Extended presence for video conferencing systems
Granted: December 11, 2012
Patent Number:
8330795
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…
Acoustic echo canceller clock compensation
Granted: November 27, 2012
Patent Number:
8320554
A conferencing endpoint uses acoustic echo cancellation with clock compensation. Receiving far-end audio to be output by a local loudspeaker, the endpoint performs acoustic echo cancellation so that the near-end audio capture by a microphone will lack echo of the far-end audio output from the loudspeaker. The converters for the local microphone and loudspeaker may have different clocks so that their sample rates differ. To assist the echo cancellation, the endpoint uses a clock…
Smart cropping of video images in a videoconferencing session
Granted: October 16, 2012
Patent Number:
8289371
Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling cropping areas of video images to match the allocated area associated with the image in a video conferencing layout. The disclosed methods can protect regions of interest from being cropped. A region of interest within a video image is identified to adjust the cropping in such a way that the region of interest is preserved within the cropped image. The region of interest may be identified based on motion detection or flesh tone detection,…
High resolution graphics side channel in video conference
Granted: October 2, 2012
Patent Number:
8279257
A videoconference system can automatically transmit first and second images from a local site to a remote site where the first image is a high-resolution live image and the second image may be transmitted either as a high-resolution live or still frame image. Two video streams representing the first and second images are transmitted together to the remote site within a single carrier channel. The second image is transmitted as a still image whenever the second image is static to conserve…
Tag-aware multipoint switching for conferencing
Granted: September 25, 2012
Patent Number:
8274543
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…
Automatic camera framing for videoconferencing
Granted: August 21, 2012
Patent Number:
8248448
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…
Method for creating a videoconferencing displayed image
Granted: August 21, 2012
Patent Number:
8248455
A user can design their own custom composed view for a videoconference depending on the users' individualized needs. The view can include segments (windows) in which participating conferees' video images are presented and accessory elements such as window borders, text, icons, and the like. The content of the accessory elements can be linked to events within the conference or the content of other objects within the view. A custom composed view for a video conference can be designed…
Ultrasonic camera tracking system and associated methods
Granted: August 21, 2012
Patent Number:
8249298
A camera tracking system includes a controllable camera, an array of microphones, and a controller. The microphones are positioned adjacent the controllable camera and are at least responsive to ultrasound emitted from a source. The microphones may additionally be capable of responding to sound in the audible spectrum. The controller receives ultrasound signals communicated from the microphones in response to ultrasound emitted from the source and processes the ultrasound signals to…
Computer program and methods for automatically initializing an audio controller
Granted: July 31, 2012
Patent Number:
8234573
A computer program of the type commonly known as a “wizard” is disclosed that initializes user interface software for controlling an audio conferencing device. The wizard allows the desired audio inputs (e.g., microphone, telephones, etc.) and audio outputs (speakers, recording devices, etc.) to be chosen by an audio system administrator. Thereafter, the wizard allows an audio conferencing device (or devices) to be chosen by the administrator, or allows such a device(s) to be…
Method and system for conducting continuous presence conferences
Granted: July 24, 2012
Patent Number:
8228363
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…
Delay reduction for transmission and processing of video data
Granted: July 17, 2012
Patent Number:
8223191
The present invention is a method and system for reducing delay in video communication, including, for example, video transcoding and continuous presence in a multipoint multimedia conference. The video communication control unit reduces such delay by processing a video stream in a small number of macroblocks referred to as “chunks,” without waiting to get a full frame of video data. Instead, the incoming video stream is converted into decoded chunks. These decoded chunks are…
Conference endpoint requesting and receiving billing information from a conference bridge
Granted: July 17, 2012
Patent Number:
8223942
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…
Handoff method in a wireless LAN in the presence of a radar signal
Granted: July 17, 2012
Patent Number:
8223715
A wireless local area communications network that includes one or more access points each of which may have associated wireless communications devices in communication with it over a plurality of channels, some of which may be shared with a radar signal. The wireless communications devices are able to roam from one access point to another access point, in the presence of the channels shared with radar, in a seamless manner or in a manner in which the current communications session is not…
Configuring videoconferencing systems to create video sessions with realistic presence
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8217981
Methods and apparatuses for automating the interface of different videoconferencing systems are disclosed. In brief, according to one or more embodiments according to the invention, a first method comprises, upon connection of two videoconferencing systems, information containing the number and type of screens in each system is exchanged, and this information is used to set up custom camera and/or display settings in each local system.
Videoconferencing network adapter detection using STUN protocol
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8217984
A network adapter detection is used to establish a videoconference between a videoconferencing unit and a remote endpoint. Information about a plurality of network adapters available for the videoconferencing application is obtained, and one or more test messages are sent to at least one open source server using each of one or more of the obtained network adapters. The videoconferencing unit than awaits a response to each of the one or more sent test messages from the at least one open…
System and method for exchanging connection information for videoconferencing units using e-mails
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8217986
A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first e-mail address. The first videoconferencing unit receives a second e-mail address and automatically sends a request e-mail requesting connection information to the second e-mail address. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second e-mail address. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request e-mail and automatically…
Method for creating a videoconferencing displayed image
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8217987
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…
System and method for using biometrics technology in conferencing
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8218829
A system and method are provided which utilize biometrics technology in a conference environment. A biometrics engine detects facial images of a user, generates biometrics of the detected facial images, and compares the generated biometrics with biometrics information of authorized users. If a match is found, then the user is authorized and is automatically logged into the conference network. Once logged in, conferences may be automatically established, the user may be tracked by at…
Stereo to mono conversion for voice conferencing
Granted: July 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8219400
Stereo to mono voice conferencing conversion is performed during a voice conference. Conferencing equipment receives audio for right and left channels and filters each of the channels into a plurality of bands. For each band of each channel, the equipment determines an energy level and compares each energy level for each band of the right channel to each energy level for each corresponding band of the left channel. Based on the comparison, the equipment determines which channel has more…
Distance learning via instructor immersion into remote classroom
Granted: June 26, 2012
Patent Number:
8208002
A distance learning scenario includes a local classroom having a local videoconferencing device communicating with a remote videoconferencing device at a remote classroom. A first local camera captures images of the local participants, a second local camera captures images of an instructor, and a local display screen displays images of remote participants. At the remote location, a first remote camera captures images of remote participants, a first remote display screen displays images…
