Video Conferencing Session Negotiation Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video conferencing systems require manual pre-configuration of camera and display capabilities, necessitating prior knowledge of remote system configurations and limiting automation in session setup.

Innovation Solution

A system with a session negotiation device that determines negotiation information for local cameras, defines it in a compatible format, and maps data streams to remote displays, including spatial information and media attributes, to automate the negotiation and layout of video streams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual pre-configuration of camera and display capabilities is used, then system compatibility is ensured, but administrative complexity and setup time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem compatibilityVSAvoidadministrative complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically discovering remote endpoints' capabilities and negotiating compatible parameters without requiring administrator intervention. The endpoint independently determines its own camera and display capabilities and uses this information to automatically establish compatible connections with remote systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system exchanges capability information between endpoints through structured negotiation messages. Each endpoint provides feedback about its supported cameras, displays, resolutions, and formats, allowing the system to automatically determine compatible configurations based on mutual capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual pre-configuration is required, then connection reliability is improved, but setup time and prior knowledge requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Each endpoint pre-determines and stores its own capability profile (supported cameras, displays, resolutions, formats) before actual use. This preliminary self-assessment allows the system to quickly negotiate connections without requiring real-time manual configuration or administrator knowledge of remote systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The endpoint automatically performs capability discovery and negotiation with remote systems, eliminating the need for administrators to manually pre-configure connections or have prior knowledge of remote configurations. The system serves itself by independently establishing compatible connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If automated negotiation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but negotiation complexity and information exchange requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidnegotiation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The negotiation process is divided into distinct segments: capability determination (identifying supported cameras and displays), capability description (defining resolutions and formats), and mapping negotiation (establishing compatible pairings). Each segment handles specific information exchange, making the overall complex process manageable and systematic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a standardized capability negotiation protocol as an intermediary framework to exchange complex capability information between endpoints. This structured protocol organizes the exchange of camera and display capabilities, resolutions, and formats into manageable message formats that facilitate automated negotiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If capability mapping is automated, then productivity is improved, but information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession setup speedVSAvoidinformation processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Endpoints pre-determine and cache their capability profiles (supported cameras, displays, resolutions, formats) before actual video sessions. This preliminary information preparation allows rapid negotiation and connection establishment without requiring extensive real-time information processing when sessions are initiated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9525846B2Method and apparatus for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a video conferencing environment

Publication Date: 2016.12.20 BIAMP SYST LLC

AI summary

This disclosure describes a system for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a video conferencing environment. The system includes a local camera; a local communication device; and a session negotiation device where the session negotiation device further comprises a processor, memory, and a storage. The processor executes a sequence of computer programmable software instructions that further includes determining negotiation information associated with the local camera; defining the determined negotiation information in a predetermined format compatible with the remote display; applying the determined negotiation information for negotiating capability of the local camera and the remote display for data communication; sending the determined negotiation information to the remote display; mapping data streams from the local camera to the remote display using the determined negotiation information; and defining a predetermined layout of the mapped data streams on the remote display based on the determined negotiation information.