System and method for dynamically altering videoconference bit rates and layout based on participant activity
First Claim
1. A method of generating a dynamic graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference that reflects the participant'"'"'s level of activity during the videoconference, the method comprising:
- (a) creating a graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference;
(b) causing the display of the created graphical representation on a screen;
(c) determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference;
(d) determining a percentage of a total activity level represented by the determined level of activity by comparing the determined level of activity to a sum of all activity levels of all participants in the videoconference; and
(e) causing the displayed graphical representation of the participant to be altered to occupy a percentage of the total screen area equal to the percentage determined in step (d).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and Methods to transmit and simultaneously display all video streams in a video conference by dynamically adapting video streams based on audio volume of the participants include allocating an amount of bandwidth to a participant in a videoconference; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference, and changing the amount of bandwidth allocated to the participant responsive to the determined level of activity. In another aspect, a method for displaying video streams includes creating a graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference; displaying the created graphical representation; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference; and altering the displayed graphical representation of the participant responsive to the determined level of activity.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of generating a dynamic graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference that reflects the participant'"'"'s level of activity during the videoconference, the method comprising:
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(a) creating a graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference; (b) causing the display of the created graphical representation on a screen; (c) determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference; (d) determining a percentage of a total activity level represented by the determined level of activity by comparing the determined level of activity to a sum of all activity levels of all participants in the videoconference; and (e) causing the displayed graphical representation of the participant to be altered to occupy a percentage of the total screen area equal to the percentage determined in step (d). - 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 apparatus for generating a dynamic graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference that reflects the activity level of the participant during the videoconference, the apparatus comprising:
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an activity monitor for (i) determining a level of activity exhibited by a first participant during a videoconference and (ii) determining a percentage of a total activity level represented by the determined level of activity by comparing the determined level of activity to a sum of all activity levels of all participants in the videoconference; and a display engine, in communication with the activity monitor, for (i) causing the display of a graphical representation of the first participant on a screen and (ii) causing the displayed graphical representation of the first participant to be altered to occupy a percentage of the total screen area equal to the percentage determined by the activity monitor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of allocating bandwidth to participants in a videoconference, the method comprising:
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(a) allocating an amount of bandwidth to a participant in a videoconference; (b) determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference; (c) determining a percentage of a total activity level represented by the determined level of activity by comparing the determined level of activity to a sum of all activity levels of all participants in the videoconference; and (d) changing a percentage of the total available bandwidth allocated to the participant to be equal to the percentage determined in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus for allocating bandwidth to participants in a videoconference, the apparatus comprising:
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an activity monitor for (i) determining a level of activity exhibited by a local participant during a videoconference and (ii) determining a percentage of a total activity level represented by the determined level of activity by comparing the determined level of activity to a sum of all activity levels of all participants in the videoconference; and a network engine, in communication with the activity monitor, for (i) transmitting data to a remote participant in the videoconference and (ii) changing a percentage of the total available bandwidth consumed in transmitting the data to be equal to the percentage determined by the activity monitor. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification