Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a video signal. In one embodiment, a plurality of frames of a video signal are captured using a camera. A first motion of the camera is determined, with the first motion exclusive of second motion occurring while the shutter is open. Pixel displacement between first and second frames of the video signal is determined based on the determined first motion. An image of at least one of the first and second frames is shifted in accordance with the pixel displacement.

Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a video signal. A plurality of frames of the video signal are captured using a camera. A motion sensor associated with the camera is used to generate a plurality of samples representing motion of the camera. The samples are used to determine a displacement of the camera between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a first frame of the video signal and the second time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a second frame of the video signal. The determined displacement is used to compensate for motion in the video signal between the first and second frames caused by the motion of the camera, to thereby stabilize the video signal.

Abstract: A method comprising: conducting a communication session between a first terminal and a second terminal, the session comprising transmitting an encoded bitstream from an encoder of the first terminal over a channel to the second terminal; measuring a bandwidth capacity experienced over the channel at multiple different times, thereby collecting a history of bandwidth measurements for the channel; based on the history of bandwidth measurements, obtaining at least a selected upper bandwidth constraint for the encoded bitstream; and during the session, dynamically adapting an encoded bandwidth with which to encode the bitstream, by dynamically selecting the encoded bandwidth based on one or more current conditions of the channel, but constrained by at least said upper bandwidth constraint.

Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for estimating quality of a video signal, wherein frames of the video signal are received at receiving means of the device, each frame comprising a plurality of blocks of pixels. A section of a first frame of the video signal, which is correctly received, is used to provide a concealed block for use in place of a block of a second frame of the video signal. A difference measure is determined indicative of a difference between at least some of the pixels surrounding the block in the second frame and the corresponding pixels surrounding the section in the first frame. The difference measure is used to estimate the quality of the second frame of the video signal.

Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a received video signal. A plurality of frames of the video signal is captured using a camera. The video signal is transmitted as an encoded bit stream. Displacement of the camera between successive frames is determined from a motion indication in the bit stream. The determined displacement is used to compensate for motion in the video signal between successive frames caused by the motion of the camera, to thereby stabilize the video signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication system for effecting communication events between endpoints connected via a communication network. The communication system comprises a plurality of processing units, each having access to computer storage holding executable code modules for managing a communication event. The code modules are configured to implement a media modality controller configured to manage media modality of an established communication event and a call controller configured to establish the communication event. The communication system further comprises a resource allocator configured to allocate physical resources of the processing units and computer storage to each of the call controller and the media modality controller. A grant of physical resources to the call controller is independent and different from a grant of physical resources to the media modality controller.

Abstract: A method of transmitting image data from a first node to a second node during a communication event, wherein the second node comprises a display for displaying image data at the second node, includes receiving at the first node, information indicating at least one display characteristic with which image data received at the second node will be displayed on the display; inputting image data at the first node; determining a processing step to be applied to the inputted image data to generate adapted image data, such that at least one characteristic of the adapted image data is optimized for the at least one display characteristic; applying the processing step to generate the adapted image data; and transmitting the adapted image data to the second terminal.

Abstract: Techniques for indication of wireless signal quality are described. According to various implementations, attributes of a wireless signal are detected and processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed. For instance, an indication of wireless signal quality is communicated to an application and/or service that manages communication of media data. According to one or more embodiments, an application/service may perform one or more actions based on the indication of signal quality, such as a procedure to improve signal quality, a procedure to optimize wireless performance, and so forth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication system—for effecting communication events between a computer system, comprising first and second computer devices, and additional endpoint(s) connected via a communication network—comprising processing units, each having access to computer storage holding executable code modules for managing a communication event configured to implement a media modality controller configured to manage media modality of an established communication event and a call controller configured to establish the communication event. An instance of the media modality controller is assigned responsive to an instruction initiated to the media controller by the call controller to convey media modality control signals of the communication event to a media agent on the first device without accessing a call agent on the second device. The initiation of the instruction by the call controller is responsive to an instruction received via the network from the call agent on the second device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication system for effecting communication events between a plurality of endpoints connected via a communication network. The communication system comprises a plurality of processing units other than said endpoints, each having access to computer storage holding executable code modules for managing a communication event. The code modules are configured to implement a media modality controller configured to manage media modality of an established communication event and a call controller configured to establish the communication event. An instance of the call controller is assigned to progress the establishment of the communication event responsive to an instruction received via the network and is configured to initiate an instruction to at least one of: the media modality controller; and at least one of the endpoints.

