Ad-hoc Video Conference Resource Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conferencing systems face limitations in connecting multiple devices and supporting multiple codecs, especially in environments with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and open networks, where IT groups struggle to enforce single codec usage due to resource constraints and mobility advancements.
Innovation Solution
An ad-hoc network system is introduced, where a master device coordinates with slave devices to distribute video conference resources, allowing end devices to connect through the master device and redirecting connections to slave devices with available resources, supporting multiple codecs and transcoding as needed, thereby expanding conference capacity dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single device is used to host a conference, then device complexity is reduced, but the conference size and number of supported codecs are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The conference system is segmented into a master device and multiple slave devices. The master device handles conference management and coordination, while slave devices provide additional resources including ports and codec support. This segmentation allows the conference to scale beyond the limitations of a single device without significantly increasing the complexity of any individual device.
Solution Approach 2:
Slave devices are designed to be multi-functional, providing both additional conference ports and codec transcoding capabilities. A single slave device can serve multiple purposes: acting as an additional conference endpoint, providing codec conversion services, and extending the overall conference capacity. This multi-functionality allows resources to be utilized more efficiently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple codecs are supported in a conference, then adaptability to different devices is improved, but processing resources and device capacity are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
Slave devices act as intermediary transcoding elements between the master device and end devices with different codec requirements. Instead of requiring the master device to directly handle all codec conversions (which would consume excessive processing resources), the slave devices serve as intermediate translators, converting between different codecs and reducing the processing burden on the master device.
Solution Approach 2:
Slave devices autonomously perform codec transcoding operations based on the capabilities of connected end devices. When an end device joins the conference, the slave device automatically detects its codec requirements and performs the necessary conversions without requiring intensive processing from the master device, enabling the system to self-adapt to diverse device capabilities.
3Productivity
If IT groups enforce single codec usage to save resources, then processing efficiency is improved, but adaptability to BYOD and open networks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the codec handling responsibilities between the master device (which maintains a single primary codec for efficiency) and slave devices (which provide additional codec support). This allows the core conference to operate efficiently with one codec while still supporting diverse end devices through the slave devices' transcoding capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Slave devices serve as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between the single-codec master device and multi-codec end devices in BYOD environments. They translate between the master device's primary codec and the various codecs used by participant devices, maintaining processing efficiency at the core while enabling broad device compatibility at the edges.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system for distributing video conference resources among connected parties and methods thereof. In an illustrative embodiment, an adhoc network providing conferencing resources is presented. The network can include a master device and a number of slave devices. Each of the slave devices can present their bandwidth capabilities to the master device. End devices can be connected to the master device. When no additional connections can be made to the master device, slave devices can be used to add the end devices into the conference. The slave device can thus share its resources to the conference. Individual slave devices can handle different types of codecs.