Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing sound and images in a real-time multimedia communication, such as an audio-video telephone call, through a network gateway, when the source and/or the destination of the audio signals, and optionally also the video signals, are from and/or to separate audio and video communication devices.

Abstract: A computer bus system comprises: a direct address bus; at least one bus master device and at least one bus slave device, the bus master device and bus slave device being connected to the bus so that the bus master device may communicate with the bus slave device over the bus. The bus has an address space assigned to different devices connected to the bus and is a multiplexed address/data bus for transferring blocks of data (63,76) in a direct address transaction (60) between the devices. Each direct address transaction (60) comprises a burst transaction (61) having an address phase (12,62) with a bus space address value (62) followed by a data phase (63). The bus slave device includes an indirect address device addressable in an indirect address transaction (70) that has an address register load transaction (71) followed by a data register load transaction (72).

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 method and system configures conferences and schedules communication devices, such as video, audio, application sharing, streaming or other multimedia devices, based on a query from a user to request the conference. A configuration engine accepts conference information from a query engine based on the request and applies device data and rules, such as scheduling, configuration and access control rules, to determine one or more possible communication device configurations. The configuration engine or an associated optimization engine determines a preferred configuration and schedules communication devices without requiring the user to have any in depth understanding of the device limitations and capabilities.

Abstract: An echo canceller processing echo, noise and near end talk in a narrower, but still intelligible, frequency band for reducing required processing power and complexity. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an input audio signal of captured sound in an audio communication system is decimated and then divided into a number of sub bands by an analyze filter. Each sub band is processed as in background audio echo cancelling by subtracting the signal with an echo estimate from a model of the acoustic signal in the respective sub band, except from that the signal is also bypassed, adjusted by a filter and subtracted from the processed signal. The resulting signals are then recombined by a synthesize filter and interpolated to the original sampling rate and bandwidth. Finally, the output from the synthesize filter is added to the input audio signal, which has been delayed and adjusted by a filter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for an intuitive and easy-to-use multi-site ad hoc conference initiation by involving some or all features of a conference managing system. The main concept is to automatically reserve the resources needed to connect selected participants in a conference once the ad hoc conference is requested by the calling party.

Abstract: The present invention relates to instability problems in circuit switched conferencing, and provides a method for establishing a backup “voice only” telephony link in parallel with a H.320 conference link. The two links between the calling parties is handled as one logical call entity. Audio is muted on the backup voice telephony link when status of the H.320 link is okay. If communication problems are detected on the H.320 link, audio is muted over the H.320 link and switched to the backup voice telephony link instead.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and mediums for enabling clients to traverse firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) installations by using probe packets between servers and clients to communication the addresses modified by the NAT.

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: An audio communication system and method with improved acoustic characteristics features a stereo detector that is introduced in the echo canceller of the system. When stereo in far-end audio is detected, converging of the adaptive mono model of the canceller is suspended, and when stereo in far-end audio is not detected, converging of the adaptive stereo model of the canceller is suspended. The system may also be extended with a miscellaneous processing unit configured to attenuate the signal at certain events implying a large stereo echo contribution. A stereo collapsing unit is also introduced on the channels of the far-end audio to remove the stereo image at certain events to further suppress the echo contribution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video conferencing and multimedia messaging, and takes advantage of the capabilities of the communication system to which the audio participants are connected, in order to increase the performance of all the participants in a mixed conference. In a preferred embodiment, the audio participants are provided with a MMS device, and a MMS Engine captures periodically, or at certain events, video conference data attached to MMS messages and addressed to the MMS device. In the opposite direction, the MMS device provides multimedia data to the conventional video conference participants by attaching the multimedia data to MMS messages, which are sent to the IP-addressable MMS Engine. The MMS Engine separates the multimedia data and converts it to a format compatible with the video conference. The converted multimedia data is then provided to video conference participants, and treated like any other multimedia stream included in the video conference.

Abstract: A system and a method allowing simultaneous exchange of audio, video or data information between a plurality of units over a communication network, supported by a central unit, wherein the central unit is, based on knowledge regarding one or more of the units, adapted to instruct said one or more units to generate multimedia data streams adjusted to fit into certain restrictions to be presented on other units participating in a same session.

Abstract: A sound recording and/or sound reproducing part loosely anchored/connected to a second part wherein the sound recording and/or sound reproducing part is levitated on a magnetic field. The sound recording and/or sound reproducing part and the second part in combination forms a first sound recording and/or sound reproducing device. The sound recording and/or sound reproducing part can be used within on or more of the following devices; a loud speaking telephone, a telephone, wireless communication equipment, a mobile phone, a Bluetooth device, a videoconference terminal, a hearing aid or active ear protection equipment.

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: A system and method for connecting one or more systems to a user for automatic determination of which system the user may use to participate in a call. A predefined list of videoconferencing systems and/or locations for each user is predefined and arranged in a prioritized order. When scheduling a meeting and/or a videoconference, the predefined user lists are taken into account when selecting end-points and other resources involved in the meeting/conference. The selection process may be controlled by predefined rules also taking various system availability, network resources and the routes required for connecting the other systems in the conference into account. The present invention also introduces presence applications to facilitate scheduling and set up of ad hoc meetings/conferences.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to conferencing network systems and more specifically to a method and a device for automatic generation and allocation of optimized setup of multiple end points (EPs) to multi site connection units (MCUs) in a distributed video conference system according to a weighting function. The invention further relates to a method and device for monitoring and administering distributed MCUs connected together and set up in a call in a distributed video conference system. By gathering and merging call information the method and system is capable of sending a specific command to the MCU capable of executing the command.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method of localizing active speakers in a video conference includes a localization device that locates at least one microphone relative to the camera, while the at least one microphone in turn localizes the relative positions of audio sources. As the microphones are usually positioned close to the audio source in a video conference, the ratio of the distance between microphones relative to the distance between table microphone and audio source is reduced. Thus, the microphones are able to determine the positions of the audio sources with a higher resolution than if placed close to the camera. When the respective positions of the microphones relative to the camera and the audio source are known, the position of the audio source relative to the camera is then determined by means of geometrical calculations.

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 unified solution to coding/decoding of different video formats such as 4:2:0, 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 is provided. A method of video coding includes transforming a first m×n macro block of residual chrominance pixel values of moving pictures by a first integer-transform function generating a corresponding second m×n macro block of integer-transform coefficients, further transforming DC values of the integer-transform coefficients by a second integer-transform function to generate a third block of integer-transformed DC coefficients. The method further includes generating the second m×n macro block of integer-transform coefficients by utilizing a k×k integer-transform function on each k×k sub-block of the first m×n macro block, wherein n and m are each a multiple of k, and generating the third block of coefficients by utilizing a second i×j integer-transform function on the DC values resulting in a (m/k)×(n/k) third block of integer-transformed DC coefficients.