Abstract: Techniques for indication of wireless signal quality are described. According to various implementations, attributes of a wireless signal are detected and processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed. For instance, an indication of wireless signal quality is communicated to an application and/or service that manages communication of media data. According to one or more embodiments, an application/service may perform one or more actions based on the indication of signal quality, such as a procedure to improve signal quality, a procedure to optimize wireless performance, and so forth.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an instance of a media modality controller of a communication system which is assigned to convey media modality control signals of a communication event to respective media modality agents of endpoints of the communication event without accessing respective call agents of the endpoints. The media modality controller instance is so assigned independently of a call controller of the communication system and responsive to an instruction received via the network. The media modality controller instance is released from said assignment responsive to the media modality controller instance returning a response to the received instruction while the call controller continues to operate in communication with the call agents of the endpoints.

Abstract: A method, terminal and program, the method comprising: at a second terminal, receiving a first signal transmitted from a first terminal via a communication network; transmitting a second signal from the second terminal to the first terminal; outputting the first signal from an output device associated with the second terminal; determining a balance between a characteristic of the first signal and a characteristic of the second signal, wherein the characteristics affect a processing resource required to process the first and second signals, the determined balance comprising a decision concerning the characteristic of the first signal; and sending the decision to the first terminal so as to advise the first terminal to adjust the characteristic of the first signal as transmitted from the first terminal.

Abstract: A method, performed from a server, of regulating a selection of an encoded bandwidth with which an encoded bitstream is transmitted from an encoder of a transmitting terminal over a channel to at least one receiving terminal, in a communication session between the transmitting and receiving terminals. The method comprises: receiving, at the server, information relating to the communication session; and from the server, setting a constraint on the selection of the encoded bandwidth. The setting of this constraint comprises, based on the received information, computing at least an upper bandwidth constraint for the encoded bitstream, and sending an indication of the upper bandwidth constraint to the transmitting terminal or receiving terminal, thereby allowing the transmitting or receiving terminal to perform the selection of the encoded bandwidth but constrained by said upper bandwidth constraint.

Abstract: A method comprising: conducting a communication session between a first terminal and a second terminal, the session comprising transmitting an encoded bitstream from an encoder of the first terminal over a channel to the second terminal; measuring a bandwidth capacity experienced over the channel at multiple different times, thereby collecting a history of bandwidth measurements for the channel; based on the history of bandwidth measurements, obtaining at least a selected upper bandwidth constraint for the encoded bitstream; and during the session, dynamically adapting an encoded bandwidth with which to encode the bitstream, by dynamically selecting the encoded bandwidth based on one or more current conditions of the channel, but constrained by at least said upper bandwidth constraint.

Abstract: A method of performing a rate-distortion optimization process comprising, for each of a plurality of target image portions to be encoded in each of a plurality of frames, selecting a preferred one of a set of encoding modes by optimizing a function comprising an estimate of distortion for the target image portion and a measure of bit rate required to encode the target image portion, wherein the estimate of distortion is based on source coding distortion and an estimate of a distortion that would be experienced due to possible loss over the channel; encoding the target image portion into the encoded video stream using the selected encoding mode; and transmitting the encoded video stream over the channel. The rate-distortion optimization process for a current one of the frames is performed in dependence on feedback received from the receiving terminal based on an earlier one of the frames.

Abstract: Techniques for indication of wireless signal quality are described. According to various implementations, attributes of a wireless signal are detected and processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed. For instance, an indication of wireless signal quality is communicated to an application and/or service that manages communication of media data. According to one or more embodiments, an application/service may perform one or more actions based on the indication of signal quality, such as a procedure to improve signal quality, a procedure to optimize wireless performance, and so forth.

Abstract: Techniques for wireless signal quality indicator are described. According to various implementations, various attributes of a wireless signal are detected. Attributes of the wireless signal are processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data from a first terminal to a second terminal in a communication network comprising: receiving at the first terminal an data signal determining an identity of the peripheral device; supplying to a data store the identity of the peripheral device; selecting from the data store at least one parameter for processing the data signal based on the identity of the peripheral device; transmitting the data signal from the first terminal to the second terminal; and processing the data signal, wherein the data signal is processed based on the selected parameter.

Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for estimating quality of a video signal, wherein frames of the video signal are received at receiving means of the device, each frame comprising a plurality of blocks of pixels. A section of a first frame of the video signal, which is correctly received, is used to provide a concealed block for use in place of a block of a second frame of the video signal. A difference measure is determined indicative of a difference between at least some of the pixels surrounding the block in the second frame and the corresponding pixels surrounding the section in the first frame. The difference measure is used to estimate the quality of the second frame of the video signal.