Abstract: Initiating a conference in a conferencing system (e.g., a videoconferencing or audioconferencing system). Input may be received to the conferencing system from a mobile communication device. The input may specify one or more participants in the videoconference, e.g., by selecting from contact information stored on the mobile communication device. Accordingly, the conferencing system may initiate the conference based on the received input. The videoconference may include the one or more participants selected from the contact information stored on the mobile communication device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a primary endpoint may receive a request from an endpoint to begin a videoconference and/or may be managing a videoconference with an endpoint. The primary endpoint may determine whether to switch or direct conference communications from one or more endpoints in the videoconference or attempting to connect to the videoconference to a secondary endpoint and may communicate the instructions to the endpoint and/or secondary endpoint. In some embodiments, the primary endpoint may seamlessly pass one or more of the endpoints to the secondary endpoint such that participants in the videoconference may not be aware that a switch has been performed. In some embodiments, the primary endpoint may contact the secondary endpoint and may then pass endpoints to the secondary endpoint. The primary endpoint may also pass configuration information for the endpoints to the secondary endpoint.

Abstract: Determining a buffer size in a videoconference. In some embodiments, one or more of various different error correction methods may be used in a videoconference. For example, forward error correction (FEC) may be used and/or retransmission of lost packets (ReTxLP) may be used, e.g., based on a packet loss threshold. Where FEC is used, a buffer size of a receiving videoconferencing device may be determined based on the FEC rate. Where ReTxLP is used, a buffer size of the receiving videoconferencing device may be determined based on a retransmission latency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a spatially multiplexed output decoder may spatially multiplex video packets received in a time multiplexed video stream. A video stream with video packets from two or more sources may be received along with metadata. In some embodiments, a decoder may organize the video packets into respective buffers (e.g., each buffer including video packets for a respective video image). The spatially multiplexed output decoder may spatially multiplex the video images (which are made up of data from the respective video packets) into a video frame to be outputted (e.g., to a separate buffer). The video images in the video frame may then be demultiplexed in other parts of the system (e.g., in a virtual decoder) using information provided about the video frame (e.g., in metadata formed with the video frame).

Abstract: Controlling a videoconference based on gestures received to a touch interface. A gesture may be received to a touch interface. In response to the gesture, a videoconference action may be performed. For example, a first gesture may be received to mute the videoconference and in response, the videoconference may be muted. As another example, a second gesture may be received to adjust the volume of the videoconference, and the volume may be correspondingly adjusted. Further, various gestures may be received for controlling one or more cameras in a videoconference, accessing settings in a videoconference, interacting with a presentation, etc.

Abstract: Controlling a videoconference based on gestures received to a touch interface. A gesture may be received to a touch interface. In response to the gesture, a videoconference action may be performed. For example, a first gesture may be received to mute the videoconference and in response, the videoconference may be muted. As another example, a second gesture may be received to adjust the volume of the videoconference, and the volume may be correspondingly adjusted. Further, various gestures may be received for controlling one or more cameras in a videoconference, accessing settings in a videoconference, interacting with a presentation, etc.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) or another video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to another video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, the video frame may be separated into its separate images using, for example, metadata sent along with the video frame. The metadata may include video image identifiers and location information (e.g., coordinates in the video frame) of the video images. In some embodiments, the separated video images may be provided to a compositor that may composite the separated video images, for example, into a new layout.

Abstract: Sharing computer video in a videoconference. The method may include acquiring video on a computer. The method may also include coding the acquired video on the computer. Transmitting the coded video from the computer to a videoconferencing unit may also be included in the method. Also, the method may include packaging the transmitted video coded on the videoconferencing unit. Furthermore, the method may include transmitting the packaged video to a videoconferencing destination.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a videoconferencing endpoint may be an MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) or may include embedded MCU functionality. In various embodiments, the endpoint may thus conduct a videoconference by receiving/compositing video and audio from multiple videoconference endpoints. The endpoint may select a subset of endpoints and form a composite video image from the subset of the videoconference endpoints to send to the other videoconference endpoints. In some embodiments, the subset of endpoints that are selected for compositing into the composite video image may be selected according to criteria such as the last N talking participants. In some embodiments, the master endpoint may request the non-talker endpoints to stop sending video to help conserve the resources on the master endpoint. In some embodiments, the master endpoint may ignore video from endpoints that are not being displayed.

Abstract: Determining a buffer size in a videoconference. In some embodiments, one or more of various different error correction methods may be used in a videoconference. For example, forward error correction (FEC) may be used and/or retransmission of lost packets (ReTxLP) may be used, e.g., based on a packet loss threshold. Where FEC is used, a buffer size of a receiving videoconferencing device may be determined based on the FEC rate. Where ReTxLP is used, a buffer size of the receiving videoconferencing device may be determined based on a retransmission latency.

