Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving application traffic at a network device from one or more endpoints, measuring performance of applications at the network device, optimizing TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) applications and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) applications based on the measured performance and policy input received at the network device, queuing the application traffic at the network device such that the application traffic shares available bandwidth in accordance with the measured performance and the policy input, and transmitting the application traffic over a wide area network. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes (a) discerning whether an average packet delay in a media streaming session is increasing or decreasing over a first defined time window, (b) discerning whether an average jitter in the media streaming session is increasing or decreasing over a second defined time window, (c) in response to (a) and (b), calculating a specific bit-rate quantity corresponding to a change in bit-rate, and (d) controlling a bit-rate of the media streaming session in accordance with the specific bit-rate quantity.

Abstract: A rate adaptive video conference bridge and related techniques are provided. At a video conference bridge, a source video stream is received from a source endpoint device in a network. The source video stream is encoded using a first encoder unit and second encoder unit to generate respective first and second encoded video streams. A determination is made whether to decrease or increase a bit rate of the source video stream based on network condition information. If the bit rate is to be decreased, the first encoder unit is instructed to send the first encoded video stream to a destination endpoint device. If the bit rate is to be increased, the second encoder unit is instructed to send the second encoded video stream to the destination endpoint device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for sending and receiving key frames and key frame request messages. At a video conference bridge, a key frame request message is received from a first endpoint device. The key frame request message comprises a request for a key frame from a second endpoint device. When a prior key frame request message is received before the key frame request message, a key frame request time value is determined that corresponds to an amount of time between receiving the key frame request message and receiving the prior key frame request message. This value is compared to a threshold time value. When the key frame request time is greater than the threshold time, a key frame request forwarding message is generated, and the key frame request forwarding message is sent to the second endpoint device to request the key frame from the second endpoint device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing display layouts for a continuous presence video conference. Each display layout has a fixed number of positions, and one of the display layouts has a maximum number of positions for display to participants in the video conference. The display layouts comprise video display positions for participants in a video conference. When the number of participants is greater than a threshold, one of the positions in that layout is used as a shared position assigned to a video stream of participants not assigned to fixed positions in that layout. The shared position is used in a scanning manner such that video streams of participants not assigned to fixed positions in the layouts are classified as scanning streams and are displayed in the non-fixed (shared) position over a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) establishing an internet protocol (IP) connection; (ii) forming a buffered version of a plurality of voice frame slices from received audio packets; and (iii) when an erasure is detected, performing a packet loss concealment (PLC) to provide a synthesized speech signal for the erasure, where the PLC can include: (a) identifying first and second pitches from the buffered version of the plurality of voice frame slices; and (b) forming the synthesized speech signal by using the first and second pitches, and more if needed, followed by an overlay-add (OLA).

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first module that causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. The apparatus includes a second module that causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for shaping a transmit bit-rate of a multimedia stream to adapt to the bandwidth of network path on which the multimedia stream is sent between a source and destination. A condition indicative of a bandwidth of the network path is monitored, and at an intermediate point on the network path between the source and destination, the transmit bit-rate of the multimedia stream is adjusted to adapt to the condition indicative of the bandwidth of the path.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing display layouts for a continuous presence video conference. Each display layout has a fixed number of positions, and one of the display layouts has a maximum number of positions for display to participants in the video conference. The display layouts comprise video display positions for participants in a video conference. When the number of participants is greater than a threshold, one of the positions in that layout is used as a shared position assigned to a video stream of participants not assigned to fixed positions in that layout. The shared position is used in a scanning manner such that video streams of participants not assigned to fixed positions in the layouts are classified as scanning streams and are displayed in the non-fixed (shared) position over a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: Disclosed are video conferencing systems, devices, architectures, and methods for using media notifications to coordinate switching between video in a distributed arrangement. An exemplary media switch in accordance with embodiments can include: a first interface configured for a first type communication with an endpoint; a second interface configured for the first type communication with another media switch, the second interface being configured to receive a first video stream having a first characteristic and a second video stream having a second characteristic; a third interface configured for a second type communication with a stream controller, the stream controller being configured to provide a notification; and a fourth interface configured for the second type communication with a controlling server, whereby the media switch is configured to re-target an active stream in response to the notification or a difference between the first and second characteristics.

Abstract: Marking a keyframe of a media stream in a communication system involves one or more entry media switches in communication with one or more endpoints. An entry media switch receives a media stream from an endpoint, where the media stream comprises a sequence of packets with a keyframe. The keyframe is detected and marked with a keyframe indicator. The keyframe indicator is operable to notify a downstream device of the keyframe. An output media stream is outputted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving an FECC message of a set of FECC messages over a packet network from a first participant, the first participant having a set of FEEC modes and being in one of the FECC modes. The method further includes maintaining knowledge of the mode of the first participant and interpreting the received FECC message according to the FECC mode of the first participant.

Abstract: Marking a keyframe of a media stream in a communication system involves one or more entry media switches in communication with one or more endpoints. An entry media switch receives a media stream from an endpoint, where the media stream comprises a sequence of packets with a keyframe. The keyframe is detected and marked with a keyframe indicator. The keyframe indicator is operable to notify a downstream device of the keyframe. An output media stream is outputted.