Method and apparatus for video conferencing having dynamic picture layout

• US 20060158510A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tandberg Telecom AS (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lia, Tom Erik, Aalerud, Bjorn, Nilsen, Geir Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,932,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conferencing dynamically determines conference parameters such as image layout, image resolution and bandwidth. The conference parameters are dynamically determined based on the number of participants or video sources or both that currently connect to the conference. Video signals received from connected sites are processed to provide a composite video signal according to defined conference parameters and the composite video signal is transmitted to the connected sites. Upon one or more other sites connecting to the conference or one or more of the connected sites disconnecting from the conference or both, such that the number of sites or sources currently connected in the conference changes, one or more conference parameters is redefined. The received video signals are processed according to the redefined conference parameters to provide a second composite video signal that is transmitted to the connected sites. The conference parameters include composite image layout, image resolution, and conference bandwidth rate.

Claims

1. A method of conferencing comprising:

connecting three or more sites to a conference;

receiving video signals from the connected sites;

processing the received video signals to provide a composite video signal according to a defined composite image layout based on the number of sites connected in the conference or the number of received video signals or both;

;

transmitting the composite video signal to at least one of the connected sites;

further comprising upon at least one of the connected sites or at least one video signal disconnecting from the conference or at least one other site or at least one other video signal connecting to the conference, redefining the composite image layout based on the number of sites currently connected in the conference or the number of video signals currently being received;

processing the received video signals to provide a second composite video signal according to the redefined composite image layout; and

transmitting the second composite video signal to at least one of the connected sites.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein defining a composite image layout includes defining a layout that has four areas for a conference having four or fewer received video signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein defining a composite image layout includes defining a layout that has nine areas for a conference having between five and nine received video signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein defining a composite image layout includes defining a layout that has sixteen areas for a conference having greater than nine received video signals.

5. A multipoint control unit for conferencing, the multipoint control unit comprising:

an interface unit for receiving video signals from at least two sites connected in a conference;

a control processor for dynamically defining image resolution based on the number of sites connected in the conference and/or the number of received video signals; and

a video processor for processing the received video signals to provide a composite video signal according to the defined image resolution.

6. The multipoint control unit of claim 5 wherein the control processor defines the image resolution by selecting the highest common image format for image clarity.

7. The multipoint control unit of claim 5 wherein the control processor defines the image resolution by selecting the highest common image format for image motion.