Abstract: An integrated videoconferencing system has a credenza that houses three displays at predefined angles with respect to one another. A table positions in from the credenza for seating participants across from the credenza's displays. The table has three seating sections that are angled at another predefined angle with respect to one another. Three cameras are positioned in the top of the credenza, and each has a view angle directed perpendicularly at one of the seating sections. The table can also have a portion that interconnects with the credenza. In use, the integrated system allows the participants to conduct a telepresence videoconference in which the near-end participants can interact with the far-end participants as if they were all seated at the same conference table in the room together.

Abstract: A bank of processing units is connected to a number of LANs via a bank of MAC controllers. An interconnect switch allows any of the processing units to access any of the MAC controllers. A housekeeping processor periodically detects faults in the connectivity of the processing units to the LANs. When a fault is detected, a redundant processing unit is assigned to be connected to the LAN. If a fault still exists, then a redundant MAC controller is assigned to the redundant processing unit. The MAC address of the previous MAC controller is reassigned to the redundant MAC controller.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for overcoming lost packets and avoiding congestion when conducting media conferences over packet switched networks are described herein. To avoid the problem of lost packets, redundant information is inserted into the media stream that permits the receiver to reconstruct any lost packets from the redundant information. Congestion avoidance techniques include adjusting the bitrate of the media stream to find the highest bitrate that can be supported without packet loss due to congestion. When increasing the bitrate to a higher rate, the additional bits can come from the redundant information used for lost packet recovery so that any lost packets caused by network congestion will not adversely affect the bitstream.

Abstract: A system and method for cascading local conferences into a multi-site conference is disclosed. The local conferences are located in different sites where each site has endpoints served by a local multipoint control unit (MCU). An invitation to a multi-site conference is sent to participants at the different sites. The invitation includes a conference ID of the multi-site conference. The invited participants join the multi-site conference by calling a dial-in number of the local MCU associated with the caller's site. The caller gives the conference ID of the multi-site conference to the local MCU. The system searches the plurality of local MCUs to find those local conferences having the same conference ID conducted by different MCUs. For each found conference ID, the local MCUs are cascaded to establish a multi-site conference associated with the conference ID.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for enhancing a digital image comprised of pixels by adaptively sharpening the pixels and clipping the numerical values of the sharpened edge pixels so as to fall between the smallest unsharpened numerical value and the greatest unsharpened numerical value, respectively, of the pixels located within a neighborhood of the pixels. Pixels which are located on an edge are sharpened in the direction perpendicular to the edge. The threshold value used to ascertain the presence of an edge and sharpening parameter used to control the degree of sharpening can be adaptively controlled by the zoom ratio. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited for an electronic set-top video camera.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling cropping areas of video images to match the allocated area associated with the image in a video conferencing layout. The disclosed methods can protect regions of interest from being cropped. A region of interest within a video image is identified to adjust the cropping in such a way that the region of interest is preserved within the cropped image. The region of interest may be identified based on motion detection or flesh tone detection, for example.

Abstract: A communication system automatically mutes a microphone in response to a key event detected from a coupled keyboard to prevent delivery of noise generated by the keyboard to a far end of the communication session. A timer is initiated for a time period when the key event occurs, and the microphone remains muted for the time period of the timer. The timer may be restarted to maintain the microphone mute in response to a subsequent key event detected while the timer is running. If the timer expires before a subsequent key event is detected, the microphone can be restored to its previous state (usually un-muted). The system can be applied to a computer coupled to the keyboard and a microphone and having a communication application operating on the computer. Alternatively, the system can be applied to a computer coupled to the keyboard and coupled to an external conferencing unit having a communication application.

Abstract: A conferencing system with improved audio response, interface, and audio source tracking capabilities includes a low-profile base unit capable of capturing and processing audio and video information and of interfacing with other external devices, and a separate network interface device coupled to the low-profile base unit and capable of connecting to a network, producing audible sound, regulating power, and housing removable interface circuitry.

Abstract: Described herein is a de-blocking filter arrangement for video encoders and decoders that include a de-blocking loop filter. In some embodiments, the post filter may be configured to process all edges that were not processed by the loop filter. In other embodiments the encoder may specify which edges should be processed by the loop filter and/or by the post filter. Also disclosed herein is a de-blocking filter arrangement for video encoders and decoders that include first and second de-blocking loop filters. The second loop filter is configured to operate only on slice boundaries that were not processed by the first loop filter, e.g., for one of the reasons described above.

Abstract: A technique is provided for reducing power consumption of an internally powered console in an audio system through frequency based signal routing. A system employing the technique includes a base unit having an interface for receiving a signal representative of acoustic information. The base unit includes a filter system for splitting the signal into low-frequency and high-frequency component signals. The low-frequency signal is routed to a first audio driver for reproduction. The high-frequency signal is routed to a device that includes a second audio driver. By removing the need to reproduce the low-frequency portion of the acoustic information, the power consumption of the device is reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for scheduling and conducting videoconferences that ensure that the necessary bandwidth for the videoconference will be available and that select the least cost equipment to carry the videoconference. An embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of determining for a schedule request by a user if the necessary bandwidth to conduct a videoconference will be available. Also, the embodiment measures the performance of equipment and systems used to conduct the videoconference and determines if the equipment and systems are performing at a level necessary to conduct the videoconference. Alternative embodiments may include selecting multipoint endpoints to support the videoconference, scheduling videoconferences over two independent networks, emulating routers to ensure that the least cost route for the videoconference is selected, and responding to a scheduling request by informing the user to reschedule the videoconference when the network cannot support the videoconference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting video images generated by multiple endpoints in a videoconference such that the displayed images have consistent appearance, for example consistent brightness levels are disclosed. Sampling methods and algorithms are used to calculate an appropriate amount of correction for each video image and the images are adjusted accordingly. Brightness correction may implement one or more brightness sampling and analyzing logical modules (BSAM) and one or more transforming logical module (TLM). The brightness matching methods may be implemented in centralized architecture, for example, as part of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Alternatively, the methods may be implemented using a distributed architecture.

Abstract: A presentation device includes an embedded web server for transmitting images representative of presentation information to network-connected terminals concurrently with the display of such presentation information at the presentation site. The images may be viewed at the terminals by pointing a conventional web browser to a DNS name or IP address associated with the presentation device. Certain of the terminals may be given presenter privileges, wherein the users of the presenter terminals may control aspects of the presentation such as slide sequencing by engaging the appropriate controls displayed within the browser window. In this manner, presentations may be viewed and controlled remotely using a conventional browser interface.

Abstract: A conference link between devices in teleconference system at one site is disclosed. The linked devices include video conference units, speakerphones or stand-alone loudspeakers. Audio data can be transmitted through the conference link between devices. Audio data processing can be performed in either a video conference unit or a speakerphone. The microphones and loudspeakers in the video conference unit may be eliminated. The microphones and loudspeakers in the speakerphone are used. Other data, for example directories of dialing information, may also be transmitted through the conference link and the data processing may be allocated among processors in devices connected by conference links. The conference link may be wired or wireless, analog or digital. The devices may be linked by conference link in parallel or series. A dialing program can adapt the dialing stream with the locations of the near end site and the dialed far end site.

Abstract: A user can design their own custom composed view for a videoconference depending on the users' individualized needs. The view can include segments (windows) in which participating conferees' video images are presented and accessory elements such as window borders, text, icons, and the like. The content of the accessory elements can be linked to events within the conference or the content of other objects within the view. A custom composed view for a video conference can be designed off-line by a user, loaded into a videoconferencing device, and executed to generate the custom composed view. The videoconferencing device can synchronize the content of accessory elements with the content of other objects presented in the view.

Abstract: A network adapter detection is used to establish a videoconference between a videoconferencing unit and a remote endpoint. Information about a plurality of network adapters available for the videoconferencing application is obtained, and one or more test messages are sent to at least one open source server using each of one or more of the obtained network adapters. The videoconferencing unit than awaits a response to each of the one or more sent test messages from the at least one open source server. If a response is received, the videoconferencing application uses the network adapter that received the response to establish a videoconference connection with the remote endpoint.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a video bit rate (VBR) over a network includes reducing the VBR if the network incurs a packet loss (PL) that is greater than a PL threshold increasing the VBR if the PL is less than or equal to the PL threshold over a maximum integer number of time intervals and increasing the maximum integer number of time intervals if the PL is greater than the packet loss threshold at the increased VBR. In addition, the VBR is increased over consecutive time intervals until a maximum video bit rate is restored, if the PL over each consecutive time interval is less than or equal to the packet loss threshold.

Abstract: According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as “people” or “content.” The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., “people/presenter” or “people/presenter/video/” A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling presentations and videoconference using hand motions. A camera captures video of an area relative to content displayed on a display device from a content source. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the content source, the display device, and the camera. The control unit receives captured video from the camera. The control unit detects a hand motion by a presenter that occurs within the captured video and determines the location within the captured video of at least one control for controlling the presentation or videoconference. The control unit determines if the detected hand motion occurs within the determined location of the at least one control, and the control unit controls the content source based on the determined control.