System and method for controlling one or more multipoint control units as one multipoint control unit
First Claim
1. A controller for controlling two or more multipoint control units (MCUs), the MCUs operable to provide conferencing for a plurality of terminals, the controller comprising:
- an interface adapted for allocating resources of the two or more MCUs; and
a database for storing conference reservations and capability factors for the two or more MCUs and the plurality of terminals;
wherein each of the terminals can be served by each of the two or more MCUs,wherein the controller can initiate a conference by allocating resources of at least one of the MCUs for handling the conference, andwherein the controller logically combines capability factors of the two or more MCUs and treats the combination of capability factors as a single unit for allocating resources of the at least one of the MCUs for handling the conference,wherein the controller provides a first application program interface (API) for allowing a user to communicate with the controller; and
wherein the controller provides a second API for allowing the controller to communicate with the two or more MCUs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling multiple multipoint control units (MCUs) with a single apparatus is disclosed. The system utilizes a Virtual MCU (VMCU) to communicate with a plurality of MCUs. A user initiates a reserve conference command with the VMCU. If sufficient resources are available, the reservation is made and connection numbers are assigned. When the time for the conference arises, an MCU is assigned to the conference. The participants are then connected to the conference. By using a single VMCU to schedule and coordinate multiple MCUs, the system is able to efficiently schedule a large number of conferences. This greater efficiency in scheduling may allow users to schedule conferences without the advance notice that is usually required.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A controller for controlling two or more multipoint control units (MCUs), the MCUs operable to provide conferencing for a plurality of terminals, the controller comprising:
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an interface adapted for allocating resources of the two or more MCUs; and a database for storing conference reservations and capability factors for the two or more MCUs and the plurality of terminals; wherein each of the terminals can be served by each of the two or more MCUs, wherein the controller can initiate a conference by allocating resources of at least one of the MCUs for handling the conference, and wherein the controller logically combines capability factors of the two or more MCUs and treats the combination of capability factors as a single unit for allocating resources of the at least one of the MCUs for handling the conference, wherein the controller provides a first application program interface (API) for allowing a user to communicate with the controller; and wherein the controller provides a second API for allowing the controller to communicate with the two or more MCUs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of videoconferencing, comprising:
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receiving a request using a first application programming interface to initiate a video conference between at least two multimedia terminals, wherein each of the terminals can be served by a plurality of MCUs; comparing capability factors for each of the multimedia terminals with capability factors for each of the plurality of MCUs wherein the capability factors of the plurality of MCUs are combined and treated as a single unit for allocating resources of the at least one of the MCUs for handling the videoconference; selecting, based on the comparing of capability factors, at least one MCU of the plurality of MCUs for handling the video conference; and directing a communicative interconnection between the at least two multimedia terminals via the at least one selected MCU, using a second application programming interface for communicating with the plurality of MCUs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling ports of a plurality of MCUs, the apparatus comprising:
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a database for storing capability factors for the ports; a processor programmed to; receive a request to start a videoconferencing session between at least two multimedia terminals, wherein the at least two multimedia terminals can be serviced by each one of the plurality of MCUs; logically combine all of the ports of the plurality of MCUs and treat the combination of ports as a single unit for the purpose of selecting ports for handling the videoconferencing session; compare the capability factors of the at least two multimedia terminals to the capability factors of each of the ports; and responsive to the comparing, select ports from one or more of the MCUs for handling the videoconferencing session; a first application program interface (API) for allowing a user to communicate with the apparatus; and a second API for allowing the apparatus to communicate with a plurality of MCUs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification