Abstract: Embodiments are described for provision of video conference services. In some embodiments, a service connector module of a video conference system receives a request to switch a participant user of a video conference to a communication mode for the video conference received at a participant endpoint device, the request to switch is (a) a request to switch from an unidirectional communication mode to a bidirectional communication mode, or (b) a request to switch from the bidirectional communication mode to the unidirectional communication mode, determining information on at least one distribution capability from one or more interactions with the participant endpoint device, determines a distribution scheme for the communication mode using the at least one distribution capability, sends a request to establish a connection with the endpoint device using the distribution scheme, receives a notification on establishment of the connection, and sends a request to terminate a prior connection.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for provision of video conference services. In some embodiments, a service connector module of a video conference system receives a request to switch a participant user of a video conference to a communication mode for the video conference received at a participant endpoint device, the request to switch is (a) a request to switch from an unidirectional communication mode to a bidirectional communication mode, or (b) a request to switch from the bidirectional communication mode to the unidirectional communication mode, determining information on at least one distribution capability from one or more interactions with the participant endpoint device, determines a distribution scheme for the communication mode using the at least one distribution capability, sends a request to establish a connection with the endpoint device using the distribution scheme, receives a notification on establishment of the connection, and sends a request to terminate a prior connection.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for interfacing heterogeneous endpoints and web-based media sources in a video conference. Interfacing heterogeneous endpoints can be challenging due to audio/video (A/V) streams being encoded in a format that is proprietary to a media provider of the A/V stream (e.g., format that is proprietary to Skype). To address such a challenge, a client application from the media provider may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to decode A/V streams that are encoded in a format proprietary to the media provider. Further, to display content from a web-based media source (e.g., YouTube) in a video conference, a browser may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to virtually render a media signal from the web-based media source, such virtually rendered media signal subsequently being captured and presented in a video conference.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints and enables a multi-party video conferencing session in real time among the plurality of participants. Each of the participants is offered a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing participants and a moderator of the video conference is further offered with in-meeting management and control over a plurality of security and privacy settings during the video conference. These interactions encompass controlling of a video conferencing session, its configuration, privacy, security, the visual layout of the participants, customization of the VMR and adaptation of the room to different vertical applications.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides various ways for the participants to the video conference to access, control, and interact with each other during the conference for a customized personal experience. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides collaborative viewing of an event through the VMR so that the participants at geographically distributed locations are able to simultaneously participate and share the experience of the event together. An initiating participant of the event sharing is further offered with in-meeting management and control over the content to be shared at the event.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for interfacing heterogeneous endpoints and web-based media sources in a video conference. Interfacing heterogeneous endpoints can be challenging due to audio/video (A/V) streams being encoded in a format that is proprietary to a media provider of the A/V stream (e.g., format that is proprietary to Skype). To address such a challenge, a client application from the media provider may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to decode A/V streams that are encoded in a format proprietary to the media provider. Further, to display content from a web-based media source (e.g., YouTube) in a video conference, a browser may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to virtually render a media signal from the web-based media source, such virtually rendered media signal subsequently being captured and presented in a video conference.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides collaborative viewing of an event through the VMR so that the participants at geographically distributed locations are able to simultaneously participate and share the experience of the event together. An initiating participant of the event sharing is further offered with in-meeting management and control over the content to be shared at the event.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints and enables a multi-party video conferencing session in real time among the plurality of participants. Each of the participants is offered a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing participants and a moderator of the video conference is further offered with in-meeting management and control over a plurality of security and privacy settings during the video conference. These interactions encompass controlling of a video conferencing session, its configuration, privacy, security, the visual layout of the participants, customization of the VMR and adaptation of the room to different vertical applications.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides various ways for the participants to the video conference to access, control, and interact with each other during the conference for a customized personal experience. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a user configuration of a computer system are provided. The method generally includes receiving, through a user interface of a configuration system, a user configuration selection, wherein the user configuration selection modifies the configuration of the computer system. Based on the user configuration selection, one or more contexts in a collection of contexts may be modified. The collection of contexts may be applied to part information for a part of the computer system to determine applicable part information for the modified configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a user configuration of a computer system are provided. The method generally includes receiving, through a user interface of a configuration system, a user configuration selection, wherein the user configuration selection modifies the configuration of the computer system. Based on the user configuration selection, one or more contexts in a collection of contexts may be modified. The collection of contexts may be applied to part information for a part of the computer system to determine applicable part information for the modified configuration.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for representing connections in a computer system are provided. A component object representing a component in the computer system and a connection requesting object representing a connection to the component are instantiated. A type of resource for the component object is requested, wherein the connection requesting object transmits the request to a connection providing object, the connection object providing two or more resources. If one of the provided two or more resources is of a same type of resource as the requested type of resource and if the respective one of the provided two or more resources is available for consumption, the respective one of the two or more resources is consumed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a user configuration of a computer system are provided. The method generally includes receiving, through a user interface of a configuration system, a user configuration selection, wherein the user configuration selection modifies the configuration of the computer system. Based on the user configuration selection, one or more contexts in a collection of contexts may be modified. The collection of contexts may be applied to part information for a part of the computer system to determine applicable part information for the modified configuration.