Dynamically switched and static multiple video streams for a multimedia conference
First Claim
1. An end station for a conference, where the conference is managed via call control messages, where the conference includes participants and source video streams, and where the end station comprises:
- a controller configured to form a connection to the conference via exchanging a series of the call control messages with the conference, where the series includes at least one request that the conference send to the end station at least one video stream, where at least one of the requests specifies a video policy for the requested video stream, and where the video policy controls which of the source video streams are selected for the requested video stream;
a transmitter configured to send outgoing call control messages to the conference;
a receiver configured to receive incoming call control messages from the conference and to receive each of the requested video streams that are sent from the conference;
a decoder configured to decode each received video stream into a decoded video stream; and
a display configured to simultaneously display each decoded video stream.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An end station for a videoconference/multimedia conference is disclosed, where the end station requests, receives and displays multiple video streams. Call control messages request video streams with specified video policies. A static policy specifies a constant source video stream, e.g., a participant. A dynamic policy dynamically maps various source streams to a requested stream and shows, for example, the current speaker, or a round robin of participants. A network access device, e.g., a media switch or a video composition system, mediates between the multi-stream end station and the core conference system. Multi-stream endpoints need not handle the complexity of directly receiving video according to a potentially wide variety of call control protocols, formats, and bit-rates. Multi-stream endpoints decentralize compositing video streams, which increases functional flexibility and reduces the need for centralized equipment.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An end station for a conference, where the conference is managed via call control messages, where the conference includes participants and source video streams, and where the end station comprises:
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a controller configured to form a connection to the conference via exchanging a series of the call control messages with the conference, where the series includes at least one request that the conference send to the end station at least one video stream, where at least one of the requests specifies a video policy for the requested video stream, and where the video policy controls which of the source video streams are selected for the requested video stream;
a transmitter configured to send outgoing call control messages to the conference;
a receiver configured to receive incoming call control messages from the conference and to receive each of the requested video streams that are sent from the conference;
a decoder configured to decode each received video stream into a decoded video stream; and
a display configured to simultaneously display each decoded video stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An end station for a conference, where the conference is managed via call control messages, where the conference includes participants and source video streams, and where the end station comprises:
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means for forming a connection to the conference including means for exchanging a series of the call control messages with the conference, where the series includes at least one request that the conference send to the end station at least one video stream, where at least one of the requests specifies a video policy for each requested video stream, and where the video policy controls which of the source video streams are used for the requested video stream;
means for transmitting outgoing call control messages to the conference;
means for receiving incoming call control messages from the conference;
means for receiving each of the requested video streams that are sent from the conference;
means for decoding each received video stream into a decoded video stream; and
means for simultaneously displaying each decoded video streams.
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20. Computer readable media containing instructions that, when the instructions are executed by a system, control a process comprising:
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forming a connection to the conference including;
i) exchanging a series of the call control messages with the conference, where the series includes at least one request that the conference send to the end station at least one video stream; and
ii) specifying in the request a video policy for each requested video stream, where the video policy controls which of the source video streams are used for the requested video stream;
transmitting outgoing call control messages to the conference;
receiving each requested video stream from the conference;
receiving incoming call control messages from the conference;
decoding each requested video stream thereby generating a decoded video stream; and
displaying simultaneously each decoded video stream.
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21. A method of participating in a conference, where the conference is managed via call control messages, where the conference includes participants and source video streams, and where the method comprises:
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forming a connection to the conference including;
i) exchanging a series of the call control messages with the conference, where the series includes at least one request that the conference send to the end station at least one video stream; and
ii) specifying in at least one of the requests a video policy for at least one of the requested video streams, where the video policy controls which of the source video streams are used for the requested video stream;
transmitting outgoing call control messages to the conference;
receiving incoming call control messages from the conference;
receiving the requested video streams that are sent from the conference;
decoding each received video stream, thereby generating a decoded video stream; and
displaying simultaneously each decoded video stream. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification