System and method for high quality video conferencing with heterogeneous end-points and networks
First Claim
1. A method of negotiating media transmission modes in a multi-point video conference having heterogeneous end-points, comprising:
- determining a most efficient media codec supported by a first video conference a first end-point;
determining a most efficient media codec supported by a second video conference end-point;
transmitting and receiving media data to and from said first video conference endpoint encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said first video conference end-point;
transmitting and receiving media data to and from said second video conference end-point encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point;
translating media data encoded according to said most efficient codec supported by said first video conference end-point into media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point; and
translating media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point into media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said first video conference end-point.
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Abstract
The invention relates to improving the quality of media data in video conferences having end-points with heterogeneous capability sets. Transmission modes are negotiated based on the highest capability codecs supported by each respective end-point. Each end-point communicates data based on its individually negotiated transmission mode. Data translations are implemented as necessary to ensure that each end-point receives media data according to a transmission mode that it supports. Accordingly, all end-points in a multi-point video conference employ their most capable codecs, thereby greatly enhancing the overall media quality in multi-point video conferences having heterogeneous end-points.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of negotiating media transmission modes in a multi-point video conference having heterogeneous end-points, comprising:
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determining a most efficient media codec supported by a first video conference a first end-point;
determining a most efficient media codec supported by a second video conference end-point;
transmitting and receiving media data to and from said first video conference endpoint encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said first video conference end-point;
transmitting and receiving media data to and from said second video conference end-point encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point;
translating media data encoded according to said most efficient codec supported by said first video conference end-point into media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point; and
translating media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said second video conference end-point into media data encoded according to said most efficient media codec supported by said first video conference end-point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of establishing a multi-point video conference comprising:
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identifying a plurality of end-points participating in the conference;
providing a multi-point control unit for controlling media data flow within said video conference;
negotiating media transmission modes between each end-point and said multi-point control unit based on the most efficient media transmission mode supported by each end-point; and
transmitting media data between the multi-point control unit and each individual end-point among said plurality of endpoints according to the transmission mode negotiated between the multi-point control unit and each individual end-point. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of improving the media quality of a video conference that includes a constrained bandwidth communication segment comprising:
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receiving media data according to a first transmission mode at a first end of said constrained bandwidth communication segment;
translating said media data from said first transmission mode into a second, more bandwidth efficient transmission mode; and
transmitting said media data over said bandwidth constrained communication segment in said second more bandwidth efficient transmission mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A multi-point video conferencing system comprising:
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a plurality of video conference end-points;
a multi-point control unit connected to a portion of said plurality of end-points for transmitting and receiving media data to and from said end-points, said multi-point controller adapted to translate media data between media data transmission modes associated with the various end-points. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A multi-point control unit for multi-point video conferencing comprising:
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a media controller adapted to individually negotiate media data transmission modes between the multi-point control unit and each one of a plurality of video conference end-points based on the most efficient transmission mode supported by the multi-point control unit and each individual end-point; and
a media processor for routing media data between said individual end-points and translating said media data from a transmission mode negotiated with a first end-point into a transmission mode negotiated with a second end-point.
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23. A method of improving the quality of a video conference having heterogeneous endpoints and at least one communication segment having limited bandwidth capabilities, the method comprising:
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negotiating a high bit rate with endpoints supporting lower quality codecs;
translating media data encoded according to the lower quality codec into media data encoded according to a higher quality codec;
transmitting the data encoded according to the higher quality codec at a lower bit rate over the communication segment having limited bandwidth capabilities.
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Specification