Method and system for dispatching received sessions between a plurality of instances of an application using the same IP port
Granted: September 30, 2014
Patent Number:
8849972
A logical module, referred as Load Balancer Module (LBM), is disclosed which listens to one of certain common predefined port number. These well-known ports for receiving communication video conference signaling and control protocols is thereafter load balanced and multi-plexed to a number of instances of protocol stack applications. By balancing the multi-media data stream across a multitude of application instances multiple multi-media data streams may be serviced and processed by a…
Speakerphone peripheral
Granted: September 30, 2014
Patent Number:
D714258
System and method for controlling one or more multipoint control units as one multipoint control unit
Granted: September 23, 2014
Patent Number:
8843550
A system for controlling multiple multipoint control units (MCUs) with a single apparatus is disclosed. The system utilizes a Virtual MCU (VMCU) to communicate with a plurality of MCUs. A user initiates a reserve conference command with the VMCU. If sufficient resources are available, the reservation is made and connection numbers are assigned. When the time for the conference arises, an MCU is assigned to the conference. The participants are then connected to the conference. By using a…
Videoconferencing system having adjunct camera for auto-framing and tracking
Granted: September 23, 2014
Patent Number:
8842161
A videoconference apparatus and method coordinates a stationary view obtained with a stationary camera to an adjustable view obtained with an adjustable camera. The stationary camera can be a web camera, while the adjustable camera can be a pan-tilt-zoom camera. As the stationary camera obtains video, faces of participants are detected, and a boundary in the view is determined to contain the detected faces. Absence and presences of motion associated with the detected face is used to…
Scalable audio in a multi-point environment
Granted: September 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8831932
Use of a scalable audio codec to implement distributed mixing and/or sender bit rate regulation in a multipoint conference is disclosed. The scalable audio codec allows the audio signal from each endpoint to be split into one or more frequency bands and for the transform coefficients within such bands to be prioritized such that usable audio may be decoded from a subset of the entire signal. The subset may be created by omitting certain frequency bands and/or by omitting certain…
Control unit for multipoint multimedia/audio system
Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number:
8805928
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…
Videoconferencing system with enhanced telepresence using a single wide aspect ratio camera
Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number:
8797376
A videoconferencing system for enhanced telepresence employs a single wide aspect ratio high resolution camera for capturing video images of near end conference participants. Captured video image can be divided into adjacent portions, where video images corresponding to each portion is separately encoded and sent to a far end videoconferencing system to be displayed on adjacently placed display devices. Misalignment in displayed images at the far end can be mitigated by selecting…
Tag-aware multipoint switching for conferencing
Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number:
8797375
Conferencing methods and systems are disclosed wherein tags are associated with conferencing endpoints. The tags provide information enabling a decision-making entity to determine the preferability of one or more processing aspects of the endpoints. In a multipoint conference a tag can allow a decision making entity such as an MCU to determine the most appropriate mode for rendering video or other signals sent from a tagged endpoint. The tag itself can indicate the most appropriate mode…
Motion wake identification and control mechanism
Granted: July 15, 2014
Patent Number:
8780970
The present invention provides a system and method for detecting macroblocks of a video frame that are located in one or more motion wake regions of the video frame. In one embodiment, a motion wake engine is configured to select a subset of macroblocks comprising non-peripherally located macroblocks selected to be inter-coded with motion vector magnitudes less than a predetermined motion vector threshold. Then, the motion wake engine identifies which macroblocks of the subset of…
Background compression and resolution enhancement technique for video telephony and video conferencing
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8773498
An image processing system processes images such that a proportion of area of regions of interest within the image can be increased at the expense of regions of lesser interest. First, regions of interest, such as portions of the image including participants, are determined. Then compressible background regions are determined and compressed. This results in the proportion of the area of the regions of interest to increase. After the image is stored or transmitted, the regions of interest…
Integrated system for telepresence videoconferencing
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8773495
An integrated videoconferencing system has a credenza that houses three displays at predefined angles with respect to one another. A table positions in from the credenza for seating participants across from the credenza's displays. The table has three seating sections that are angled at another predefined angle with respect to one another. Three cameras are positioned in the top of the credenza, and each has a view angle directed perpendicularly at one of the seating sections. The table…
Conference unit controlling room functions
Granted: July 1, 2014
Patent Number:
8767032
Methods and devices for controlling room function devices from a single conference unit. A conference unit can be a video conference unit or a speakerphone. Controlled devices may include external loudspeakers, microphones, room function controllers, powered doors, powered windows, powered window shades or blinders, video screens etc. The connections between devices may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both.
Method and system for switching between video streams in a continuous presence conference
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8760492
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…
Automated calendared conference rescheduling and forwarding
Granted: June 3, 2014
Patent Number:
8743171
Systems and methods are disclosed to automatically rescheduling and optionally transferring audio/video conferences when a conference runs longer than its previously allocated time. The disclosed relocation process incorporates one or more of a plurality of input sources such as electronic calendars, face/voice recognition systems, proximity systems, enterprise maps, and/or resource databases to assist in schedule adjustments. For example, if it is determined a meeting is running long…
Methods and system for simulated 3D videoconferencing
Granted: May 27, 2014
Patent Number:
8736660
A system and method for manipulating images in a videoconferencing session provides users with a 3-D-like view of one or more presented sites, without the need for 3-D equipment. A plurality of cameras may record a room at a transmitting endpoint, and the receiving endpoint may select one of the received video streams based upon a point of view of a conferee at the receiving endpoint. The conferee at the receiving endpoint will thus experience a 3-D-like view of the presented site.
Node device cooperating with switch which implements zones in a fibre channel system
Granted: May 20, 2014
Patent Number:
8730840
In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by Fiber Channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are…
One glass fiber with high strength and high modulus
Granted: April 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8703633
A high-intensity and high-modulus glass fiber is provided. Said fiber is produced by improving the processes, components and proportion of conventional E-glass production process and apparatus. The fiber contains 13% CaO at most, no boron and fluorine, meanwhile ZrO2 and Li2O is first added, B2O3 is first removed, and SO3 is added. The intensity and the modulus of the fiber are slightly lower than those of S-glass or T-glass, but obviously higher than those of E-glass and ECR-glass which…
Multimedia communication control unit as a secure device for multimedia communication between LAN users and other network users
Granted: April 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8706893
A system and method for providing multimedia communication between a firewall protected, LAN based endpoint and an endpoint that is external to the LAN. A logical port of a multimedia communications control unit is attached to the LAN behind the firewall. Another logical port of the multimedia communications control unit is attached to the external endpoint. Multimedia communication data, consisting of call management data and media data, can be exchanged between the endpoints via the…
Speakerphone and conference bridge which receive and provide participant monitoring information
Granted: April 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8705719
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various…
Method and system for creating a continuous presence video-conference
Granted: April 22, 2014
Patent Number:
8704871
One or more horizontal stripes are defined in a continuous presence video conferencing image, comprising one or more segments of the video image. The horizontal stripes may have different heights. A horizontal stripe builder associated with a continuous presence videoconferencing port composes and compresses the horizontal stripe from two or more video images received from a plurality of endpoints of the video conferencing system. A continuous presence image stream generator organizes…
