Abstract: An audio communications system has an acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) module. The AEC module receives a digital signal sent to a loudspeaker and a digital signal received from a microphone. The signal received from the microphone contains an echo of the signal played through the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker signal is processed by an audio generation module (AGM) that models substantially nonlinear distortions that can occur while producing the signal played through the loudspeaker. The AGM includes a modeling path comprised of one or more distortion modules. Each distortion module receives digital samples as input, modifies the samples to model a form of distortion, and outputs the modified samples. The output of the AGM is provided to an acoustic echo estimation (AEE) module that uses adaptive algorithms to compensate for substantially linear changes in the echo characteristics of the environment in which the loudspeaker and microphone are located.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method in an MCU for enabling intuitive endpoint initiation of a multipart conference. According to the invention, a number of conference numbers are pre-allocated and stored in the MCU. When dialling one of these numbers from an endpoint, a call will be routed to the MCU. Upon discovering that the call is addressing a conference number, the MCU establishes multipart conference temporarily including the initiating endpoint only. All endpoints calling the same conference number will then be included in the conference through the MCU and given the required MCU resources.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method making an archived conference or presentation searchable after being stored in the archive server. According to the invention, one or more media streams coded according to H.323 or SIP are transmitted to a conversion engine for converting multimedia content into a standard streaming format, which may be a cluster of files, each representing a certain medium (audio, video, data) and/or a structure file that synchronizes and associates the different media together. When the conversion is carried out, the structure file is copied and forwarded to a post-processing server. The post-processing server includes i.a. a speech recognition engine generating a text file of alphanumeric characters representing all recognized words in the audio file. The text file is then entered into the cluster of files associating each identified word to a timing tag in the structure file.

Abstract: A conferencing Gatekeeper configured to be adjusted so as to forward a conferencing media stream to be recorded to an appropriate streaming/archiving server, or alternatively to have streaming and archiving modules incorporated. Further, a method and computer program product for archiving or streaming media data between a plurality of endpoints through said gatekeeper.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an illumination device for illuminating users of a multimedia communication terminal. In particular, the illumination device includes high power white LEDs together with a reflector and a diffuser integrated in, or connected to, the terminal. Preferably, the light intensity and the position and angle relative to the terminal are controllable through a user interface.

Abstract: A communications system and method performs centralized signal processing on received audio signals. A plurality of terminals are coupled to a processing switch via links. The terminals can be, for example, dedicated speakerphones, desktop handsets, or personal computers with audio capabilities. The links can be wired or wireless, can carry analog or digital signals, and can be shared with other users in a network. The switch receives the audio data from the terminals, processes the data according to desired acoustical procedures, creates one or more output mixes, and provides the output mixes to the appropriate terminals. The operation of the processing switch is controlled by a communications support module (CSM) which can receive, process, and send data to/from multiple terminals simultaneously. The CSM receives audio signals from the terminals.

Abstract: A video network platform manages video network devices with management applications, such as scheduling, monitoring and diagnostics applications, by representing the devices as interface objects that support a network interface module, and application objects used by the management applications and created by an adapter engine that creates an application object for each corresponding video network device interface object. A network interface module associated with the video network platform invokes the adapter engine to create an application object associated with a device. The application object uses its dynamic attribute query capabilities to build an interface object in the network interface module and thus obtain device attributes such as device address information. The application module populates itself with device information for supporting management applications, thus allowing conventional network interface modules to cooperate with application specific objects.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for establishing a call in a communication system including an Instant Messaging (IM) application provided by a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) server connected to a number of IM clients, each associated with at least one conference endpoint managed by one or more management systems at least adapted to schedule and/or investigate possibilities for a conference between two or more individuals.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosis of video device performance in the transfer of audio visual data over a video network physically interfaces with the network to receive audio visual data associated with the video device of interest and uses diagnostic tools to access the audio visual data for determination of performance statistics with analysis of the accessed audio visual data, including video device jitter, latency, throughput, and packet loss.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosis of video device performance in the transfer of audio visual data over a video network physically interfaces with the network to receive audio visual data associated with the video device of interest and uses diagnostic tools to access the audio visual data for determination of performance statistics with analysis of the accessed audio visual data, including video device jitter, latency, throughput, and packet loss.

Abstract: A transmitter (14) of audio, video, or other real-time information reads the information from a persistent store (22) in which the real-time information has been stored in the Real-time-Transport Protocol (“RTP”) format (FIG. 4). A receiver (18) receives the information from the channel (16) through which the transmitter (14) has transmitted it, and the receiver may store the information in a persistent store (24) in RTP format instead of or in addition to playing it by applying it to an appropriate player (20). Parts of this communications circuit may be tested by a tester unit (26) that also employs RTP-format information from a persistent store (22).

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 apparatus for conferencing dynamically determines conference parameters such as image layout, image resolution and bandwidth. The conference parameters are dynamically determined based on the number of participants or video sources or both that currently connect to the conference. Video signals received from connected sites are processed to provide a composite video signal according to defined conference parameters and the composite video signal is transmitted to the connected sites. Upon one or more other sites connecting to the conference or one or more of the connected sites disconnecting from the conference or both, such that the number of sites or sources currently connected in the conference changes, one or more conference parameters is redefined. The received video signals are processed according to the redefined conference parameters to provide a second composite video signal that is transmitted to the 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 for visual configuration of a video call represents video devices as graphical icons presented through a user interface. A directed graph relates the graphical icons to represent the configuration of the video devices in the video call and ensures that compatible video devices establish a valid video configuration by prohibiting invalid video call configurations. The user interface interacts with a video network platform that schedules and initiates video calls according to video call configurations. Video device types, identification, and configuration parameters are depicted along with state information for a video call to allow monitoring and correction of failures that may occur.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying errors in a video conference conducted on a network are disclosed. A central device includes a central agent that detects an error during a video conference conducted on a network between two or more endpoints. The central agent distributes a capture agent via the network to a remote device associated with a collision domain that contains one of the two or more endpoints. The capture agent collects a plurality of media packets associated with the video conference in a capture file located in a storage medium associated with the remote device until a timer expires. When the timer expires, the capture agent communicates the capture file to the central agent at the central device.