Video conferencing over IP networks
First Claim
1. A method for communication, comprising:
- establishing communication links over a packet network between a server and plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference;
receiving at the server from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers;
mixing the audio data from the uplink audio packets at the server so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers;
transmitting from the server to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data;
relaying the video data from the server to the client computers in downlink video packets;
receiving and synchronizing the video data with the mixed audio data at the client computers; and
outputting the synchronized video and mixed audio data to a respective user of each of the client computers.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for communication includes establishing communication links over a packet network between a server and plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference. The server receives from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers. The server mixes the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers and transmits to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data. The server relays the video data to the client computers in downlink video packets. The client computers receive and synchronize the video data with the mixed audio data.
65 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for communication, comprising:
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establishing communication links over a packet network between a server and plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference; receiving at the server from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers; mixing the audio data from the uplink audio packets at the server so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers; transmitting from the server to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data; relaying the video data from the server to the client computers in downlink video packets; receiving and synchronizing the video data with the mixed audio data at the client computers; and outputting the synchronized video and mixed audio data to a respective user of each of the client computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. Communication apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of client computers, which are connected to communicate over a packet network and are configured to capture audio and video data and to transmit over the packet network uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain the audio and video data; and a conference server, which is coupled to establish communication links over the packet network with the client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference and to receive the uplink audio packets and uplink video packets over the communication links, and which is configured to mix the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers, and to transmit to the client computers downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data while relaying the video data from the uplink video packets to the client computers in downlink video packets, wherein the client computers are configured to synchronize the video data with the mixed audio data, and to output the synchronized video and mixed audio data to a respective user of each of the client computers. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A conference server, comprising:
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a network interface, which is coupled to establish communication links over a packet network with a plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference, and to receive from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers; and a processor, which is configured to mix the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers, and to transmit to the client computers via the network interface downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data while relaying the video data from the uplink video packets to the client computers in downlink video packets, for synchronization by the client computers with the mixed audio data.
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38-43. -43. (canceled)
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44. A computer software product, comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a server, cause the server to establish communication links over a packet network with a plurality of client computers that are to participate in a video teleconference, and to receive from the client computers uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by each of the client computers,
wherein the instructions cause the server to mix the audio data from the uplink audio packets so as to create respective streams of mixed audio data for transmission to the client computers, and to transmit to the client computers via the network interface downlink audio packets containing the respective streams of mixed audio data while relaying the video data from the uplink video packets to the client computers in downlink video packets, for synchronization by the client computers with the mixed audio data.
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45. (canceled)
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46. A client computer, comprising:
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a user interface; and a processor, which is configured to establish a communication link over a packet network with a conference server so as to participate in a video teleconference, and to transmit uplink audio packets and uplink video packets, which respectively contain audio and video data captured by the client computer, wherein the processor is configured to receive from the server downlink audio packets containing the a stream of mixed audio data generated by the server and to receive downlink video packets containing the video data transmitted by other client computers in the video teleconference, and to synchronize the video data with the mixed audio data for output via the user interface.
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47. (canceled)
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48. (canceled)
Specification