Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for clustering two or more video conferencing recording/streaming devices, making the cluster of two or more devices appear as one single device for the user. One of the recording/streaming devices acts as a cluster controller and provides a user interface to the users. System settings are propagated to the other recording/streaming devices in the cluster from the cluster controller. A load balancing system controls incoming and outgoing calls, distributing the computational load amongst the recording/streaming devices evenly.

Abstract: The status of a video call is displayed in a simplified and intuitive graphical user interface that presents status information of individual video devices of the video call with graphical or color indications with a gauge metaphor, such as a vertically or horizontally aligned bar of icons. Each video device of the video call is represented by an icon having a display position or color so that the icons are arranged to depict video devices together that have similar states. For instance, a video call is represented by a bar of icons ordered by the status of each video device with icons having the same color located contiguous with each other so that a video call with an overall good status appears as a green bar and a video call with an overall poor status appears as a red bar with red icons indicating failed video devices. A summary icon summarizes the overall state of a video call by indicating the color or graphical information of the video device of the video call that has the problem of greatest concern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method allowing users to record/stream a video conference by dialing a Content Server from any endpoint using a personal alias or aliases, or by dialing an endpoint from a content server using a personal alias or aliases. The alias(es) will define their preferred streaming/archiving template(s) and call configuration(s), allow them to set specific viewing rules for the conference and identify them as the owner of the conferences created through this alias. The alias owner can also assign default meta data (title, description, etc.) and an access list for determining who can view the recorded and/or streamed conference. By allowing this, each user can easily stream/record a conference with their preferred settings without having to check or change the settings each time a new call is made, and without changing the settings for other users.

Abstract: Hot deployable video management modules maintain a video device management platform by integrating independently developed support for new or updated video devices at runtime. A video device module loader builds a management interface for the new or updated video device associated with the management module based on attributes and operations of the video device defined by an XML descriptor and based on access instructions. The management interface is used to create a video device instance in the management platform for each video device under management. The management platform manages a variety of different types of video devices with a video device management module added as a given video device is added to the management platform or an already managed video device is updated.

Abstract: The present invention is related to pre-processing of video data before coding and transmission. In particular, the present invention includes a method and a system of interaction between a camera and a codec in a video conference arrangement. The main idea of the present invention is to detect changes in macroblocks in subsequent image frames captured by the camera sensor by making comparisons between macroblocks in the current frame and macroblocks from corresponding locations inside a reference frame, and provide the result of the comparison to the encoder together with the image data. The comparison between the macroblocks includes threshold values so as to prevent false indications of changes due to camera noise.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method of a videoconferencing end-point provide for eye contact between users at different sites. A conference camera is placed in the light beam of a projector apparatus without degrading the camera-captured view by the projector light. This is provided by generating a black spot in the light beam covering the camera lens, and by adjusting the position and/or size of the black spot according to a camera position detector, which may be the camera itself or one or more light sensors around and close to the camera lens.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for initiating, routing and scheduling video conferences. A dial URL is introduced with a prefix unique for calling purposes. When a user activates such an URL in his web browser, a content handler associated with the browser will recognize the type of URL and send a request to a managing tool to determine an available calling route between the user's preferred end-point and the end-point being addressed in the URL with the required resources. The managing tool then schedules the resources and initiates the call between the end-points, thereby allowing for a one-click initiation of ad-hoc video calls and video conferences.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for establishing a conference call between a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint. This is achieved by means of a soft client residing on a portable communication terminal, which is able to receive and initiate calls from/to the first endpoint, and to establish a local connection with and move the call to the second endpoint, in order to exploit the high quality features available in the second conference endpoint.

Abstract: A system, method and software permitting the publication of resource availability information and the management of reservation requests therefor are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a resource provider provides authorization, availability, descriptive, linking and criteria information for a resource available for reservation presented on a publicly accessible web site. Users permitted to access to the data can browse and search the published resource related data and request appointments with or reservations of the listed resources. Resource providers are permitted to actively or automatically manage reservations and appointments requesting their resources. Available on a publicly accessible web site, resource providers may also control and define access limitations for various groups of viewers.

Abstract: A video coding apparatus, method, and computer program product for removing transform coding noise especially in flat areas of a frame, which appears as remaining parts of moving objects in a video picture. Transform coding noise is removed by forcing a macroblock to be intra coded instead of inter coded when certain criteria are fulfilled so as to reveal whether the macroblock contain annoying quantization generated noise and to detect if an equalization is necessary.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for reserving fractionally schedulable resources. The system includes a scheduling engine to receive reservation requests. The scheduling engine applies the reservation request to a resource usage table corresponding to a fractionally schedulable resource required by the reservation request. If the fractionally schedulable resource has adequate capacity to comply with the requested reservation, the scheduling engine will add the reservation request to a resource usage table.

Abstract: The invention is related to decoding of block wise coded video pictures. The determination of using de-blocking filtering between coded blocks is based on alternative characteristics compared to the characteristics used in H.264/AVC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an audio communication system and method with improved acoustic characteristics. The present invention utilizes the Haas effect to simulate a sound picture that gives a better subjective impression of stereo sound compared to the objective stereo image. It provides a system and a method for presenting the stereo image in an optimal way for an associated echo canceller without compromising with the subjective perception of stereo.

Abstract: In particular, the present invention provides a method and system for conferencing, including the steps of connecting at least two sites to a conference, receiving at least two video signals and two audio signals from the connected sites, consecutively analyzing the audio data from the at least two sites connected in the conference by converting at least a part of the audio data to acoustical features and extracting keywords and speech parameters from the acoustical features using speech recognition, and comparing said extracted keywords to predefined words, then deciding if said extracted predefined keywords are to be considered a call for attention based on said speech parameters, and further, defining an image layout based on said decision, and processing the received video signals to provide a video signal according to the defined image layout, and transmitting the composite video signal to at least one of the at least two connected sites.

Abstract: A system and method for re-routing a failed video call schedules one or more reserve video devices for use in the event of failure of the video devices selected to support a video call. Upon detection of a failure of a video device, the video network platform re-establishes the video call by using the reserve video devices to replace the failed video device, thus avoiding the waste of video network resources and delays in the completion of a video call. More efficient use of reserve video devices is obtained by pooling the reserve video devices with a reserve video network that supports plural primary video networks.

Abstract: A method and system with means for preventing unauthorized monitoring of a local conference room (1) in which a local conferencing system (2) is located comprising generation of a deterministic sound signal (300), and loading the deterministic sound signal on a first loudspeaker (5) connected to, or integrated in the conferencing system (2), detecting the deterministic signal (600) by analyzing a microphone signal picked up by a microphone (4) connected to, or integrated in the conferencing system (2), and transferring the conference system (2) into a security mode (1100), if the deterministic signal is not detected.

Abstract: A method detects blocks that are to be indicated as skipped at an earlier stage of the encoding process, than would be the case with other implementations of the ITU H.263 and H.264 standards. The method includes transforming 4×4 blocks in the macro blocks having a skip vector of zero with a binary-transform function. The blocks having values of the four uppermost left binary-transform coefficients less than a predefined threshold, are defined as skipped, thus, minimizing the need for computationally demanding block transformation or quantization.

Abstract: A method in video decoding for reducing blocking artifacts between a first and a second block in a block wise coded video picture by performing a test on pixel lines crossing a boundary and/or an extension of the boundary between the first and the second block and executing a de-blocking filter operation on boundary neighboring pixels if the test indicates artifacts. The method further includes performing the test on a subset of the pixel lines only, and if the test indicates artifacts, executing a de-blocking filter operation on the boundary neighboring pixels in each of the pixel lines crossing the boundary.