Videoconferencing Server Logical Terminal Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current videoconferencing systems are limited in their ability to provide multi-screen video conferencing without the need for expensive telepresence equipment, as standard terminals typically support only one or two displays and require a presenter token for multiple video transmission, leading to high bandwidth requirements and interoperability issues with general videoconferencing terminals.
Innovation Solution
A videoconferencing server that groups multiple terminals as logical terminals, allowing them to operate as a single point with multiple screens, enabling multi-screen video conferencing without a presenter token and reducing bandwidth requirements by processing and transmitting videos internally within the server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard videoconferencing terminals are used for multipoint video conferencing, then only 1:1 video conference is supported, but adding MCU for multipoint support increases system cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes standard videoconferencing terminals multi-functional by enabling them to participate in both 1:1 and multipoint video conferences through the logical terminal mechanism. The server groups multiple physical terminals into logical terminals, allowing standard terminals to function in multipoint scenarios without requiring specialized MCU hardware, thus achieving universality across different conference types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that groups multiple physical terminals into logical terminals. This intermediary manages the complexity of multipoint conferencing centrally, allowing standard terminals to participate without needing built-in MCU capabilities. The server acts as a mediator that handles the grouping and coordination, reducing individual terminal complexity while enabling multipoint functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If video mixing is performed by MCU for multipoint video conference, then multipoint conferencing is enabled, but bandwidth requirements and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing expensive video mixing operations, the patent uses a copying approach where the server distributes individual video feeds from each physical terminal to the appropriate logical terminals. Each terminal receives unprocessed video streams that it can display locally, eliminating the need for bandwidth-intensive mixing operations while still providing multipoint conferencing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the video conferencing system into independent terminal units, each processing and displaying its own video feed. Rather than combining all videos into mixed streams, the system divides the video content into separate feeds that are distributed to relevant terminals. This segmentation reduces processing requirements and bandwidth consumption while maintaining multipoint functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If telepresence equipment is used to support multiple displays, then multi-screen video conferencing is achieved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables standard, inexpensive videoconferencing terminals to perform multi-screen functionality by grouping them into logical terminals. Instead of requiring expensive telepresence equipment with multiple native displays, the system allows multiple single-display terminals to work together as a unified multi-screen system, achieving the same functionality at lower cost through software-based logical grouping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple physical terminals into a single logical terminal that functions as a multi-screen system. By combining the display capabilities of several standard terminals through logical grouping managed by the server, the system achieves multi-screen functionality equivalent to expensive telepresence equipment without the high cost, as the terminals are merged at the logical rather than physical level.
4Adaptability or versatility
If presenter token mechanism is used for multiple video transmission, then document conference is supported, but bandwidth requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the presenter token mechanism from the terminal level and implements it at the logical terminal level managed by the server. This extraction simplifies terminal operations as they no longer need to independently manage token acquisition and release. The server centrally manages the token, reducing operational complexity at the terminal level while still enabling document conference functionality through the logical terminal structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A videoconferencing server for providing a multi-screen video conference by using multiple videoconferencing terminals and a method thereof. The video conferencing server can logically group a plurality of the existing videoconferencing terminals (physical terminals) each having one or two displays to operate like a logical terminal operating as one videoconferencing point. The video conferencing server may process as if the logical terminal supports multiple screens by transmitting videos to the plurality of physical terminals constituting the logical terminal.