREOF - A multipoint control unit (MCU) for a video conference system is connected to other MCUs by logical links. If an application service selected by a terminal is not in a list of services on an application server connected to the MCU, the MCU communicates with the other MCUs to receive lists of services from application servers connected to the other MCUs and transmits them to the terminal. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354766 | DISTRIBUTED REAL-TIME MEDIA COMPOSER - A system and a method allowing simultaneous exchange of audio, video or data information between a plurality of units over a communication network, supported by a central unit, wherein the central unit is, based on knowledge regarding one or more of the units, adapted to instruct said one or more units to generate multimedia data streams adjusted to fit into certain restrictions to be presented on other units participating in a same session. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354767 | TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, PROGRAM, TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT METHOD - A transmission management apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives, from a first transmission terminal, a communication request for a communication with a second transmission terminal; a fists storage unit that stores therein terminal identification information for identifying the transmission terminals and relay device identification information for identifying a relay device that relays data to be transmitted and received by the first transmission terminal, in an associated manner; a relay device selecting unit that selects the relay device associated with the terminal identification information of the first transmission terminal in the first storage unit; a second storage unit that stores therein the relay device identification information and encryption necessity information in an associated manner; and an encryption necessity determining unit that determines whether encryption is needed based on the encryption necessity information associated, in the second storage unit, with the relay device selected by the relay device selecting unit. | 12-04-2014 |
20140368605 | Remote Conference Control Method, Terminal Equipment, MCU, and Video Conferencing System - A remote conference control method, a terminal equipment, a multipoint control unit (MCU), and a video conferencing system, where the method includes: when a conference joining terminal receives pause conference indication information sent by a multipoint control unit MCU during a process of a video conference, disabling, by the conference joining terminal according to the received pause conference indication information, a media channel of the conference joining terminal, saving channel parameters, and entering a standby or hibernation state; when the conference joining terminal receives resume conference indication information sent by the MCU, enabling, by the conference joining terminal according to the received resume conference indication information and the saved channel parameters, the media channel of the conference joining terminal, and resuming a working state. | 12-18-2014 |
20140375755 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHANGING MAIN SCREEN BASED ON DISTRIBUTED TELEPRESENCE - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for changing a main screen based on distributed telepresence. A distributed telepresence-based control server includes a main speaker change request reception unit for receiving a main speaker change request for requesting change of a main speaker from a first speaker who is an existing main speaker to a second speaker different from the first speaker. A video transmission requesting unit requests a client of the second speaker to transmit a high-resolution video of the second speaker in response to the main speaker change request. A video transmission stop request reception unit receives a video transmission stop request for requesting stop of transmission of a high-resolution video of the first speaker. A video transmission stop requesting unit requests a client of the first speaker to stop transmitting the high-resolution video of the first speaker in response to the video transmission stop request. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375756 | RESOURCE-ADAPTIVE VIDEO ENCODER SHARING IN MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT - Systems and methods of video conferencing, in which existing video encoders associated with a multipoint control unit (MCU) can be shared among conference participant devices, depending upon the availability of processor and/or memory resources for the MCU. In making decisions regarding the sharing of video encoders, the systems and methods take into account various parameters associated with potential conference participant devices and the total cost of the processor/memory resources for the MCU, to determine whether a video encoder of the MCU can be shared with, or allocated to, the respective conference participant devices. By determining whether to share or allocate a video encoder of the MCU, depending upon the available processor/memory resources for the MCU, the MCU can be made to operate with increased stability. The systems and methods can be applied to any application that sends the same content to multiple receivers, including announcement and video streaming applications. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375757 | COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM, AND MAINTENANCE SYSTEM - A communication management system includes: a storage unit configured to store destination information of a first communication terminal that establishes a first session with a relay device that relays communication data, destination information of a conversion system that performs mutual conversion between communication schemes of communication data transmitted from the first communication terminal and a second communication terminal and establishes a second session with the relay device, and destination information of the second communication terminal that establishes a third session with the conversion system; a receiving unit configured to receive start request information to start communication between the communication terminals from the first communication terminal; an extracting unit configured to extract destination information of each communication terminal and the conversion system stored in the storage unit, based on the received start request information; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the extracted destination information to the relay device. | 12-25-2014 |
