Abstract: An automated video call graph layout engine accepts video call configuration information and presents a video call graph of the video call to resemble a video network topology. For instance, video call configuration information is accepted in a tree structure that lists video devices of the video call. Video device graph nodes are constructed for each video device, each node having a radius and links to other video devices. Super graph nodes are created by identifying leaf and branch graph nodes and constructing a super graph node for each branch graph node by interconnecting the leaf graph nodes with the branch nodes. A video call graph layout is completed by identifying leaf and branch super nodes and associating leaf super nodes to branch super nodes until all video devices are interconnected.

Abstract: Digital television system overlays subscriber two-way communication during broadcast program delivery to create virtual audience community. Individual or group billing and advertisement is personalized per DTV receiver program viewing and/or conferencing activity. Subscriber receiver includes camera and other media I/O device for multi-way video conferencing. Participants may be added or removed dynamically during programming or conferencing.

Abstract: A portable video switching device receives video streams from a multiple number of different video capture devices located remotely and selects one of the video streams for further transmission. The portable video switching device receives video streams via wired, wireless or mobile telecommunication network connection and has video production capability to manipulate the selected video stream to add special effects, fading and the like.

Abstract: A conference video display system is provided for allowing attendees at the conference to switch to the video images of their respective personal computers at will, and eliminating the need for determining the correlation between the personal computers and channels of a switching unit, to provide facilitated and appropriate video switching. The system has a switching unit for receiving a plurality of video signals and selectively outputting the received video signals, and a plurality of connection cables for connecting the switching unit and a plurality of personal computers. Each of the connection cables has a selection request switch near the personal computer connected thereto to make the switching unit select the video signal from the connected personal computer as an output video signal thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for routing video calls includes one or more video endpoints. An array of infrastructure routing elements transmits the video calls between the video endpoints along one or more principle routes and one or more back-up routes. The system and method further includes a video network platform in communication with the video endpoints and the infrastructure routing elements, and the video network platform prioritizing the principle routes and the back-up routes. A scheduling engine associated with the infrastructure routing elements is operable to monitor the performance of the infrastructure routing elements, determine a reliability model for each infrastructure routing element, and intelligently route the video calls based on the reliability models without losing communication between the video endpoints.

Abstract: An image input device can pick up images of a plurality of subjects by switching the image pickup direction. The device is provided with an image pickup device for outputting an image signal corresponding to a picked-up image of a subject, an image pickup direction switching device for switching an image pickup direction of the image pickup device, a first detector for detecting the angle of the image pickup direction, and a memory for storing the image signal according to the detected angle.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique are disclosed for controlling the resource usage of a processor during a video conference by dynamically varying the rate at which video images are compressed so as to maintain a target threshold of processor resource usage. A control program module interfaces with the video encoder of a video conferencing system and first checks that the current processor resource utilization is below a specified target threshold prior to compressing a video image from a stream of captured video data. If the processor resource utilization is below the target threshold, the video image is compressed. Otherwise, the image is skipped to conserve processor resources. The technique allows video conferencing products to dynamically adjust the rate of video frame compression based on available processor resources so as to maximize the user's video conferencing experiencing while minimizing the negative impact on other applications executing on the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for video conferencing. The method and apparatus continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and alternately continuously transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method and apparatus only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference.

Abstract: A traffic control system selectively interfaces members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, for analyzing and compiling data, scheduling appointments, implementing conferences, consummating sales and the like. The traffick-control system comprises a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of the dial-up telephone system identified with the members of plural groups, a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions, a storage memory for storing data on the members, including telephonic terminal numbers and area-of-interest codes and a control computer to selectively interconnect the video recording unit with the remote telephone terminals through the telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.

Abstract: A system for routing incoming video calls. A group of agents handle incoming calls, as in a telephone mail order facility. When a server receives an incoming video call, it selects an available agent, and tells the selected agent to expect the call. The server does not physically route the call to the selected agent. Instead, the server informs the calling party of the identity of the selected agent. The calling party then places a video call to the selected agent, using another communication channel. This process enables ordinary call routing systems to, in effect, route video calls, which ordinarily requires a routing apparatus which is quite expensive.

Abstract: A method and system configures video calls and schedules the calls for a video call network based on a query from a user to establish a video call between end points of the video call network. A configuration engine accepts video call information from a query engine based on the video call request and applies device data and rules to determine one or more possible call configurations. The configuration engine or an associated optimization engine determines a preferred video call configuration and schedules devices of the video call network without requiring the user to have any in depth understanding of the device limitations and capabilities. Automatic configuration and scheduling of video calls simplifies the use of a video call network to reduce the expense and complexity of efficiently using network resources.

Abstract: An automated system and method for producing videos using expert video production rules. The automated video production system and method of the present invention is particularly well-suited for the online publishing of lectures. The system of the present invention includes a camera system for capturing the lecture, such as an audience-tracking camera and a non-intrusive lecturer-tracking camera. Moreover, each camera may be controlled by a cinematographer. Tracking of a subject is performed using a history-based, reduced-motion tracker that sets up a camera shot based on the subject's movement history and leaves the shot fixed until the camera is switched. The system also includes a virtual director module having a probabilistic finite state machine (FSM) module that uses probabilistic rules and the expert video production rules to determine a current camera view.

Abstract: In a communication system, a call setup request is sent from a control unit to a first connection unit and a second connection unit to record the communication channel information of the opposite parties. And, the recorded communication channel information of the second connection unit is sent from the control unit to the first connection unit, and the communication channel information of the first connection unit is sent to the second connection unit. As a result, the first connection unit and the second connection unit are allowed to hold information communication by using their mutual communication channel information.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, computer hardware, software and communications technologies are combined in novel ways to produce a multimedia collaboration system that greatly facilitates distributed collaboration, in part by replicating the benefits of face-to-face collaboration. The system tightly integrates a carefully selected set of multimedia and collaborative capabilities, principal among which are desktop teleconferencing and multimedia mail.

Abstract: An improved videoconferencing system and method are provided for connecting a host to a plurality of participants. Unlike other videoconferencing methods and systems, the videoconferencing system and method of these preferred embodiments allow each of the parties of a videoconference to benefit from the interaction between the host and the selected participant without limiting the number of participants that can join the videoconference. The host and participants can interact with the videoconferencing system by issuing voice commands or DTMF signals to a voice response unit or by using a computer to access the videoconferencing system directly or indirectly though a network such as the World Wide Web.

Abstract: In a video communications system and method, first and second unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) of wires are provided, with analog video signals being transported over at least one of the two UTP pairs. A switch is provided to switch transported analog video signals between the first and second UTP pairs. Full motion video having TV quality frame rate, resolution, and color is provided on a video display device. In another embodiment, a plurality of video display devices and video sources may be provided, and the switch may switch analog video signals bidirectionally among the video sources and video devices.

Abstract: An interactive multimedia audio/video communications system uses a lower data rate, non-deterministic graphics/command network having a plurality of desktop viewing stations and a network server. A separate, higher data rate, deterministic audio/video network is coupled to the plurality of desktop viewing stations using appropriate resources, such as an audio/video routing switcher and a professional disk recorder. A database contains a telephone directory so that when a user at one of the plurality of stations desires to communicate with another station, the user selects a telephone number and the server from the database determines the appropriate resources required to complete the connection. The server configures the necessary hardware via the graphics/command network to route the audio/video signals over the audio/video network from one station to the other.

Abstract: Known telecommunication systems comprising a switch and terminals having a display+video codec for displaying video and an audio tranceiver for transceiving audio and comprising a detector for a detection of a telephone call going on between a first and a second terminal, can offer more user possibilities by providing said telecommunication system with a transmitter for, in response to said detection and an activation signal, transmitting video displayed at said first terminal to said second terminal for being displayed there as well. So, while a user of said first terminal is watching video, which video either originates at said first terminal or arrives via said switch after being generated by an external video source, said user of said first terminal has got the possibility (activation signal) of allowing an other user of said second terminal (who for example made said call) to also watch said video.

Abstract: A local area network for the simultaneous, bi-directional transmission of video bandwidth signals includes an economical switching matrix.

Abstract: A system including a broadband switch includes a controller which coordinates video call set-up and a switch for connecting various phone lines together through diplexers. The system permits video telephone conferencing and other video related applications to be performed over ordinary telephone wires. Two diplexer/modems are typically provided for each user: one at the user's telephone jack and another at the central PBX location for that user's telephone line. The PBX connections can usually be made in a central wiring closet. A video server can also be provided which retrieves video images from disk to provide on demand to users. the existing PBX handles the switching of normal telephone audio signals, and a broadband data switch handles the switching of broadband signals over the same telephone wires that the PBX uses. The broadband switch essentially “piggybacks” off the PBX system and avoids interference with telephone signals through the use of diplexers.

Abstract: A bidirectional digital signal transmission system includes a transmission line, and video instruments respectively connected to both ends of the transmission line. In each of the video instruments, a digitized signal is multiplexed on a time division basis and compressed in a time base, thereby generating a transmission signal constituted by repetition of a signal period and a quiescent period. The transmission signal generated by one of the video instruments is transmitted during the quiescent period of the transmission signal generated by another one of the video instruments, thereby realizing bidirectional digital signal transmission. The system further includes a repeater circuit inserted in the transmission line at an intermediate location thereof to compensate for deterioration of the signal occurring during transmission over the transmission line. The repeater circuit includes a switch device for preventing a transmission signal feedback loop from being formed in the repeater circuit.

Abstract: A communications system has a real time signal generating part for generating the real time signal of data rate R with one frame as one unit; a transmission part, having a transmission rate C (C>R), over which the real time signal is transmitted; and a real time signal outputting part for outputting the real time signal stored in a real time signal receive buffer part, wherein after storing the real time signal for a prescribed number, N, of frames in the real time signal receive buffer part, the real time signal outputting part is activated, thereby performing control so that all generated portions of the real time signal can be output at the receiving end without interruption.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system capable of dispensing with the video/audio encoder in each communication terminal. A switch selects one of plural video/audio inputs. A video capture device of a transmission apparatus digitizes the selected video signal. A video encoder effects compression-encoding of the video capture device according to motion JPEG, MPEG and H.261. A selector sets compression video data to be transmitted, among the video data compressed by different encoding methods, and sends such data to a communication buffer. An audio encoder digitizes and encodes the selected audio signal and sends such signal to the communication buffer. The encoded video and audio data of the communication buffer are read to a network. A control circuit controls devices according to control commands received through the network.

Abstract: A local area network for the simultaneous, bi-directional transmission of video bandwidth signals includes an economical switching matrix.