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 degraded video call links are provided. In some embodiments, systems for identifying degraded video call links are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor that: calculates network metrics and quality metrics of a video call stream received at a device through a first link and then through a second link; determines whether a network problem is present in the video call stream based on the network metrics; determines whether a quality problem is present in the video call stream based on the quality metrics; and determines that the second link is degraded if both a network problem and a quality problem are determined to be present, and determines that the first link is degraded if a quality problem is determined to be present but a network problem is not determined to be present.

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 infomlation 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 retransmitting data using the SRTP are provided. In some embodiments, methods for retransmitting data using the SRTP are provided. The methods include: receiving at least one data unit associated with a media session; determining the index of the at least one data unit; determining the session key of the media session using the index; authenticating the at least one data unit using the session key; and retransmitting the at least one data unit.

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 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: Methods, media, and devices for providing visual resources of video conference participants are provided. In some embodiments, methods for providing a visual resource of a participant to a video conference comprise: determining that the participant is joining or departing the video conference; accessing a visual resource that identifies the participant; and presenting the visual resource to at least one other participant to the video conference.

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: A media portal is provided that is used to connect multimedia devices to other multimedia devices and content servers. When a call directed to a multimedia device busy in a call with the media portal is received, the media portal can provide a call waiting indication to the busy multimedia device without breaking the connection that is making the device busy. For example, if a first multimedia device is connected through the media portal to a content server providing streaming content of a football match, when a second device attempts to place a call to the first device, the media portal can provide a call waiting alert to the first device as part of, or as a substitute for, the delivery of the football match. Additionally the media portal can provide for the eventual connection of both devices while the previous call is still active.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and media for determining and assigning optimal media characteristics in communications sessions are provided.

Abstract: Methods and products for reducing the time required to set-up a call are provided. In particular, new functionality to H.324 is added by allowing the transmission of media to commence after a reduced number of H.245 messages have been exchanged by two calling devices. If two terminals involved in a call are capable of automatic connect renegotiation, one or more predetermined logical channels in the two terminals for transmitting media is selected, a message is sent from one terminal to the other terminal to open the predetermined logical channel, and media transmission between the two terminals is commenced.

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: A tunneling system and method is described for traversing firewalls, NATs, and proxies. Upon a request from a device on the secure private network or on a public network such as the Internet, a connection to a designated or permitted device of the secure private network by way of the public network can be established, allowing selected devices of the private network to access devices on the public network. A bi-directional channel can be established where information such as rich multimedia and real-time voice and video can be accessed or communicated.

Abstract: A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

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: A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

Abstract: Methods and products for reducing the time required to set-up a call are provided. In particular, new functionality to H.324 is added by allowing the transmission of media to commence after a reduced number of H.245 messages have been exchanged by two calling devices. If two terminals involved in a call are capable of automatic connect renegotiation, one or more predetermined logical channels in the two terminals for transmitting media is selected, a message is sent from one terminal to the other terminal to open the predetermined logical channel, and media transmission between the two terminals is commenced.

Abstract: Method for dynamically optimizing bandwidth allocation in a variable bitrate conference environment. Conference means with two or more outputs are provided, where each one can output data at different rates, in order to support two or more endpoints which may have different media rates. Two or more endpoints are connected to these conference means for participating in the conference. Whenever more than one video rate is used by participants during the conference, each set of output rates is selected from all possible combinations of output rates in the conference means, wherein the lowest output rate in each selected set is the entry rate of the endpoint joining the conference at the lowest rate. A Quality Drop Coefficient (QDC) for each endpoint that joins the conference is determined for each selected set, wherein the QDC is computed according to the endpoint entry rate and the highest rate, among the output rates of each selected set, that is lower or equal to said endpoints' entry rate.