Method and system for controlling multimedia video communication
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a video communication session whereby any of a plurality of users each using an endpoint can control a video control unit, each of the endpoints providing live video data to the video control unit, the method comprising:
- transmitting from the video control unit to a given user'"'"'s endpoint a video signal, wherein the video signal comprises a composite of the live video data from at least one of the plurality of endpoints and further comprises at least one representation of a control option;
inputting the given user'"'"'s request at the endpoint in response to the control option;
sending a control signal carrying the request from the given user'"'"'s endpoint to the video control unit; and
responding to the control signal at the video control unit by changing parameters of the video communication session.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a videoconference system is provided in which a conference can be controlled by an end user (e.g., a participant of the conference) without the assistance of an operator. In another embodiment, the end user is presented with a graphical feature on an image associated with an ongoing conference that links to a menu, which in turn links to routines for selecting various options that change the setup of the conference. In yet another embodiment, the parameters of the conference can be changed while the conference is ongoing. In a further embodiment, the conference control unit includes a menu generator. Any combination of the above embodiments can be used together in one embodiment.
66 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a video communication session whereby any of a plurality of users each using an endpoint can control a video control unit, each of the endpoints providing live video data to the video control unit, the method comprising:
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transmitting from the video control unit to a given user'"'"'s endpoint a video signal, wherein the video signal comprises a composite of the live video data from at least one of the plurality of endpoints and further comprises at least one representation of a control option; inputting the given user'"'"'s request at the endpoint in response to the control option; sending a control signal carrying the request from the given user'"'"'s endpoint to the video control unit; and responding to the control signal at the video control unit by changing parameters of the video communication session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising a control module configured to change parameters of a video communication session based on control signals from an endpoint of a video communication session user without assistance from an operator, the system comprising:
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at least one menu generator configured to generate video data for at least one menu having at least one option selectable by the user; and a video module configured to incorporate into a video signal a composite of live video data from at least one of the plurality of endpoints and the video data for the menu, and to transmit the video signal to an endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for a method for controlling a video control unit at an endpoint, the method comprising:
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transmitting from the video control unit to a given user'"'"'s endpoint a video signal, wherein the video signal comprises a composite of the live video data from at least one of the plurality of endpoints and further comprises at least one representation of a control option; inputting the given user'"'"'s request at the endpoint in response to the control option; receiving at the video control unit a control signal from the endpoint in response to the control option; and responding to the control signal at the video control unit by changing parameters of the video communication session.
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32. A method for interfacing between a plurality of endpoints and a video control unit in a video communication session, comprising:
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generating at the video conferencing unit a video signal comprising a composite of live video data from at least one of the plurality of endpoints and video data indicative of at least one representation of a control option; transmitting the video signal to the plurality of endpoints; and displaying the at least one option at the plurality of end point to in a manner that is selectable by the users of the endpoints.
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Specification