Abstract: Initiating a conference in a conferencing system (e.g., a videoconferencing or aduioconferencing system). Input may be received to the conferencing system from a mobile communication device. The input may specify one or more participants in the videoconference, e.g., by selecting from contact information stored on the mobile communication device. Accordingly, the conferencing system may initiate the conference based on the received input. The videoconference may include the one or more participants selected from the contact information stored on the mobile communication device.

Abstract: Methods for authenticating a person to participant in a videoconference based on facial imaging, fingerprint imaging, other biometric information, passwords, and physical mediums are described. Identity information for the potential participant may be received, and a recognition algorithm may be performed to determine whether the received identity information for the potential participant matches pre-stored identity information for a first person, e.g., where the potential videoconferencing participant claims to be a specific person. If the recognition algorithm determines a match, the potential videoconferencing participant may be authenticated to participate in the videoconference.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a videoconferencing system may support using high definition images (e.g., 1280×720 pixels) for high definition displays. The videoconferencing system comprises a plurality of participant locations that may participate in the videoconference. Each participant location may comprise videoconferencing equipment, such as at least one camera, microphone(s), a display, one or more speakers, and a videoconferencing codec. The camera may be a high definition camera operable to acquire or capture images having a high resolution compatible with HDTV. In one embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment comprises a H.264 encoder and is operable to encode the video stream of high definition images using H.264 encoding techniques. In one embodiment the network may be 1.544 MB or less (e.g., T1 or less). In another embodiment, the network is 2.048 MB or less.

Abstract: System and method for performing a videoconference. One or more computers are utilized to schedule a videoconference call in response to user input requesting the videoconference call, where the user input further specifies presentation materials for presentation during the videoconference call. The presentation materials are uploaded to a content server computer, and the videoconference call is conducted between a plurality of participants at respective participant locations, where the videoconference call is performed using a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints at respective ones of the participant locations, and where the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints are coupled to the content server computer over a network. During the videoconference call, the presentation materials are provided to each of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints from the content server computer over the network, where the provided presentation materials are presented by each videoconferencing endpoint.

Abstract: A virtual distributed multipoint control unit in a videoconference may be implemented using a master endpoint, one or more facilitator endpoints, and one or more leaf endpoints. The facilitator endpoint(s) may receive video and/or audio from the leaf endpoints (which may provide/receive videoconference audio and video to one or more local participants). The master endpoint may receive video and/or audio from one or more facilitator endpoints (which may include cumulative video stream from multiple leaf endpoints) and/or directly from one or more leaf endpoints. The master endpoint may arrange received video and/or audio and provide cumulative video and/or audio streams to the leaf endpoints (e.g., directly and/or through the facilitator endpoints). The virtual distributed multipoint control unit may support a conference with more leaf endpoints than the master endpoint has input ports and/or decoders.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting local motion between image frames are presented. Each image frame may include a plurality of pixels. A first image frame and a second image frame may be received. Values of a first plurality of pixels at first pixel locations of the first image frame may be read. Values of a second plurality of pixels at second pixel locations of the second image frame may be read. The first pixel locations of the first image frame may correspond to the second pixel locations of the second image frame. A first delta function, based on differences between pixel values between the first and second image frames, may be calculated to produce a first output. The first output may be compared to a first one or more thresholds. It may be determined whether local motion has occurred in the second image frame based on said comparing.

Abstract: System and method for performing a videoconference. One or more computers are utilized to passively monitor a videoconference call between a plurality of participants at respective participant locations, where the videoconference call is performed using a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints at respective ones of the participant locations, and where the monitoring includes monitoring one or more parameters from each of the videoconferencing endpoints. The videoconference call is actively monitored upon detecting values of the one or more parameters from a first videoconferencing endpoint indicating a lack of call quality, thereby generating active monitor data. The active monitor data is automatically analyzed to determine at least one problem causing lack of call quality, and at least one action is automatically determined and performed to address the at least one problem. The active monitoring may also be invoked manually, e.g., in response to user input.

Abstract: Determining a videoconference layout based on numbers of participants. Videoconference data may be received from a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. The videoconference data may include audio and video. Information may be stored which identifies a number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. Video from each of the videoconferencing endpoints may be combined to form composite video. The composite video may include portions corresponding to each of the plurality of videoconferencing endpoints. A respective size of each of the portions may be based on the information identifying the number of participants at each videoconferencing endpoint. The composite video may be provided to videoconferencing endpoint(s) over a network.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) or another video conferencing device (e.g., an endpoint) may generate a video frame that includes video images of two or more video conferencing endpoints. The video frame may then be sent to another video conferencing device that may receive the video frame and separate the two or more video images into separate video images. In some embodiments, the video frame may be separated into its separate images using, for example, metadata sent along with the video frame. The metadata may include video image identifiers and location information (e.g., coordinates in the video frame) of the video images. In some embodiments, the separated video images may be provided to a compositor that may composite the separated video images, for example, into a new layout.