20150009279 | DISTRIBUTED AUDIO/VIDEO BRIDGING FOR CONFERENCING ENDPOINTS - A system and method for distributed audio/video bridging for conferencing endpoints are disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of endpoints are connected to a modified video communication terminal (MVCT) via a communication network. The MVCT is an endpoint including an audio/video bridging module (AVBM). Further, one of the plurality of endpoints capable of holding audio and/or video bridging is determined by the AVBM. Furthermore, the connection of one or more remaining endpoints is transferred to the determined endpoint by the AVBM for load balancing. Also, audio and/or video bridging of the endpoints and the MVCT is enabled by the AVBM and the determined endpoint based on connectivity information of the remaining endpoints with the MVCT and the determined endpoint for conferencing participants. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009280 | System And Method For A Conference Server Architecture For Low Delay And Distributed Conferencing Applications - Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals. | 01-08-2015 |
20150022626 | Data, Multimedia & Video Transmission Updating System - A data processing and communications system for communications between remote stations, the apparatus comprising; a communications module; and a data processing module, a power supply including a power source for generating power and a power link to said modules; a data and power link between the communications module and the data processing module to enable communications and mutual operations therebetween. A camera and MCU for each data transmission station is provided along with a frame comparator in the MCU to select characteristic frame image changes in an image transmission and means for ascertaining characteristic data/image changes based on comparison between each of a predetermined number of per second and next camera captures. | 01-22-2015 |
20150077509 | System for a Virtual Multipoint Control Unit for Unified Communications - This disclosure describes a virtual multipoint control unit ( | 03-19-2015 |
20150077510 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MANAGING DATA, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - In response to a request for deleting a specific management terminal from being under management of a specific administrator, a transmission management system not only deletes terminal identification information of the specific management terminal, from terminal identification information of management terminals being managed by the specific administrator, but also deletes the terminal identification information of the specific management terminal from candidate counterpart terminal identification information for the other management terminals being managed by the specific administrator. | 03-19-2015 |
20150092012 | TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM FOR TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A transmission/reception unit of a management system receives a relay device ID transmitted by a selection device. Also, the transmission/reception unit transmits communication control request information to another management system based on the relay device ID. Consequently, a relay device to be used to relay content data to be transmitted/received among terminals can be selected from relay devices that the another management system can control. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092013 | METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF A SIGNAL DURING A VIDEO CONFERENCE SESSION - A method and a device for transmitting at least a portion of a signal during a video conference session is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of transmitting at least a portion of a signal acquired by a first terminal to one second terminal during a video conference session, the signal comprising an audio stream and a video stream conveying images acquired with the help of one video image sensor is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a parameter representative of a quality of the acquisition performed by the sensor of the video images conveyed by the video stream of the signal, and a process of notifying the first terminal of information representative of the acquisition quality. If this parameter is representative of an acquisition quality that is higher than a predetermined level, both the audio stream and the video stream of the signal are transmitted to the second terminal. Otherwise, the audio stream is transmitted to the second terminal and the video stream is blocked so that it is not transmitted to the second terminal. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092014 | VIDEO CONFERENCING OVER IP NETWORKS - A method for communication includes establishing communication links over a packet network between a server and plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference. The server receives from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers. The server mixes the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers and transmits to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data. The server relays the video data to the client computers in downlink video packets. The client computers receive and synchronize the video data with the mixed audio data. | 04-02-2015 |
