Abstract: An online meeting is established, via a meeting server, where the online meeting facilitates exchange of content between a plurality of separate meeting endpoints engaged in the online meeting. Video content is received at the meeting server from one or more of the meeting endpoints, and presentation content is received at the meeting server from a meeting endpoint associated with a presenter attendee that selects sharing of the presentation content within the online meeting. At the meeting server, an overlay window in the presentation content is identified, video content received at the meeting server from at least one meeting endpoint is inserted within the overlay window in the presentation content to form presentation content integrated with video content, and meeting endpoints engaged in the online meeting are provided for display the presentation content integrated with video content.

Abstract: An online meeting is established, via a meeting server, where the online meeting facilitates exchange of content between a plurality of separate meeting endpoints engaged in the online meeting. Video content is received at the meeting server from one or more of the meeting endpoints, and presentation content is received at the meeting server from a meeting endpoint associated with a presenter attendee that selects sharing of the presentation content within the online meeting. At the meeting server, an overlay window in the presentation content is identified, video content received at the meeting server from at least one meeting endpoint is inserted within the overlay window in the presentation content to form presentation content integrated with video content, and meeting endpoints engaged in the online meeting are provided for display the presentation content integrated with video content.

Abstract: The integration of data and video conference data allows presentations to be given more effectively and people to write down things which are hard to deliver using speech alone, for example mathematical formulae. Often when giving a presentation though it can be advantageous to be able to interact not only with a person verbally but also on a written level, for example a user may wish to draw on slides being used in a presentation to illustrate a point. At present only one user can transmit this type of data to the participants at any one time and only to participants having an H.239 compatible endpoint. The presentation invention enables multiple users to interact using written rather than spoken means without having to pass permission to transmit written data from one participant to another.

Abstract: Processing images in conference between a plurality of video conferencing terminal. The method includes providing properties of terminals, defining a number of groups based on the properties of the terminals, then determining an ordered list of the a number of groups, and determining a pane layout for displaying images from the terminals. The pane layout is determined based on the provided properties of the terminal the pane layout is displayed on and the properties of the other terminals in the conference. Then, mapping the ordered list of the number of groups to the respective determined pane layout, and providing at least one composite image stream to each of the terminals according to the selected pane layout and mapping of the a number of groups. Different types of telepresence endpoints, (e.g. different manufacturers, numbers of screens/cameras, etc.) can thus interoperate well in the same video conference.

Abstract: Processing images in conference between a plurality of video conferencing terminal. The method includes providing properties of terminals, defining a number of groups based on the properties of the terminals, then determining an ordered list of the a number of groups, and determining a pane layout for displaying images from the terminals. The pane layout is determined based on the provided properties of the terminal the pane layout is displayed on and the properties of the other terminals in the conference. Then, mapping the ordered list of the number of groups to the respective determined pane layout, and providing at least one composite image stream to each of the terminals according to the selected pane layout and mapping of the a number of groups. Different types of telepresence endpoints, (e.g. different manufacturers, numbers of screens/cameras, etc.) can thus interoperate well in the same video conference.

Abstract: A Video Conference Recorder (VCR) provided with integral input transcoders which convert received video call data into an intermediate format. Once the input transcoder has processed the data it passes it to a memory in the VCR where it is stored until a user requires it to be played back. If required the data can be converted into more than one output format using multiple input transcoders. On receiving a request to play back a recording the VCR locates the data in its memory and sends it to an output transcoder, integral to the VCR. If the stored data format is one that the endpoint can receive then the output transcoder transmits the data across the network to the endpoint. If, however, the endpoint cannot receive the stored data format then the output transcoder converts the data into a format which the endpoint can receive before onward transmission.

Abstract: The integration of data and video conference data allows presentations to be given more effectively and people to write down things which are hard to deliver using speech alone, for example mathematical formulae. Often when giving a presentation though it can be advantageous to be able to interact not only with a person verbally but also on a written level, for example a user may wish to draw on slides being used in a presentation to illustrate a point. At present only one user can transmit this type of data to the participants at any one time and only to participants having an H.239 compatible endpoint. The presentation invention enables multiple users to interact using written rather than spoken means without having to pass permission to transmit written data from one participant to another.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a Video Multi-Conference Unit (MCU) using an endpoint device. The MCU intercepts, interprets and acts upon commands sent across the communications network from the endpoint device. The commands may be sent using a user control device such as a control for controlling far-end cameras (FECC device) or by using dial-tones from a touchpad telephone. Also provided is a method for controlling a secondary device also connected to a conference call using the MCU. This secondary device may be another user endpoint or alternatively a video conference recorder (VCR). In order to control another user endpoint, the user may select a second mode in which the MCU forwards the commands to the endpoint rather than intercepting FECC or other commands sent to it using the user device. Alternatively, the MCU may interpret the FECC device commands and instruct the user device or VCR accordingly.

Abstract: In a videoconference images are not always displayed across the entirety of a viewing endpoint's screen. For example, a user may wish to view more than one videoconference participant at a time. Providing images of more than one participant can result in large amounts of bandwidth being required to transmit the data for all the images from the endpoints to the Multi-Conference Unit and maintain the resolution for all the images. Therefore, the present invention provides a method for reducing the data sent by an endpoint in response to flow control messages sent by the MCU in response to a change in the size at which the endpoint's image is being viewed.

Abstract: Provided by the invention is a method for controlling a Video Multi-Conference Unit (MCU) using an endpoint device. In order to do this the MCU intercepts, interprets and acts upon commands sent across the communications network from the endpoint device. The commands may be sent using a user control device such as a control for controlling far-end cameras, a so-called FECC device. Alternatively the commands may be sent using dial-tones from a touchpad telephone. Also provided by the present invention is a method for controlling a secondary device also connected to a conference call using the MCU. This secondary device may be another user endpoint or alternatively a video conference recorder (VCR). In order to control another user endpoint the user may select a second mode in which the MCU rather than intercepting any FECC or other commands sent to it using the user device forwards the commands to the endpoint.

Abstract: A Video Conference Recorder (VCR) provided with integral input transcoders which convert received video call data into an intermediate format. Once the input transcoder has processed the data it passes it to a memory in the VCR where it is stored until a user requires it to be played back. If required the data can be converted into more than one output format using multiple input transcoders. On receiving a request to play back a recording the VCR locates the data in its memory and sends it to an output transcoder, integral to the VCR. If the stored data format is one that the endpoint can receive then the output transcoder transmits the data across the network to the endpoint. If, however, the endpoint cannot receive the stored data format then the output transcoder converts the data into a format which the endpoint can receive before onward transmission.

Abstract: Provided by the invention is a method for controlling a Video Multi-Conference Unit (MCU) using an endpoint device. In order to do this the MCU intercepts, interprets and acts upon commands sent across the communications network from the endpoint device. The commands may be sent using a user control device such as a control for controlling far-end cameras, a so-called FECC device. Alternatively the commands may be sent using dial-tones from a touchpad telephone. Also provided by the present invention is a method for controlling a secondary device also connected to a conference call using the MCU. This secondary device may be another user endpoint or alternatively a video conference recorder (VCR). In order to control another user endpoint the user may select a second mode in which the MCU rather than intercepting any FECC or other commands sent to it using the user device forwards the commands to the endpoint.