Abstract: A novel universal bridge (UB) can handle and conduct multimedia multipoint conferences between a plurality of MREs and LEPs without using an MRM, an MCU and a gateway. Further, a UB can be configured to allocate and release resources dynamically according to the current needs of each conferee and the session.

Abstract: A telepresence system which includes at least one display device and a beacon coupled to the display device. The beacon emits a signal so as to be discoverable by electronic devices nearby such as in a meeting location. The system also includes a receiver-controller coupled to the beacon, the receiver-controller configured to enable such electronic devices to be recognized and to join a collaborative session in which content from one electronic device can be shared with other electronic devices. The receiver-controller can and will share some or all of its functions with one or more of the joined devices simultaneously, if security and identity protocols are satisfied.

Abstract: A system for matching audio-to-video spatial presence in a teleconference, which includes capturing video stream with a camera of a teleconferencing unit at a local endpoint. The teleconferencing unit has a first end and a second end, and a camera located midway between. The system determines a visual stage based on the video stream, and captures audio using microphones on both sides of the camera. The system determines a sound stage based on the audio captured by the microphones, and matches the sound stage to the visual stage, based on the direction of a sound source relative the parameters of the visual stage. The visual stage and matching sound stage can by output for rendering by one or more devices at a second endpoint.

Abstract: A presentation system capable of detecting one or more gestures and contacts on a touch sensitive display. The presentation system can displaying indicia of such contacts, such as when a user writes with a fingertip, and can remove or alter such indicia responsive to other gestures and contacts. The system can accurately distinguish between types of gestures detected, such as between a writing gesture and an erasing gesture, on both large and small touch sensitive displays, thereby obviating the need for a user to make additional selective inputs to transition from one type of gesture to another. The presentation system can distinguish between gestures appropriate for one type of writing and another. For example the system can determine that gestures correspond to writing in Chinese versus English, and display the writing in a style that is appropriate for that language.

Abstract: An endpoint optimizes bandwidth by initiating a peer-to-peer conference with a plurality of remote devices, generating a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level, transmit a request to the first device to receive the first data stream at the first quality level, determining that a second device of the plurality of remote devices is not a member of the first quality list, and in response to determining that the second device of the plurality of remote devices is not a member of the first quality list, transmitting a request to the second device to receive a second data stream at a second quality level.

Abstract: The spectral response of an omnidirectional microphone is used as a reference. This reference is compared to the spectral response of each directional microphone to develop scale factors that are applied to the directional microphone spectral response to perform spectral equalization. The outputs of the omnidirectional microphone and the directional microphones are decomposed into a series of sub-bands and the comparison and equalization is done for each sub-band. The equalized sub-bands are then converted into a time domain signal for further processing by the conference phone or video conference system.

Abstract: Disclosed are communications devices which can send indications that they are secure, and which can detect when a far end device is not secure (unsecure). A secure device is one that is not connected to a speakerphone or other speaker which is capable of emitting—or actually is emitting—sound which is louder than a certain threshold. If a communication device detects that a remote endpoint is unsecure, the communication device will switch to an unsecure mode. When the switch is made, the communications device alerts the user that the call is not secure so that the user can proceed accordingly.

Abstract: A videoconferencing device that determines a spatial arrangement of the video streams output at a first endpoint based on a number of display devices being utilized at the first endpoint and a number of cameras being utilized at each of the one or more additional endpoints.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating images in a videoconferencing session provides users with a 3-D-like view of one or more presented sites, without the need for 3-D equipment. A plurality of cameras may record a room at a transmitting endpoint, and the receiving endpoint may select one of the received video streams based upon a point of view of a conferee at the receiving endpoint. The conferee at the receiving endpoint will thus experience a 3-D-like view of the presented site.

Abstract: A presentation system capable of detecting one or more gestures and contacts on a touch sensitive display. The presentation system can displaying indicia of such contacts, such as when a user writes with a fingertip, and can remove or alter such indicia responsive to other gestures and contacts. The system can accurately distinguish between types of gestures detected, such as between a writing gesture and an erasing gesture, on both large and small touch sensitive displays, thereby obviating the need for a user to make additional selective inputs to transition from one type of gesture to another. The presentation system can distinguish between gestures appropriate for one type of marking and another. The system can distinguish between contacts intended by the user as part of an erasure gesture, and those which are incidentally or accidentally made while the user is writing, drawing or annotating on a display surface.

Abstract: A presentation system capable of detecting one or more gestures and contacts on a touch sensitive display. The presentation system can displaying indicia of such contacts, such as when a user writes with a fingertip, and can remove or alter such indicia responsive to other gestures and contacts. The system can accurately distinguish between types of gestures detected, such as between a writing gesture and an erasing gesture, on both large and small touch sensitive displays, thereby obviating the need for a user to make additional selective inputs to transition from one type of gesture to another.

Abstract: Apparatuses, computer readable media, and methods are disclosed for providing composite images and/or videos having a high dynamic range. The apparatus includes a video capture module for capturing video images of a scene at a differing exposure levels. The apparatus further includes a region identification module for identifying regions in the captured video images of the scene that may benefit from being individually optimally-exposed. The apparatus further includes a region adjustment module for updating the positions of the various identified regions within the scene and a region exposure adjustment module for determining optimal exposure settings for the various identified regions of the scene. A video subsystem composites and encodes the various optimally-exposed regions of the scene onto a video image of a static portion of the scene having a high dynamic range that was, e.g., captured at a different moment in time than the various optimally-exposed regions of the scene.

Abstract: A system for displaying images captured with a wide view lens in a split view without distortion. The system captures raw image data using the wide view lens and renders it to projection plane corresponding to a curved display surface, and then maps the image data from the projection plane to a rectilinear display screen, thereby eliminating all distortion in the displayed image regardless of the angle of view of the lens.

Abstract: A videoconference apparatus and method coordinates a stationary view obtained with a stationary camera to an adjustable view obtained with an adjustable camera. The stationary camera can be a web camera, while the adjustable camera can be a pan-tilt-zoom camera. As the stationary camera obtains video, participants are detected and localized by establishing a static perimeter around a participant in which no motion is detected. Thereafter, if no motion is detected in the perimeter, any personage objects such as head, face, or shoulders which are detected in the region bounded by the perimeter are determined to correspond to the participant.

Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. An automatic process can include a method for composing a display for use in a video system having an active talker video stream and a panoramic view video stream having more than one person in video. The method can include determining a region of interest in a panoramic view video using motion detection and presence sensors, and preparing the panoramic view video by centering the region of interest and by zooming towards the region of interest, based upon the location of persons in the panoramic view video. The method includes determining placement of panoramic view video on a composite display to prevent the panoramic view video overlaying display of an active talker on the active talker video stream.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system for enabling communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices. In another embodiment a method for enabling communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices. In a further embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause one or more processors to enable communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices.

Abstract: A conferencing endpoint includes a loudspeaker, a base microphone, and a double-talk detection module which allows two-way communication between the conferencing endpoint and a remote endpoint only when participants at both endpoints are speaking at the same time, so as to minimize echo due to feedback. The double-talk detection module adds the energy of any distortion from the loudspeaker to the energy of the signal coming from the remote endpoint, and compares this combined energy with the energy of the base microphone to determine whether double-talk is present. The double-talk detection module is thus prevented from mistaking the feedback for near end talk at the endpoint.

Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. The automatic process uses sensor data to process video streams for video conferencing. A method and system for automatically processing sensor data on room activity into general room analytics for further processing by application of rules based logic to produce production quality video for videoconferencing is described. Sensory devices and equipment, for example motion, infrared, audio, sound source localization (SSL) and video are used to detect room activity or room stimulus. The room activity is analyzed (for example, to determine whether individuals are in the subject room, speaker identification and movement within the room) and processed to produce room analytics.