20150103136 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION IN SECURE MEDIA-BASED CONFERENCING - Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for multi-factor authentication of media-based (e.g., video and/or audio) conferencing between a plurality of end point devices. The methods and apparatuses provide for analysis of an end point media stream using a matrix of authentication factors, where the authentication factors include at least two of: user-specific facial recognition attributes, user-specific audio recognition attributes, acoustic environment attributes, visual environment attributes, user gesture attributes, technical attributes of the end point device, and technical attributes of the media stream, to determine an authentication score for the first end point device. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103137 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME ADAPTATION OF A CONFERENCING SYSTEM TO CURRENT CONDITIONS OF A CONFERENCE SESSION - A system and method provide a rule-based technique for adapting a videoconferencing system to current conditions of a conference session, automatically converting the session from one conferencing technique to another, based on those current conditions. Rules may involve criteria including number of participants, ability to use a common codex, among others. An escalation module can be used to manage the transition between one type of conference session and another. If a condition occurs that causes transitioning the conference from one type to another, when that condition no longer applies, the conference may automatically transition back to the original conferencing type. | 04-16-2015 |
20150130892 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO CONFERENCE SNAPSHOT PRESENCE - Disclosed is a system and method for providing low-frame rate continuous presence for all video participants to a video conference. | 05-14-2015 |
20150296182 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VIDEO SERVICE - A method and a system for providing a video service for distributing a plurality of multipoint control units (MCU) in an MCU cluster to forward the video service via a controller are provided. The method includes, through a first MCU among the MCUs, receiving the video service published by the publisher terminal. The method also includes forwarding the video service from the first MCU to at least one second MCU among the MCUs, and establishing at least one nice connection corresponding to the video service in the second MCU. In addition, at least one subscriber terminal receives the video service through the at least one nice connection. Accordingly, the method can provide sufficient resources of the video service to the subscriber terminals by dynamically distributing system resources of a plurality of the MCUs. | 10-15-2015 |
20150304610 | Conference Television Terminal, Method And Related Device For Automatic Restoring Same - A conference television terminal, method and related device for automatic control recovery thereof are disclosed. In the conference television terminal, a master device is configured to connect the conference television terminal to a conference; a main control device is configured to update configuration information synchronously with the master device when the conference television terminal is in a normal operation process, and to generate and transmit a control command when the master device fails; and a slave device is configured to receive the control command and connect the conference television terminal to the conference according to the control command. Embodiments of the present document enable automatically recovering the conference in a case that the master device of the conference television terminal fails in the process that normal sessions of other terminals are not affected. | 10-22-2015 |
20150312521 | Split Frame Multistream Encode - Techniques for video conferencing including receiving bandwidth and/or codec characteristics of a plurality of video conference participants, determining whether or not any of the bandwidth and/or codec characteristics are sufficiently different from others of the bandwidth and/or codec characteristics to warrant different treatment, when one or more of the bandwidth and/or codec characteristics are sufficiently different, grouping video conference participants into at least a first group and a second group according to video conference participants having same or similar bandwidth and/or codec characteristics, and establishing a video conference with at least first and second subconferences to service the first and second groups, respectively, wherein each of the video conference participants receives frames of video in which a first portion of the frames is encoded by a shared encoder, and wherein a second portion of the frames is encoded by different encoders respectively designated for each of the video conference participants. | 10-29-2015 |
20150312522 | Video Conference Virtual Endpoints - A method and a device providing one virtual endpoint dedicated to serve one particular real endpoint, and the virtual endpoint is typically installed on a server in the same local network as the associated real endpoint, where an MCU or a fraction of a distributed MCCJ also is installed. In the upstream direction, the virtual endpoint includes at least an upstream decoder, a scaling unit and an upstream encoder. In the downstream direction, the virtual endpoint includes at least a number of decoders, a composing unit and a downstream encoder. | 10-29-2015 |
20150326824 | METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR OPTIMIZING LARGE SCALED VIDEO CONFERENCES - The embodiments herein disclose a system and a method for optimizing large scaled video conferences. | 11-12-2015 |
20150326825 | Method and Apparatus for Motion Based Participant Switching in Multipoint Video Conferences - In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory that stores executable instructions and a processor that executes the instructions in order to determine, for plural received compressed video inputs, at least one motion vector included in each of the plural compressed video inputs; calculate, based on the determined motion vectors, a motion value corresponding to each of the plural compressed video inputs, the motion values representing a level of motion over several frames for each of the plural compressed video inputs; and select, based on the calculated motion values, at least one of the plural compressed video inputs to be displayed. | 11-12-2015 |
