Speakerphone
Granted: June 24, 2008
Patent Number:
D571776
Media role management in a video conferencing network
Granted: May 13, 2008
Patent Number:
7373379
According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or…
System and method for optimal transmission of a multitude of video pictures to one or more destinations
Granted: April 1, 2008
Patent Number:
7352809
A system and method for optimal transmission of a multitude of video pictures consisting of end video encoders wherein more than one encoder is utilized. The system and method improve the image quality of a broadband image comprised of a plurality of images by generating a new bit rate encoder based upon a prior bit rate as determined by a bit rate determiner, thereby managing the distribution of available bandwidth.
Automated call launching
Granted: April 1, 2008
Patent Number:
7353251
According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for automated call launching in a call conferencing network. The system includes computer executable code for sharing information among a plurality of multipoint conference units, so that a remote user may, from a web site for example, initiate a conference call from one of the multipoint conference units. Using distributed code, a user's call request initiates a search of the network for a…
Conference link between a speakerphone and a video conference unit
Granted: March 4, 2008
Patent Number:
7339605
A conference link between devices in teleconference system at one site is disclosed. The linked devices include video conference units, speakerphones or stand-alone loudspeakers. Audio data can be transmitted through the conference link between devices. Audio data processing can be performed in either a video conference unit or a speakerphone. The microphones and loudspeakers in the video conference unit may be eliminated. The microphones and loudspeakers in the speakerphone are used.…
System and method for dynamic bandwidth allocation for videoconferencing in lossy packet switched networks
Granted: January 8, 2008
Patent Number:
7317685
A system and method for adjusting a video bit rate (VBR) over a network includes reducing the VBR if the network incurs a packet loss (PL) that is greater than a PL threshold; increasing the VBR if the PL is less than or equal to the PL threshold over a maximum integer number of time intervals; and increasing the maximum integer number of time intervals if the PL is greater than the packet loss threshold at the increased VBR. In addition, the VBR is increased over consecutive time…
System and method for providing reservationless conferencing
Granted: December 18, 2007
Patent Number:
7310320
A video teleconferencing method for providing reservationless conferencing. The method involves creating a conference profile identifying selected connection parameters; allocating a dial-in number; notifying participants of the dial-in number; detecting a call from a requesting participant; determining if sufficient resources for the participant are available; and connecting the requesting participant into the reservationless conference. Additionally, the video teleconferencing method…
Method of prepregging with resin and novel prepregs produced by such method
Granted: November 20, 2007
Patent Number:
7297740
Disclosed is a process of forming a prepreg material having substantially no voids. According to the process of the invention, the reinforcing material is heated to a temperature above the temperature of the impregnating resin. The prepreg formed has substantially no voids and does not require lengthy consolidation when formed into useful articles.
Adaptive filter to improve H-264 video quality
Granted: October 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7289562
A method for reducing or eliminating coding artifacts in video pictures processed using intra block prediction methods, for example, according to the H.264 standard. The causes of the coding artifacts are identified to be the intra prediction modes with prediction directions that are not in the direction of the raster scan. Filtering the affected blocks with a simple one-dimensional spatial filter will reduce or even eliminate these coding artifacts.
Method and apparatus for improving nuisance signals in audio/video conference
Granted: September 11, 2007
Patent Number:
7269252
A system to allow a conferee defined as a nuisance source to respond to an automatic nuisance decision of a Multipoint Control Unit is disclosed. For example, a conferee placing a conference on hold may generate on hold music, which may be identified by a nuisance detector. The nuisance detector sends an indication of the nuisance condition to a control unit in the MCU. The control unit mutes the signal coming from this conferee and sends an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) message to…
Video coding using multiple buffers
Granted: August 7, 2007
Patent Number:
7253831
There is provided herein a system for video encoding and decoding that uses short-term and long-term buffers. Reconstruction of each block within an image may be performed with reference to one of the buffers, so that different portions of an image, or different images in a sequence, may be reconstructed using different buffers. There is also provided herein systems for signaling, between an encoder and a decoder, the use of the above buffers and related address information. The encoder…
Method and an apparatus for mixing compressed video
Granted: July 17, 2007
Patent Number:
7245660
A system for controlling a conference that takes input streams from a variety of sources, at least some of the streams having a relatively low-resolution, and composes the input streams into a single output stream of a relatively high-resolution. In doing the conversion the system takes intra Macro Blocks (MBs) of the input stream and produces inter output frames. As part of the conversion process, the system converts the Groups Of Blocks (GOBs) that have GOB headers into slices.
System and method for video error concealment
Granted: July 3, 2007
Patent Number:
7239662
The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system encodes, reorders, and packetizes video information into video data packets for transmission over a communication network such that the system conceals errors caused by lost video data packets when the system receives, depacketizes, orders, and decodes the data packets. In one embodiment, the system and method encodes and packetizes video information, such that adjacent…
System and method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference
Granted: June 5, 2007
Patent Number:
7227938
A system and method for dynamically establishing optimum audio quality in an audio conference is disclosed. A connection with one or more remote communication devices is initially established. An available data rate associated with the connection is then determined. Next, a bandwidth is assigned based on the available data rate. Finally, the assigned bandwidth is adjusted according to the available data rate.
Method and apparatus for wideband conferencing
Granted: May 22, 2007
Patent Number:
7221663
A method and apparatus for wideband voice and optional data conferencing over a telecommunications network channel between at least two wideband communications devices. An exemplary method comprises establishing an audio link, verifying wideband capability between the at least two wideband communications devices, training modems of the at least two wideband communications device to line conditions, and adjusting the telecommunications connection line conditions between the communications…
Filtering artifacts from multi-threaded video
Granted: April 17, 2007
Patent Number:
7206016
There is provided herein a system for reducing artifacts associated with multi-threaded video coding. The system generates a virtual thread from the multi-threaded data. The virtual thread combines the multi-thread data with estimates of virtual thread data in a manner that variably weights the combination according to motion information decoded from the multi-thread. A post-processing system is described that generates a single, virtual thread of video data, based upon image and motion…
Microphone isolation system
Granted: February 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7182324
A microphone isolation system. The system includes an isolation member, a support member, and at least two compliant members. The at least two compliant members mechanically support the isolation member and isolate the isolation member from vibrations. The at least two compliant members can also isolate the support member from any vibratory excitation source coupled to and/or supported by the isolation member.
System and method for controlling one or more multipoint control units as one multipoint control unit
Granted: February 6, 2007
Patent Number:
7174365
A video teleconferencing system for controlling multiple multipoint control units (MCU) from a single apparatus. The system utilizes a Virtual MCU (VMCU) (110) to communicate with a plurality of MCUs (135, 140, 145). A user initiates a reserve conference command with the VMCU (110). If sufficient resources are available, the reservation is made and connection numbers are assigned. When the time for the conference arises, an MCU (135, 140, 145) is assigned to the conference. The…
Method and apparatus for inserting variable audio delay to minimize latency in video conferencing
Granted: January 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7170545
A method and apparatus to insert variable audio delay during video conferencing to achieve conflicting goals of lip-sync and interactive conversation. The amount of audio delay is variable according to the condition of the videoconferencing: long audio delay is inserted to achieve lip-sync between audio and video playback during monologue speech, but minimum or no audio delay is inserted during interactive discussion or argument. Variable audio playback speeds may be used instead of…
System and method for device co-location discrimination
Granted: January 30, 2007
Patent Number:
7171329
A system and method for determining if a first and second device are co-located includes first and second sensors for receiving a sample signal. Each sensor is coupled to the first and second devices. The first and second devices each responsively generate a first and second signal representing the sampled signal. Also included is a transmission device located at the first device for transmitting the first signal to the second device and a receiving device located at the second device…
