Automatic video switching for multimedia conferencing
First Claim
1. A system for changing transmission of a video stream comprising:
- a stream monitor configured to receive a plurality of video streams that comprise a video conference including a first and a second video stream, and monitor the second video stream to determine whether a designated video event has occurred in the second video stream; and
a stream transmitter configured to transmit the first video stream, and to transmit the second video stream in response to a determination that the designated video event has occurred in the second video stream, wherein the second video stream is transmitted in place of or simultaneously with the first video stream; and
wherein the video stream is dynamically selected for transmission, the plurality of video streams each further comprises an audio stream, and wherein the stream monitor is further configured to monitor each audio stream of the plurality of video streams for a designated audio event, and dynamically select the first video stream for transmission based on detection of the designated audio event.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
After a video conference is established, a video conferencing system receives a video stream from the participants of the video conference. One of the received video streams is transmitted to the conference participants (e.g. the video stream of the person currently speaking). The video conferencing system monitors a second one (or typically all) of the received video streams to determine if a designated video event (e.g. someone raising his hand) has occurred. If the designated video event has occurred, the video conferencing system switches or supplements the currently transmitted video stream to or with the second one of the received video streams that contains the designated video event. The second video stream is then transmitted to participants in the video conference. The switching of the video stream and the switching of the audio stream may be independent.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for changing transmission of a video stream comprising:
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a stream monitor configured to receive a plurality of video streams that comprise a video conference including a first and a second video stream, and monitor the second video stream to determine whether a designated video event has occurred in the second video stream; and a stream transmitter configured to transmit the first video stream, and to transmit the second video stream in response to a determination that the designated video event has occurred in the second video stream, wherein the second video stream is transmitted in place of or simultaneously with the first video stream; and
wherein the video stream is dynamically selected for transmission, the plurality of video streams each further comprises an audio stream, and wherein the stream monitor is further configured to monitor each audio stream of the plurality of video streams for a designated audio event, and dynamically select the first video stream for transmission based on detection of the designated audio event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for changing transmission of a video stream comprising:
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receiving, at a stream monitor, a plurality of video streams that comprise a video conference; transmitting, from a stream transmitter, a first video stream of the plurality of video streams; monitoring a second video stream of the plurality of video streams to determine if a designated video event has occurred in the second video stream; and responsive to determining that the designated video event has occurred in the second video stream, transmitting from the stream transmitter, the second video stream, wherein the second video stream is transmitted in place of or simultaneously with the first video stream; and
wherein the first video stream is dynamically selected, and wherein the plurality of video streams each further comprise an audio stream, and further comprising the steps of;monitoring each audio stream of the plurality of video streams for a designated audio event; and dynamically selecting the first video stream based on an occurrence of the designated audio event. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A means for changing transmission of a video stream comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of video streams that comprise a video conference; means for transmitting a first video stream of the plurality of video streams; means for monitoring a second video stream of the plurality of video streams to determine if a designated video event has occurred in the second video stream; and means responsive to determining that the designated video event has occurred in the second video stream, for transmitting the second video stream, wherein the second video stream is transmitted in place of or simultaneously with the first video stream; and
wherein the first video stream is dynamically selected, and wherein the plurality of video streams each further comprise an audio stream, and further comprising the steps of;monitoring each audio stream of the plurality of video streams for a designated audio event; and dynamically selecting the first video stream based on an occurrence of the designated audio event.
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Specification