20150326826 | METHOD AND TERMINAL FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION - The present invention discloses a method and a terminal for transmitting information. The method includes: obtaining, by a second video conference system, an image adjustment parameter from a first video conference system; adjusting, by the second video conference system, a received or captured image according to the image adjustment parameter. According to the method and the terminal for transmitting information in embodiments of the present invention, an image adjustment parameter indicating shooting width information in a form of spatial information is sent to a second system, so that the second system can adjust an image according to the image adjustment parameter, thereby effectively obtaining and transmitting information used for image adjustment, improving user experience, and enhancing product competitiveness. | 11-12-2015 |
20150341596 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NEW LAYOUT EXPERIENCE IN VIDEO COMMUNICATION - A striped composed video image is disclosed, in which a main segment image is displayed with a strip of small strip segments. The strip of small strip segments is composed from a plurality of video images from a plurality of video streams. A user may pull video from the strip into the main segment. The strip of small strip segments may scrolled without affecting the main segment. | 11-26-2015 |
20150350602 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO STREAMING FOR COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of experience for video conferences. In an implementation, a method may include determining a capacity of a participant associated with a video conference. The method may also include determining a number of remote participants of the video conference. The method may further include implementing a video distribution architecture for the participant based upon, at least in part, the capacity of the participant and the number of remote participants. Implementing the video distribution architecture for the participant may include implementing a distributed architecture session for the participant if the capacity of the participant is greater than or equal to the number of remote participants of the video conference. Implementing the video distribution architecture for the participant may also include implementing a centralized architecture session for the participant if the capacity of the participant is less than the number of remote participants of the video conference. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350603 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO STREAMING FOR COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of experience for video conferences. In an implementation, a method may include determining a capacity of a participant associated with a video conference. The method may also include determining a number of remote participants of the video conference. The method may further include implementing a video distribution architecture for the participant based upon, at least in part, the capacity of the participant and the number of remote participants. Implementing the video distribution architecture for the participant may include implementing a distributed architecture session for the participant if the capacity of the participant is greater than or equal to the number of remote participants of the video conference. Implementing the video distribution architecture for the participant may also include implementing a centralized architecture session for the participant if the capacity of the participant is less than the number of remote participants of the video conference. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350604 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTIPARTY VIDEO CONFERENCING - A method and apparatus are provided that are implemented at a conference apparatus to provide an optimization of video conferencing resource utilization. The method receives a plurality of resource constraints where each resource constraint is from a conference device in a plurality of conference devices, wherein at least a first resource constraint of a first conference device contains an indication of a video processing capability of the first conference device. The method further computes a conference solution matrix for the plurality of conference devices based on the plurality of resource constraints, wherein the conference solution matrix contains a solution entry for each of the plurality of conference devices, and wherein for the first conference device, a corresponding first solution entry indicates a video processing solution selection for the first conference device. Solution entries are then sent to corresponding conference devices of the plurality of conference devices. | 12-03-2015 |
20150358586 | Contribution and Attendance for Recurring Meetings - In one implementation, a periodic teleconference for multiple participant endpoints is established. The periodic teleconference occurs on multiple dates or multiple times. A network device may identify an attendance of the multiple participant endpoints for the periodic teleconference includes and contributions of the multiple participant endpoints for the periodic teleconference. The network device generates a summary of the periodic teleconference including data indicative of the attendance of the multiple participant endpoints and the contributions of the multiple of participant endpoints. | 12-10-2015 |
