Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for providing cascaded multi-point video conferencing units are provided. In some embodiments, systems for providing cascaded multi-point conference units are provided, the systems comprising: at least one encoder that encodes a video signal into representations using a scalable video protocol based on required configurations of parameters for a first multi-point conferencing unit (MCU) and a second MCU; and at least one interface that distributes a first one of the representations to the first MCU and a second one of the representations to the second MCU without distributing the first one of the representations to the second MCU.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and media for providing multi-point video conferencing unit functions are provided. In some embodiments, devices for providing multi-point conferencing unit functions comprise: a combination of at least one input interface that receives a plurality of video signals, and that receives a visual layout from an EMCU end-point; a processor that selects a subset of the plurality of video signals; a combination of at least one output interface that sends the subset of the plurality of video signals to the EMCU end-point and that sends the visual layout to a video conferencing end-point, wherein the visual layout incorporates the subset of the plurality of video signals.

Abstract: Systems for controlling a presentation of data images in a video stream, comprising: at least one processor programmed to: transmit a video bit stream representing a plurality of images to a plurality of receivers using common transmission parameters; determine that a transmission link to one of the plurality of receivers is degraded; select one of the plurality of images for transmission to the one of the plurality of receivers; select degraded-link transmission parameters for transmission of the one of the plurality of images on the degraded transmission link, wherein the degraded-link transmission parameters are different from the common transmission parameters; transmit the one of the plurality of images to the one of the plurality of receivers using the degraded-link transmission parameters; and continue to transmit the video bit stream to at least one other of the plurality of receivers using the common transmission parameters.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for identifying and selecting data images in a video stream are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, methods for identifying and selecting data images in a video stream are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a video bit stream representing a plurality of images; identifying, using a processor programmed to do so, sets of data images in the plurality of images, wherein each of the data images provides an image representation of data and each of the data images in any of the sets of data images corresponds to a single data image; and selecting at least one best data image from the sets of data images using a processor programmed to do so.

Abstract: Methods for checking available bandwidth using forward error correction are provided, the methods comprising: identifying data to be transmitted; determining an amount of forward error correction data to be sent to a receiver; creating the forward error correction data based on corresponding data in the data to be transmitted; transmitting to the receiver the forward error correction data and the corresponding data in the data to be transmitted; determining an error level in at least one of the corresponding data and the forward error correction data; and when the error level is below a value, increasing the amount of bandwidth used in a transmission to the receiver of other data in the data to be transmitted over the amount of bandwidth used in the transmission to the receiver of the corresponding data and decreasing the amount of bandwidth used for forward error correction data in the transmission of the other data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for identifying and associating user devices with media cues are provided. In some embodiments, a plurality of data streams from a plurality of endpoints is received. At least one media segment is then received from a user device. It is determined whether the at least one media segment from the user device corresponds with one of the plurality of data streams from the plurality of endpoints. In response to being unable to match the at least one media segment, a media cue is inserted into one of the plurality of data streams. In response to detecting that the media cue in that data stream is received by the user device, identification information is transmitted to the user device that associates the user device with one or more services on a communications server.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for providing selectable video using scalable video coding are provided. In some embodiments, systems for providing selectable video using scalable video coding are provided, the systems comprising: a scalable video coding capable encoder that receives a base content sequence and at least one added content sequence that has different content from the base content stream and that produces at least one SVC stream that includes a basic layer, that corresponds to the base content sequence, and at least one enhanced layer, that corresponds to content in the at least one added content sequence; and a digital processing device that controls whether the at least one enhanced layer in the SVC stream is displayed at a destination for the SVC stream.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for providing cascaded multi-point video conferencing units are provided. In some embodiments, systems for providing cascaded multi-point conference units are provided, the systems comprising: at least one encoder that encodes a video signal into representations using a scalable video protocol based on required configurations of parameters for a first multi-point conferencing unit (MCU) and a second MCU; and at least one interface that distributes a first one of the representations to the first MCU and a second one of the representations to the second MCU without distributing the first one of the representations to the second MCU.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and media for providing multi-point video conferencing unit functions are provided. In some embodiments, devices for providing multi-point conferencing unit functions comprise: a combination of at least one input interface that receives a plurality of video signals, and that receives a visual layout from an EMCU end-point; a processor that selects a subset of the plurality of video signals; a combination of at least one output interface that sends the subset of the plurality of video signals to the EMCU end-point and that sends the visual layout to a video conferencing end-point, wherein the visual layout incorporates the subset of the plurality of video signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for constructing cost-efficient, low processing power continuous presence layouts are provided. In particular, new functionality to the H.264 Recommendation is added by providing an enhanced continuous presence feature.