Virtual Distributed Multipoint Control Unit
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a videoconference having a plurality of endpoints, comprising:
- a facilitator endpoint in the videoconference receiving a video image from a first leaf endpoint in the videoconference;
the facilitator endpoint sending the received video image to a master endpoint in the videoconference as part of a facilitator composite image;
wherein the master endpoint is operable to form a new composite image using at least the received video image in the facilitator composite image and at least one video image from a second leaf endpoint.
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Abstract
A virtual distributed multipoint control unit in a videoconference may be implemented using a master endpoint, one or more facilitator endpoints, and one or more leaf endpoints. The facilitator endpoint(s) may receive video and/or audio from the leaf endpoints (which may provide/receive videoconference audio and video to one or more local participants). The master endpoint may receive video and/or audio from one or more facilitator endpoints (which may include cumulative video stream from multiple leaf endpoints) and/or directly from one or more leaf endpoints. The master endpoint may arrange received video and/or audio and provide cumulative video and/or audio streams to the leaf endpoints (e.g., directly and/or through the facilitator endpoints). The virtual distributed multipoint control unit may support a conference with more leaf endpoints than the master endpoint has input ports and/or decoders.
147 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a videoconference having a plurality of endpoints, comprising:
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a facilitator endpoint in the videoconference receiving a video image from a first leaf endpoint in the videoconference; the facilitator endpoint sending the received video image to a master endpoint in the videoconference as part of a facilitator composite image; wherein the master endpoint is operable to form a new composite image using at least the received video image in the facilitator composite image and at least one video image from a second leaf endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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a master endpoint receiving at least one composite video image from at least one facilitator endpoint, wherein the at least one composite video image comprises at least a video image from a first leaf endpoint; the master endpoint receiving a video image from a second leaf endpoint; the master endpoint compositing at least the video image from the first leaf endpoint and the video image from the second leaf endpoint into a new composite video image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system, comprising:
a facilitator endpoint, comprising; a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to; receive a video image from each of at least two leaf endpoints; composite at least two of the received video images into a composite video image; and send the composite video image to a master endpoint, wherein the master endpoint is operable to implement a videoconference between a plurality of leaf endpoints, wherein the plurality of leaf endpoints comprises the at least two leaf endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification