Adjusting a media stream in a video communication system based on participant count

• US 10,284,616 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lindberg, Jonas Erik, Uberti, Justin Russell, Bennett, David Scrymgeour
• Primary Examiner(s): Barry, Lance Leonard
• Application Number:
  US14/466,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

An example method includes receiving, by the computing device, a first video stream from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to each client device of the plurality of client devices. The method further includes detecting a participant count associated with the first client device based on the first video stream from the first client device and based on the participant count associated with the first client device, adjusting the first video stream. The method further includes receiving a second video stream from a second client device of the plurality of client devices and adjusting at least one of video stream display size or video stream resolution of the second video stream. The method further includes sending the adjusted first video stream and the adjusted second video stream to at least one client device of the plurality of client devices.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computing device having at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a first video stream from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to each client device of the plurality of client devices;

detecting, by the computing device, a participant count associated with the first client device based on the first video stream from the first client device;

based on the participant count associated with the first client device, adjusting, by the computing device, the first video stream wherein the adjusting comprises one of;

if the participant count is greater than one, increasing one or more of a display size and a resolution of the first video stream to add perceivable detail to the first video stream; and

if the participant count is one, reducing the display size of the first video stream;

receiving, by the computing device, a second video stream from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

adjusting, by the computing device, at least one of video stream display size or video stream resolution of the second video stream such that a difference in perceivable detail between the adjusted second video stream and the adjusted first video stream is minimized; and

sending, by the computing device, the adjusted first video stream and the adjusted second video stream to at least one client device of the plurality of client devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a changed participant count associated with the first client device; and

readjusting the adjusted first video stream based at least in part on the changed participant count.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device includes performing facial detection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device comprises receiving one or more notifications from the first client device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computing device, that a physical proximity between the first client device and the second client device is suited to a peer-to-peer connection; and

based on the determination, establishing, by the computing device, the peer-to-peer connection between the first client device and the second client device, wherein the peer-to-peer connection enables the first client device and the second client device to communicate directly with each other.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting at least one of the first video stream or the second video stream is based at least in part on a user request received from one of the plurality of client devices.

7. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a network interface operable to receive a first video stream from a first client device of a plurality of client devices and a second video stream from a second client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein the system is communicatively coupled to each client device of the plurality of client devices and is operable to send an adjusted video stream to at least one client device of the plurality of client devices; and

a non-transitory storage device with a video management module stored thereon, the video management module including software instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

receiving a first video stream from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, wherein the system is communicatively coupled to each client device of the plurality of client devices;

detecting a participant count associated with the first client device based on the first video stream from the first client device;

based on the participant count associated with the first client device, adjusting the first video stream wherein the adjusting comprises one of;

if the participant count is greater than one, increasing one or more of a display size and a resolution of the first video stream to add perceivable detail to the first video stream; and

if the participant count is one, reducing the display size of the first video stream;

receiving a second video stream from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

adjusting at least one of video stream display size or video stream resolution of the second video stream such that a difference in perceivable detail between the adjusted second video stream and the adjusted first video stream is minimized; and

sending the adjusted first video stream and the adjusted second video stream to at least one client device of the plurality of client devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a changed participant count associated with the first client device; and

readjusting the adjusted first video stream based at least in part on the changed participant count.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device includes performing facial detection.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device comprises receiving one or more notifications from the first client device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that a physical proximity between the first client device and the second client device is suited to a peer-to-peer connection; and

based on the determination, establishing the peer-to-peer connection between the first client device and the second client device, wherein the peer-to-peer connection enables the first client device and the second client device to communicate directly with each other.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein adjusting at least one of the first video stream or the second video stream is based at least in part on a user request received from one of the plurality of client devices.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a system, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving a first video stream from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, wherein the system is communicatively coupled to each client device of the plurality of client devices;

detecting a participant count associated with the first client device based on the first video stream from the first client device;

based on the participant count associated with the first client device, adjusting the first video stream wherein the adjusting comprises one of;

if the participant count is greater than one, increasing one or more of a display size and a resolution of the first video stream to add perceivable detail to the first video stream; and

if the participant count is one, reducing the display size of the first video stream;

receiving a second video stream from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

adjusting at least one of video stream display size or video stream resolution of the second video stream such that a difference in perceivable detail between the adjusted second video stream and the adjusted first video stream is minimized; and

sending the adjusted first video stream and the adjusted second video stream to at least one client device of the plurality of client devices.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a changed participant count associated with the first client device; and

readjusting the adjusted first video stream based at least in part on the changed participant count.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device includes performing facial detection.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the participant count associated with the first client device comprises receiving one or more notifications from the first client device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that a physical proximity between the first client device and the second client device is suited to a peer-to-peer connection; and

based on the determination, establishing the peer-to-peer connection between the first client device and the second client device, wherein the peer-to-peer connection enables the first client device and the second client device to communicate directly with each other.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein adjusting at least one of the first video stream or the second video stream is based at least in part on a user request received from one of the plurality of client devices.