Method and apparatus for continuously Receiving images from a plurality of video channels and for alternately continuously transmitting to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual images containing information concerning each of said video channels

• US 20050286444A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exedra Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Exedra Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Chih-Lung, Kuo, Chen-Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for video conferencing. The method and apparatus continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and alternately continuously transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method and apparatus only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference.

Claims

1. A method for performing multipoint video conferencing comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a plurality of source pictures from a plurality of endpoints; and

(b) transmitting composite pictures at a variable rate, wherein the transmission of each composite picture is triggered by the receipt of a source picture from one or more of the source endpoints;

wherein said composite pictures represent composite images divided into image segments that (i) are associated with different ones of the source end points and (ii) contain the constituent images respectively represented by the source pictures from the source endpoints with which those image segments are associated.

2. The method of claim 2 wherein the composite picture generated from a source picture of type INTRA is:

(a) of picture type INTER; and

(b) formed by converting, through appropriate header modification, the source picture macroblocks into converted macroblocks of a type selected from a pair consisting of INTRA and INTRA+Q and inserting said converted macroblocks into the image segment of the composite picture associated with the source endpoint from which said source picture is received.

3. A multipoint control unit comprising:

(a) a first apparatus for receiving source pictures from a plurality of endpoints; and

(b) a second apparatus for transmitting composite pictures at a variable rate such that;

(i) the transmission of each composite picture is triggered by the receipt of a source picture from one or more of the source endpoints; and

(ii) said composite pictures represent composite images divided into image segments that;

(A) are associated with different ones of the source endpoints; and

(B) contain the constituent images respectively represented by the source pictures from the source endpoints with which those image segments are associated.

4. The multipoint control unit of claim 3 wherein the composite picture generated from a source picture of type INTRA is:

(a) of picture type INTER; and

(b) formed by converting, through appropriate header modification, the source picture macroblocks into converted macroblocks of a type selected from a pair consisting of INTRA and INTRA+Q and inserting said converted macroblocks into the image segment of the composite picture associated with the source endpoint from which said source picture is received.