System and method for performing distributed video conferencing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing distributed video conferencing, comprising:
- an audio bridge operable to receive audio data from a first and a second end point; and
a video bridge operable to receive video data from the first and second end points, wherein the first and second end points are operable to connect to a video conference, the audio bridge being operable to identify a size of a first and a second jitter buffer for the first and second end points respectively and to send audio data from the first and second end points to the first and second jitter buffers, the audio bridge being further operable to sum together outputs of the first and second jitter buffers to create a single mixed audio output stream, the audio bridge determining an input-to-output mapping for each input audio output stream to the mixed audio stream, whereby the audio bridge can communicate the mapping to the video bridge, the video bridge being operable to receive one or more video streams and to delay each of the video streams such that the mapping may be reproduced, the video bridge being operable to identify which of the video streams are arriving at a latest time and to delay all of the other video streams such that an input-to-output matching of each individual video stream is matched to the mapping of a corresponding audio stream, a mixed output video stream may be created by mixing the delayed video streams, whereby the mixed outputs from the audio bridge and the video bridge may be communicated back to each of the first and second end points such that the video conference is facilitated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing distributed video conferencing, comprising:
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an audio bridge operable to receive audio data from a first and a second end point; and
a video bridge operable to receive video data from the first and second end points, wherein the first and second end points are operable to connect to a video conference, the audio bridge being operable to identify a size of a first and a second jitter buffer for the first and second end points respectively and to send audio data from the first and second end points to the first and second jitter buffers, the audio bridge being further operable to sum together outputs of the first and second jitter buffers to create a single mixed audio output stream, the audio bridge determining an input-to-output mapping for each input audio output stream to the mixed audio stream, whereby the audio bridge can communicate the mapping to the video bridge, the video bridge being operable to receive one or more video streams and to delay each of the video streams such that the mapping may be reproduced, the video bridge being operable to identify which of the video streams are arriving at a latest time and to delay all of the other video streams such that an input-to-output matching of each individual video stream is matched to the mapping of a corresponding audio stream, a mixed output video stream may be created by mixing the delayed video streams, whereby the mixed outputs from the audio bridge and the video bridge may be communicated back to each of the first and second end points such that the video conference is facilitated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for performing distributed video conferencing, comprising:
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receiving audio data from a first and a second end point;
receiving video data from the first and second end points, wherein the first and second end points are operable to connect to a video conference;
identifying a size of a first and a second jitter buffer for the first and second end points respectively;
communicating audio data from the first and second end points to the first and second jitter buffers;
summing together outputs of the first and second jitter buffers to create a single mixed audio output stream;
determining an input-to-output mapping for each input audio output stream to the mixed audio stream;
receiving one or more video streams;
delaying one or more of the video streams such that the mapping may be reproduced;
identifying which of the video streams are arriving at a latest time and delaying all of the other video streams such that an input-to-output matching of each individual video stream is matched to the mapping of a corresponding audio stream; and
creating a mixed output video stream by mixing the delayed video streams, whereby the mixed outputs may be communicated back to each of the first and second end points such that the video conference is facilitated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for performing distributed video conferencing, comprising:
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means for receiving audio data from a first and a second end point;
means for receiving video data from the first and second end points, wherein the first and second end points are operable to connect to a video conference;
means for identifying a size of a first and a second jitter buffer for the first and second end points respectively;
means for communicating audio data from the first and second end points to the first and second jitter buffers;
means for summing together outputs of the first and second jitter buffers to create a single mixed audio output stream;
means for determining an input-to-output mapping for each input audio output stream to the mixed audio stream;
means for receiving one or more video streams;
means for delaying one or more of the video streams such that the mapping may be reproduced;
means for identifying which of the video streams are arriving at a latest time and delaying all of the other video streams such that an input-to-output matching of each individual video stream is matched to the mapping of a corresponding audio stream; and
means for creating a mixed output video stream by mixing the delayed video streams, whereby the mixed outputs may be communicated back to each of the first and second end points such that the video conference is facilitated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Software for performing distributed video conferencing, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:
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receive audio data from a first and a second end point;
receive video data from the first and second end points, wherein the first and second end points are operable to connect to a video conference;
identify a size of a first and a second jitter buffer for the first and second end points respectively;
communicate audio data from the first and second end points to the first and second jitter buffers;
sum together outputs of the first and second jitter buffers to create a single mixed audio output stream;
determine an input-to-output mapping for each input audio output stream to the mixed audio stream;
receive one or more video streams;
delay one or more of the video streams such that the mapping may be reproduced;
identify which of the video streams are arriving at a latest time and delaying all of the other video streams such that an input-to-output matching of each individual video stream is matched to the mapping of a corresponding audio stream; and
create a mixed output video stream by mixing the delayed video streams, whereby the mixed outputs may be communicated back to each of the first and second end points such that the video conference is facilitated. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification