330 results about "Multipoint control unit" patented technology

A system and method for cascading local conferences into a multi-site conference is disclosed. The local conferences are located in different sites where each site has endpoints served by a local multipoint control unit (MCU). An invitation to a multi-site conference is sent to participants at the different sites. The invitation includes a conference ID of the multi-site conference. The invited participants join the multi-site conference by calling a dial-in number of the local MCU associated with the caller's site. The caller gives the conference ID of the multi-site conference to the local MCU. The system searches the plurality of local MCUs to find those local conferences having the same conference ID conducted by different MCUs. For each found conference ID, the local MCUs are cascaded to establish a multi-site conference associated with the conference ID.

A system and method for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference includes receiving a request for a multipoint conference reservation and a list of participants. Communication paths for a plurality of the participants may be predicted. A multipoint control unit resource requirement may be estimated. A first multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference. The availability of the multipoint control unit resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time of the multipoint conference may be determined. A second multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference, if the first multipoint control unit does not have the multipoint control unit resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the duration of the conference.

Conventional video conference porting sytems access the analog video conference output streams, reconverting these streams back into digital data streams for transmission over the Internet. This significantly degrades these streams. Other conventional video conference porting sytems access the digital data streams, but can only output these streams as a multicast. A pseudo-end point can be connected to a multi-point control unit managing a video conference just as the end point of a participant to the video conference is connected. The pseudo-end point device receives the digital data just as the participating end points receive the digital data. The pseudo-end point is connected to a video conference standard module, which is connectable to manyt pseudo-end points, each acting as a pseudo-participant in a different video conference. The video conference standard module transmits the received digital data as a multicast to one or more unicast servers, and zero, one or more multicast clients.

A video teleconferencing system for controlling multiple multipoint control units (MCU) from a single apparatus. The system utilizes a Virtual MCU (VMCU) (110) to communicate with a plurality of MCUs (135, 140, 145). A user initiates a reserve conference command with the VMCU (110). If sufficient resources are available, the reservation is made and connection numbers are assigned. When the time for the conference arises, an MCU (135, 140, 145) is assigned to the conference. The participants are then connected to the conference. By using a single VMCU (110) to schedule and coordinate multiple MCUs (135, 140, 145), the present invention 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.

According to the present invention there are provided a system, method and program storage device for establishing a connection for an endpoint to a scheduled audiovisual conference between a plurality of participants, the plurality of participants connecting to the audiovisual conference from a plurality of endpoints, connections for the plurality of endpoints to the audiovisual conference being maintained by a multipoint control unit, comprising: receiving a request at a conference control server from a participant to connect an endpoint associated with the participant to the scheduled audiovisual conference; obtaining an IP address or a telephone number for the endpoint; writing the IP address or the telephone number for the endpoint to the multipoint control unit; and communicating audiovisual conference data from the multipoint control unit to the endpoint via the IP address or the telephone number, thereby enabling the endpoint to be connected to the audiovisual conference.

A system to provide a multipoint processing terminal and a multicast bridging terminal to provide mixing, switching, and other processing of media streams under the control of H.323 components. Application Programming Interfaces defined for the multipoint processing terminal provide a multipoint control unit with the capability to change the default behavior of the multipoint processing terminal by allowing the multipoint control unit to control the routing audio and video streams in the multipoint processing terminal and control the media formats in a multipoint conference. Multipoint processing acceleration functionality is provided by providing interfaces to allow hardware accelerated implementations of multipoint processing terminals. The multicast bridging terminals enables clients using one type of control signaling and media streaming to join other conferences using different types of control signaling and media streaming by receiving audio or video data from an incoming media stream and performing any processing necessary to transform the media stream from the incoming stream data format to the outgoing stream data format.

An association of videoconferencing services is disclosed that enables two or more videoconferences to be generated with each videoconference running independently from the others and having its own conferees. The association is achieved by having at least one conferee (a traveler) that can “move” or “travel” from one videoconference to another in the association. The one or more travelers belong to the association and not to any particular videoconference. In exemplary embodiments, the traveler can choose between the various associated videoconferences by making a selection to a multipoint control unit (MCU) that controls the associated videoconferences.

The ivnention discloses a multi-media real time control lessons giving system based on IP network, it is made up of lessons giving end, listening end, class service center and multipoint control unit(MCU); it realize a live telecast of teaching through multi-media transcribing the teaching spot and network transmission, through multi-media and multi-mode intercommunication network the teachers and the students natural blackboard-writing teaching by the teacher, teaching content retrieving, share of applied procedure, teaching software skimming, electronic white board, real time control teaching software and the class management function, it broads the teaching scale.

New videoconferencing services and methods for handling the video and audio of one or more sub-conferences running in parallel to a main videoconference are disclosed. In exemplary embodiment, a multipoint control unit (MCU) that controls one or more videoconferences may be requested by a conferee of a videoconference (a main videoconference) to establish a sub-conference according to a requester mode of operation.

A data capture module can be connected to a multi-point control unit managing a video conference session just as the end point of a participant to the video conference session is connected. The data capture module receives the video and / or audio digital data content just as the participating end points receive the video and / or audio digital data content, via a video conference standard protocol technique. The data capture module is connected to a streaming module, which may be connectable to many data capture modules, each acting as a pseudo-participant in a different video conference session. The streaming module converts and transmits the received digital data as a multicast to one or more unicast servers, which in turn transmit to zero, one, or more multicast clients via a multimedia streaming protocol technique.

A system and method is disclosed for implementing a multipoint control unit in an endpoint that is participating in and managing a multipoint audio conference in a packet network. The multipoint control unit establishes audio communications between a plurality of endpoints of the packet network, mixes audio communications from the plurality of endpoints, and provides echo cancellation for the endpoint that is managing the multipoint audio conference.

An association of videoconferencing services is disclosed that enables two or more videoconferences to be generated with each videoconference running independently from the others and having its own conferees. The association is achieved by having at least one conferee (a traveler) that can “move” or “travel” from one videoconference to another in the association. The one or more travelers belong to the association and not to any particular videoconference. In exemplary embodiments, the traveler can choose between the various associated videoconferences by making a selection to a multipoint control unit (MCU) that controls the associated videoconferences.

The present invention allows the resources of multiple multipoint control units (MCUS) in a multipoint multimedia communication system. A plurality of multimedia terminals support different multimedia conferencing protocols, and a multipoint control unit communicates with a multipoint processor unit and with the multimedia terminals for signaling and call control. At least one multipoint processor unit communicates with the plurality of multimedia terminals for media and optionally call signaling and call control. The multipoint processor unit also communicates with the multipoint control unit for interfacing the call signaling and the call control information between said multipoint control unit and the terminals.

The invention provides a multi-screen multi-picture realization method and a system in a video conferencing system. The video conferencing system comprises a multipoint control unit and a plurality of terminals; the method includes the following steps that: (a) the terminals establish connection with the multipoint control unit and send local video streams to the multipoint control unit; (b) the multipoint control unit composes the input video streams of the terminals into a plurality of output video streams; (c) the multipoint control unit sends the output video streams to the terminals, wherein the content of each output video stream is a multi-picture video composed by one or a plurality of input video streams; (d) the terminals display the output video streams on a plurality of displays after reception. According to the method of the invention, the terminals taking part in communication can use a plurality of displays to display video images of a plurality of far end conference rooms, and users can see more and larger video images of the far end conference rooms, thereby improving the video experience of the users, strengthening the communication effects of users and promoting the use value of the system.

The disclosed method provides audio location perception to an endpoint in a multipoint videoconference by providing a plurality of audio streams to the endpoint, wherein each of the audio streams corresponds to one of the loudspeakers at the endpoint. The audio streams are differentiated so as to emphasize broadcasting of the audio streams through one or more loudspeakers closest to a position of a speaking endpoint in a videoconference layout that is displayed at the endpoint. For example, the audio broadcast at a loudspeaker that is at a far-side of the screen might be attenuated or time delayed compared to audio broadcast at a loudspeaker that is located at a near-side of the display. The disclosure also provides a multipoint control unit (MCU) that processes audio signals from two or more endpoints according to the positions in a layout of the endpoints and then transmits processed audio streams to the endpoints in a way that allows endpoints to broadcast spatially correlated audio.

A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach further utilizes virtual reality and augmented-reality techniques to transform the video and audio streams from the participants in various customizable ways to achieve a rich set of user experiences. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time.

New videoconferencing services and methods for handling the video and audio of one or more sub-conferences running in parallel to a main videoconference are disclosed. In exemplary embodiment, a multipoint control unit (MCU) that controls one or more videoconferences may be requested by a conferee of a videoconference (a main videoconference) to establish a sub-conference according to a requester mode of operation.

The invention discloses a method for processing sound mixing for a system of a conference video, which includes at least a conference place terminal with the following steps: A. an audio bit stream of each conference place terminal is decoded, and an audio signal of each conference place terminal is obtained; B. a chairman terminal and a spokesman terminal of the conference place terminal are selected as sound mixing activation terminals; C. as for the conference place terminals except the chairman terminal and the spokesman terminal, the audio signal volume value of each conference place terminal is compared, and at least one conference place terminal is selected according to a descending order of audio signal volume as a sound mixing activation terminal; and D. the audio signals of sound mixing activation terminals selected in steps of B and C are through sound mixing according to a preset principle and then are transmitted to the related conference place terminal. By adopting the invention, speeches from each conference places are capable of being heard at any time, and mess sound caused by speeches from much many conference places is prevented; besides, the effect of sound mixing is clear and the sound mixing is easy for identification, and the processing capability of a multipoint control unit is saved.

The invention discloses a multi-language conference system that includes conference terminal for processing speak and sending it to multi-point control unit and processing the audio frequency data and outputting it, at least one conference terminal is used for translating the speak, processing the audio frequency data after translated and sent it to the multi-point control unit. The multi-point control unit is used for conducting mixing process to the audio data of different sound track from the conference terminal according language kind and then sending the audio data processed to the conference terminal.

A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of user devices coupled to the network; a multipoint control unit coupled to the network and configured to supervise multipoint conferencing among the plurality of user devices, the multipoint control unit including a presentation mixer, the presentation mixer configured to remove one or more backgrounds from a presentation and mix a live video feed into the presentation as a substitute background; a screen for displaying a resulting mixed presentation such that a full area of the screen is used to display the mixed presentation; and a feature recognition system configured to identify a party from one or more features displayed on the screen and selectively adjust a transparency of said one or more features other than said party.

A multimedia conferencing system, includes a multipoint control unit for distributing audio and video among a first set of n endpoints, where n≧1, arranged in a star configuration, wherein bidirectional audio and video channels are established between said multipoint control unit and respective endpoints of said first set, and a second set of m endpoints, where m≧2, connected to each other in a mesh configuration wherein bidirectional audio and video channels are established directly between the endpoints of the second set. Respective bidirectional video channels are established between the multipoint control unit and the respective endpoints of the second set. An audio hub is connected to the multipoint control unit over one or more bidirectional audio channels and connected to the second set of endpoints via respective bidirectional audio channels. The audio hub transfers audio between the second set of endpoints and the multipoint control unit over a common bidirectional audio channel. This arrangement permits endpoints connected in a mesh configuration to conference with endpoints in a star configuration without loss of functionality of the mesh configuration for the endpoints connected in the mesh configuration.

A system and method particularly useful in handling the video of a “large” conference is disclosed. The system and method initially defines certain conferees as panel members, which can provide input video signals to the multipoint control unit and can receive output video signals or a composite layout for the conference from the multipoint control unit. The system and method also initially defines audience members, which only passively receive the output video signals or layout from the multipoint control unit and do not have their video signals incorporated into the layout of the videoconference. In one aspect, an audience terminal can request to participate in the conference. By making an appropriate request, the audience terminal can, if system resources are adequate, participate fully as a panel member and may supply video signals to the conference for at least some portion of time. Alternatively, the audience member can supply information other than video signals to the conference, such as voting data or other data allowing the audience member to participate in the conference as more than a merely passive viewing participant.

A system to allow a conferee defined as a nuisance source to respond to an automatic nuisance decision of a Multipoint Control Unit is disclosed. For example, a conferee placing a conference on hold may generate on hold music, which may be identified by a nuisance detector. The nuisance detector sends an indication of the nuisance condition to a control unit in the MCU. The control unit mutes the signal coming from this conferee and sends an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) message to the conferee. The message may inform the conferee that he has been muted and requests the conferee for example to press one of a plurality of touch tone keys depending on his situation. For instance, the conferee can select particular keys if he is returning from the hold condition, if he is experiencing a noisy line / environment and needs to reduce the sensitivity of the nuisance detector algorithm, or if he wishes to disable the nuisance detector algorithm.

A remote education multimode real-time multimedia interactive system is composed of a multimedia customer end, conference service center and multipoint control unit. The customer end sends local video, audio and application program shared data to the multipoint control unit, authorized by conference service center, and receives those of other customer terminals from the control unit. The conference service center controls users limit of authority of customer ends and multipoint control unit to be coordinated, the control unit starts video, audio and application program shared data forward module and video conversion code engine according to the information provided by conference service center.

A telecommunications system including a network; a plurality of user devices coupled to the network; a multipoint control unit coupled to the network and configured to supervise multipoint conferencing among the plurality of user devices, the multipoint control unit including a presentation mixer, the presentation mixer configured to remove one or more backgrounds from a presentation and mix a live video feed into the presentation as a substitute background; and a screen for displaying a resulting mixed presentation such that a full area of the screen is used to display the mixed presentation. In some embodiments, the presentation mixer is further configured to adjust a level of transparency of the substitute background.

The invention discloses a multipoint safe videoconference system with an IP set-top box based on an H.323 protocol, which comprises a videoconference client module, a videoconference transmission module and a videoconference server module; the videoconference client module comprises the IP set-top box, a digital television and an audio / video acquisition and playing device and is used for realizing the identity verification of a videoconference user and the functions of acquiring, receiving and playing an audio / video content; the videoconference server module consists of a multipoint control unit (MCU) based on the H.323 protocol and is used for realizing functions of conference management, the integrity verification of the audio / video content, the identity verification of a user at a client, and the distribution and the processing of the audio / video content; and the videoconference transmission module realizes the transmission of the audio / video content between the user participating in a conference and a videoconference server by using a digital television network. According to the invention, a digital television user can realize a safe videoconference by the digital television with higher safety.

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).