20150381934 | Teleconference Method, Storage Medium Storing Program for Teleconference, and Terminal Apparatus - A storage medium stores: a first acquiring instruction of, when newly starting the program, acquiring conference room information for identifying a teleconference of a connection target; a determining instruction of, by referring to particular information, determining whether there is an existing conference process executed by the program that is connected to a same teleconference identified by conference room information matching the conference room information acquired by the first acquiring instruction; and an audio processing instruction of performing at least one of first and second audio processes when there is no existing conference process in a new conference process without performing either the first or second audio process when there is the existing conference process, the first audio process relating to sound collected by a sound collector of the terminal apparatus, the second audio process relating to audio data received by a communicator of the terminal apparatus connected to the network. | 12-31-2015 |
20160014376 | Teleconference Information Insertion Method, Device and System | 01-14-2016 |
20160028996 | Teleconference System, Storage Medium Storing Program for Server Apparatus, and Storage Medium Storing Program for Terminal Apparatus - A program for teleconference includes a first storing instruction of storing conference information, terminal information, and process information in association with each other, an audio acquiring instruction of acquiring audio data transmitted from a first terminal apparatus through a session established with a first conference process executed by the first terminal apparatus in response to a connection request, and an audio transmission controlling instruction of transmitting the audio data through a session established with a second conference process executed by a second terminal apparatus identified by second terminal information without transmitting the audio data through a session established with a third conference process executed by the first terminal apparatus. The second conference process is identified by second process information associated with the second terminal information in the storage area. The third conference process is identified by third process information associated with the first terminal information in the storage area. | 01-28-2016 |
20160037129 | Method and Apparatus for Enhanced Caller ID - In one embodiment, a method is provided for handling a call from a conferencing endpoint configured to handle a conference between multiple participants. A request to call a participant is received from the conferencing endpoint. Information is inferred about a presence of one or more participants in the call, based on a detection of the one or more participants by presence detection equipment associated with the conferencing endpoint;. Additional call context information is determined based on the inferred information. The additional call context information is provided to the participant in addition to the call, wherein the additional call context information is accessible to the participant. | 02-04-2016 |
20160044279 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION OF LIVE STREAMING VIDEO FEEDS TO AND FROM VIDEO CALLERS DURING A VIDEO COLLABORATION SESSION - The technology disclosed further relates to distribution of live streaming sources during a video collaboration session. In particular, it relates to receiving or placing an outside call from or to at least one remote limited participant to be joined with an ongoing video collaboration session on a display wall that combines multiple live streaming sources, locating a template that identifies at least one live streaming source selected from the ongoing video collaboration session to transmit to the remote limited participant, and causing a copy of the selected live streaming source to be directed to the remote limited participant upon connection to the ongoing video collaboration session. | 02-11-2016 |
20160044280 | RESOURCE-ADAPTIVE VIDEO ENCODER SHARING IN MULTIPOINT CONTROL UNIT - Systems and methods of video conferencing, in which existing video encoders associated with a multipoint control unit (MCU) can be shared among conference participant devices, depending upon the availability of processor and/or memory resources for the MCU. In making decisions regarding the sharing of video encoders, the systems and methods take into account various parameters associated with potential conference participant devices and the total cost of the processor/memory resources for the MCU, to determine whether a video encoder of the MCU can be shared with, or allocated to, the respective conference participant devices. By determining whether to share or allocate a video encoder of the MCU, depending upon the available processor/memory resources for the MCU, the MCU can be made to operate with increased stability. The systems and methods can be applied to any application that sends the same content to multiple receivers, including announcement and video streaming applications. | 02-11-2016 |
20160065898 | METHOD FOR EXTENDING PARTICIPANTS OF MULTIPARTY VIDEO CONFERENCE SERVICE - Provided is a method of extending participants of a multilateral video conference service. The method includes: receiving, by a multipoint conference unit (MCU) gateway connected with an MCU through at least one physical port and connected with a plurality of terminals in a wired or wireless manner, information on a signal level of sound sensed by microphones provided in plurality of terminal devices from plurality of terminal devices, respectively, selecting, by MCU gateway, one terminal device among plurality of terminal devices as a speaking terminal device based on the received signal level, requesting, by MCU gateway, speaking terminal device to transmit speaking contents input into speaking terminal device and transmitting, by the MCU gateway, speaking contents received from speaking terminal device in response to transmission request to the MCU through at least one physical port. | 03-03-2016 |
20160080695 | Video Session Manager and Method for Enabling a Video Communication Session across Geographically Disparate Domains - A video session manager and method for enabling, optimizing, and managing inter-domain video communication sessions, including telepresence and videoconferencing sessions. The video session manager is configured to receive and analyze a video communication session request from one or more endpoints; to determine the viability of a communication session based on one or more attributes of the session; and to connect the one or more requesting endpoints to start the session. The video session manager is further configured to connect the one or more requesting endpoints via a bridging resource, such as a multipoint control unit, based on one or more considerations such as geography and transmission channel utilization. | 03-17-2016 |
20160094804 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING MESH CONTROL FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING BRIDGES AND CASCADING CONFERENCES - A videoconferencing system allows a distributed group of separately addressable multipoint controller signaling layer and multipoint controller application layer units to be logically combined for the purpose of managing a videoconference with a plurality of endpoints. In some embodiments, a primary multipoint controller signaling layer unit may identify other multipoint controller signaling layer units and multipoint controller application layer units to handle requests for joining an ongoing videoconferencing session, routing such requests to the other multipoint controller signaling layer units and multipoint controller application layer units as needed. | 03-31-2016 |
20160112675 | TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION TERMINAL, AND TRANSMISSION METHOD - There is provided a transmission system transmitting at least one of image data and audio data among a plurality of transmission terminals. A first transmission terminal includes a state detector that detects whether a user is present therearound, and a controller that controls to transmit correspondence data corresponding to a result detected by the state detector to a second transmission terminal when a state detected by the state detector changes. The second transmission terminal changes quality of at least one of the image data and the audio data that is transmitted to the first transmission terminal in accordance with the correspondence data and transmits at least one of the image data and the audio data when the second transmission terminal receives the correspondence data. | 04-21-2016 |
20160119583 | SEAMLESS ESCALATION OF MESH VIDEOCONFERENCES TO BRIDGED VIDEOCONFERENCES - Techniques allow seamless transitioning of a mesh-based videoconference to a bridged videoconference. Criteria are defined for use in a triggering point function that may be evaluated to determine whether to make the transition. Escalation logic in an escalation manager may be used to manage the transition, allowing some participants to connect via a multipoint control unit, which is in turn a participant in the mesh-based videoconference, with the escalation manager relaying media streams from the mesh-connected participants. The mesh-connected participants may then drop their mesh connections without disruption to the videoconference. Escalation logic in the endpoints may be used as an alternate to an escalation manager unit. | 04-28-2016 |
20160119584 | Call Processing Method and Gateway - A call processing method and a gateway are disclosed, where the gateway is configured to process a call between a multipoint control unit (MCU) and a terminal device. The method includes receiving, by the gateway, a call initiated by the terminal device; negotiating, by the gateway, with the terminal device, to establish a first call between the gateway and the terminal device and determine a media type of the first call; and adding the negotiated media type of the first call to a call established between the gateway and the MCU, where the media type of the first call is different from that of the established call. In this way, the negotiated media type of the call is added to the call established between the gateway and the MCU. | 04-28-2016 |
20160134838 | Automatic Switching Between Dynamic and Preset Camera Views in a Video Conference Endpoint - A video conference endpoint includes one or more cameras to capture video of different views and a microphone array to sense audio. One or more preset views are defined. The endpoint detects faces in the captured video and active audio sources from the sensed audio. The endpoint detects any active talker detected faces that coincide positionally with detected active audio sources, and also detects whether any active talker is in one of the preset views. Based on whether an active talker is detected in any of the preset views, the endpoint switches between capturing video of one of the preset views, and capturing video of a dynamic view. | 05-12-2016 |
20160134839 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A non-transitory computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process for synchronous display of a document for use at a conference on multiple terminals connected via a network and for transmission and reception of media data including at least one of audio data and video data. The process includes, in accordance with whether or not each of multiple users has a right to access a document selected by a first user on a first terminal, controlling content for display on multiple terminals used by the multiple users, and controlling transmission and reception of the media data between the first terminal and each of the multiple terminals. | 05-12-2016 |
20160156778 | Multi-Content Media Communications Method, Apparatus, and System | 06-02-2016 |
20160182859 | Distributed Audio Control Method, Device System, and Software Product | 06-23-2016 |
20160191852 | A METHOD FOR GENERATING AN IMMERSIVE VIDEO OF A PLURALITY OF PERSONS - A method for interfacing a plurality of videoconferencing client devices the method comprising, in a computer server ( | 06-30-2016 |
20160198124 | FACILITATING MULTI-PARTY CONFERENCES, INCLUDING ALLOCATING RESOURCES NEEDED FOR CONFERENCE WHILE ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS WITH PARTICIPANTS | 07-07-2016 |
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