System for a Virtual Multipoint Control Unit for Unified Communications

Abstract

This disclosure describes a virtual multipoint control unit (112, 300) for unified communications. The virtual multipoint control unit (112, 300) communicates with multiple devices (102, 104) over a network (106). The control unit (112, 300) includes multiple unified communication (UC) applications (208,314) being executed on the devices (102, 104). The UC applications (208, 314) decode received audio data stream and video data stream. A virtual imaging device (214) and a virtual audio device (216) are mapped to the UC applications (208, 314). A virtual video mixer (210) receives the decoded video data stream from the UC applications (208, 314) via the virtual imaging device (214). A virtual audio mixer (212) receives the decoded audio data stream from the UC applications (208, 314) via the virtual audio device (216).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority and the benefits of the earlier filed Provisional U.S. Application No. 61 / 859,358, filed Jul. 29, 2013, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes into this specification.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This disclosure relates to unified communication systems. More specifically, this disclosure invention relates to a system for a virtual multipoint control unit for unified communications.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Several Unified Communications (UC) software applications have proliferated into the enterprise communications market. These applications allow end-users to communicate using voice, video, application and data sharing, instant messaging, etc. A few examples of these applications include Microsoft Lync, Skype, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, etc.[0004]Most of these applications use different call control protocols and media formats (i.e. video / audio encoding and decoding formats), making them incompat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]This disclosure describes a system for a virtual multipoint control unit for unified communications.

[0008]In one embodiment, a virtual multipoint control unit is in communication with a plurality of devices over a network. The virtual multipoint control unit comprises a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications, at least one virtual imaging device, at least one virtual audio device, a virtual video mixer, and a virtual audio mixer. The plurality of unified communication (UC) applications is executed on at least one of the plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of UC applications receives an encoded audio data stream and an encoded video data stream. The plurality of UC applications decodes the received audio data and the video data streams. The at least one virtual imaging device is mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications. The at least one virtual audio device is mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications. The virtual video mixer is in communication with a physical imaging device. The virtual video mixer receives the decoded video data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual imaging device. The virtual audio mixer is in communication with a physical audio device. The virtual audio mixer receives the decoded audio data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual audio device.

[0009]In another embodiment, a system for managing communication among a plurality of devices is disclosed. The system is employed within a communication network. The system comprises a communication device and a virtual multipoint control unit. The communication device receives encoded audio and video data streams via a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications. The plurality of UC applications decodes the received encoded audio data stream and the received encoded video data stream. The virtual multipoint control unit is in communication with the communication device. The virtual multipoint control unit comprises at least one virtual imaging device, at least one virtual audio device, a virtual video mixer, and a virtual audio mixer. The at least one virtual imaging device is mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications. The at least one virtual audio device is mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications. The virtual video mixer is in communication with a physical imaging device. The virtual

Problems solved by technology

Most of these applications use different call control protocols and media formats (i.e. video/audio encoding and decoding formats), making them incompatible with each other.

In addition, various UC applications typically operate with different media formats, thereby causing these applications to become incompatible with each other for communicating audio, video, or data s

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