Video conferencing system and method
First Claim
1. A video conference system configured to provide video conferencing over wireless communication links for portable devices, the system comprising:
- a network having wireless access points;
a plurality of client devices in communication with the network, at least one of the plurality of client devices in communication with the network using a wireless communication link to one of the wireless access points, the at least one of the plurality of client devices configured to process a video and audio stream to generate a packetized video and audio stream, the at least one of the plurality of client devices wirelessly transmitting the packetized video and audio stream as video conference session data to the network, the at least one of the plurality of client devices further configured to receive a packetized remote video and audio stream from the network;
a billing system management application (BSMA) server connected to the network and in communication with the at least one of the plurality of client devices, the BSMA server configured to authenticate the plurality of client devices, communicate call requests from a source device to a destination device, initiate a video conference session between the source device and the destination device, and determine a bill for the video conference session between the source device and the destination device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high quality video conference system enables remote video conferencing over wireless communication links. A portable client device is configured to capture video and audio streams, encode them, and transmit them to a remote client device using a wireless communication link. Multiple video coding algorithms can be implemented in the client device and one of the algorithms chosen for a particular video conference session. One or more destination devices can simultaneously video conference with a client device. Multiple servers manage the high speed communication network. The servers authenticate users and manage video conference sessions, including the initiation and termination of sessions.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A video conference system configured to provide video conferencing over wireless communication links for portable devices, the system comprising:
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a network having wireless access points;
a plurality of client devices in communication with the network, at least one of the plurality of client devices in communication with the network using a wireless communication link to one of the wireless access points, the at least one of the plurality of client devices configured to process a video and audio stream to generate a packetized video and audio stream, the at least one of the plurality of client devices wirelessly transmitting the packetized video and audio stream as video conference session data to the network, the at least one of the plurality of client devices further configured to receive a packetized remote video and audio stream from the network;
a billing system management application (BSMA) server connected to the network and in communication with the at least one of the plurality of client devices, the BSMA server configured to authenticate the plurality of client devices, communicate call requests from a source device to a destination device, initiate a video conference session between the source device and the destination device, and determine a bill for the video conference session between the source device and the destination device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A video conferencing device for use in a wireless video conferencing system where the video conferencing device communicates with a network over a wireless communication link, the device comprising:
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a video encoder configured to receive a video stream and generate an encoded video stream by selectively encoding the video stream using one of a plurality of video encoding algorithms;
a video packetizer coupled to the video encoder and configured to packetize the encoded video stream to generate a packetized video stream;
an audio encoder configured to receive an audio stream and generate an encoded audio stream by encoding the audio stream using an audio encoding algorithm;
an audio packetizer coupled to the audio encoder and configured to packetize the encoded audio stream to generate a packetized audio stream;
a transmit stream controller coupled to the video packetizer and the audio packetizer, the transmit stream controller configured to wirelessly transmit the packetized video stream and packetized audio stream to the network at a rate greater than 2 Mbps for delivery to a destination device in wireless communication with the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A video conference server for managing video conference sessions in a wireless video conference system where each of a plurality of client devices communicates with the video conference server over wireless communication links, the video conference server comprising:
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a session manager configured to control initialization and termination of a video conference session between a first client device in wireless communication with a network and a second client device in wireless communication with the network;
a billing manager in communication with the session manager, the billing server configured to determine a bill for the video conference session, following termination of the video conference session between the first client device and the second client device, in response to a billing request message from the session manager;
a database in communication with the session manager and the billing manager, the database configured to store user account data and video conference session entries;
a heartbeat manager in communication with the database, the heartbeat manager configured to receive a heartbeat signal transmitted by a source device engaged in an active video conference session and further configured to update a heartbeat entry in the database in response to receiving the heartbeat signal; and
a session monitor daemon in communication with the session manager, the session monitor daemon configured to periodically determine a status of the heartbeat signal transmitted by the source device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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40. A method of videoconferencing using wireless communication links, the method comprising:
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capturing a local video stream;
encoding the local video stream according to a first encoding algorithm;
capturing a local audio stream;
encoding the local audio stream;
generating a local packetized stream comprising the encoded local video stream and encoded local audio stream, both configured according to a Real Time Protocol (RTP);
wirelessly transmitting the local packetized stream;
wirelessly receiving a remote packetized stream comprising an encoded remote video stream and an encoded remote audio stream;
decoding the encoded remote video stream to produce a remote video stream;
decoding the remote audio stream to produce a remote audio stream;
resynchronizing the remote video stream to the remote audio stream;
displaying the remote video stream; and
outputting the remote audio stream.
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47. A method of video conferencing using wireless communication links, the method comprising:
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wirelessly receiving from a network access point a call request message transmitted by a remote device;
wirelessly transmitting an acceptance message;
initiating a lecture mode, wherein initiating the lecture mode comprises;
receiving a remote video stream transmitted by the remote device;
receiving a remote audio stream transmitted by the remote device;
displaying the remote video stream;
outputting the remote audio stream; and
inhibiting transmission of a local video stream and a local audio stream. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of video conferencing using wireless communication links, the method comprising:
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wirelessly receiving from a network access point a call request message transmitted by a remote device;
wirelessly transmitting a rejection message; and
storing in memory a video stream transmitted by the remote device in response to the rejection message.
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68. A method of multiple concurrent video conferencing using wireless communication links to a network, the method comprising:
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initiating a first video conference session between a first client device, in wireless communication with a first access point of the network, and a second client device in wireless communication with a second access point of the network;
wirelessly transmitting a first packetized video stream from the first client device to the network including an address for delivery to the second client device;
wirelessly receiving, at the first client device, a second packetized video stream from the network, the second packetized video stream transmitted by the second client device;
initiating a second video conference session between the first client device and a third client device in wireless communication with a third access point of the network;
wirelessly transmitting the first packetized video stream from the first client device to the network including an address for delivery to the third client device;
wirelessly receiving a third packetized video stream from the network, the third packetized video stream transmitted by the third client device;
initiating a third video conference session between the second client device and the third client device;
wirelessly transmitting, from the second client device, the second packetized video stream from the second client device to the network including an address for delivery to the third client device;
wirelessly receiving, at the second client device, the third packetized video stream from the network, the third packetized video stream transmitted by the third client device;
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Specification