Universal Bridge for Multimedia Multipoint Conferencing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current multimedia multipoint conferencing systems require expensive and complex Multipoint Control Units (MCUs) due to the need for heavy computational resources to manage multiple video streams, leading to increased costs and latency when using gateways between Media Relay Endpoints (MREs) and Legacy Endpoints (LEPs).

Innovation Solution

A novel universal bridge (UB) that conducts multimedia multipoint conferences between MREs and LEPs without an MCU or gateway, dynamically allocating resources and handling compressed, semi-compressed, and decompressed media streams using a media common interface (MCIF) and various processing units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a legacy MCU is used to manage multiple video streams in a multipoint conference, then the system can handle diverse participating devices (MREs and LEPs), but the hardware cost and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle diverse participating devicesVSAvoidMCU hardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the conference management function into two parts: the MCU handles only control signaling and coordination, while the actual media processing (decoding, switching, encoding) is distributed to individual endpoints. This segmentation eliminates the need for expensive media processing hardware in the MCU, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to handle diverse devices through software-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal bridge that can handle both MREs (Media Relay Endpoints) and LEPs (Legacy Endpoints) through a single interface. The bridge uses software-based media processing that can dynamically adapt to different device types, compression formats, and capabilities without requiring hardware-specific configurations, thus achieving universality across diverse participating devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If gateways are used between MREs and LEPs to enable communication, then device compatibility is improved, but latency increases due to additional decoding and encoding operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidconference latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the media processing functions (decoding, switching, encoding) from the gateway/MCU and relocates them to the endpoints themselves. Each endpoint performs local media processing on received streams, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-encoding operations at the gateway. This extraction of processing functions maintains device compatibility through software-based adaptation while significantly reducing latency by removing intermediate processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Endpoints are empowered to perform their own media processing and adaptation tasks locally without requiring gateway intervention. Each endpoint independently decodes received video streams, performs layout composition, and renders content according to its own capabilities and the conference layout requirements. This self-service approach eliminates gateway-mediated encoding/decoding cycles, reducing latency while maintaining compatibility across diverse devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the MCU processes and combines multiple audio and video streams, then comprehensive media management is achieved, but processing power requirements and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia stream management capabilityVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments media processing tasks between the MCU and endpoints. The MCU performs only lightweight control functions (signaling, coordination, layout management), while intensive media processing (decoding, filtering, composition) is distributed to endpoints. This segmentation dramatically reduces the processing power requirements of the central MCU, lowering energy consumption and operational costs while maintaining comprehensive media management capability through coordinated distributed processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Endpoints independently perform media processing operations such as decoding video streams, applying layouts, and composing visual content without requiring MCU intervention. Each endpoint processes its own received streams locally, eliminating the need for the MCU to consume processing power for media manipulation. This self-service model maintains full media management capability while minimizing the energy consumption of the central control unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11503250B2Method and system for conducting video conferences of diverse participating devices

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A novel universal bridge (UB) can handle and conduct multimedia multipoint conferences between a plurality of MREs and LEPs without using an MRM, an MCU and a gateway. Further, a UB can be configured to allocate and release resources dynamically according to the current needs of each conferee and the session.