Abstract: Media relay services are often used to establish sufficiently direct connections in order to enable provisioning of a real-time media service and/or improve the quality of real-time media services. However, media relay services are often gated using authentication systems that add undesirable delay to the delivery and/or access to a real-time media service, which in turn diminish the user experience. By contrast, various implementations disclosed herein include apparatuses, systems, and methods of providing low latency authentication of gated media relay services. For example, in some implementations, a method includes receiving a request for access to a gated media relay service, providing provisional access to the service until an authentication result is available, determining whether the requesting device is authorized to access the media relay service, and at least one of ending or continuing access to the media relay service based on the authentication result.

Abstract: Media relay services are often used to establish sufficiently direct connections in order to enable provisioning of a real-time media service and/or improve the quality of real-time media services. However, media relay services are often gated using authentication systems that add undesirable delay to the delivery and/or access to a real-time media service, which in turn diminish the user experience. By contrast, various implementations disclosed herein include apparatuses, systems, and methods of providing low latency authentication of gated media relay services. For example, in some implementations, a method includes receiving a request for access to a gated media relay service, providing provisional access to the service until an authentication result is available, determining whether the requesting device is authorized to access the media relay service, and at least one of ending or continuing access to the media relay service based on the authentication result.

Abstract: A conferencing system and method includes, during the conference session, invoking an interactive voice response (IVR) routine that provides names of one or more conference participants to a user of an audio-only endpoint device responsive to a request from the user to create a sidebar session. An invitation to join the sidebar session is then communicated to each of one or more participants selected by the user, the invitation being communicated via a private media channel separate from a media stream associated with the conference session. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request to establish a video session between a first user and a second user. The request is sent by the second user by dialing an identifier string associated with the first user. The method also includes evaluating whether the first user has accepted the request. If the first user has not accepted the request over a designated interval, then the second user is directed to an element configured for recording a videomail message for access by the first user. The method also includes identifying the first user has accepted the request, and establishing the video session between the first user and the second user.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request for a video session and establishing the video session between a first user and a second user. The method further includes communicating a first stream of packets associated with signaling data that propagates to a first network, which provides a first network connection to the first user. The method also includes communicating a second stream of packets associated with media data that propagates to a second network, which provides a second network connection to the second user. The media data can include audio data and video data.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method of operation for managing a push-to-talk (PTT) session involving a plurality of participants includes applying a first floor control algorithm at a PTT server. The first floor control algorithm being selected from a plurality of algorithms that arbitrate among talk requests received from the participants. The method further includes changing, during the PTT session, from the first floor control algorithm to a second floor control algorithm at the PPT server. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A conferencing system includes a plurality of ports for network connection to endpoint devices of participants to a conference session. A mixer receives input audio streams from the endpoint devices and then outputs a mixed audio stream back to the endpoint devices. A processor runs a program that automatically downgrades one or more of the participants to the conference session from a full-duplex communication mode to a half-duplex communication mode in response to an event affecting allocation of conferencing resources, the conferencing resources including the ports.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method of operation for managing a push-to-talk (PTT) session involving a plurality of participants includes applying a first floor control algorithm at a PTT server. The first floor control algorithm being selected from a plurality of algorithms that arbitrate among talk requests received from the participants. The method further includes changing, during the PTT session, from the first floor control algorithm to a second floor control algorithm at the PPT server. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A conferencing system and method includes, during the conference session, invoking an interactive voice response (IVR) routine that provides names of one or more conference participants to a user of an audio-only endpoint device responsive to a request from the user to create a sidebar session. An invitation to join the sidebar session is then communicated to each of one or more participants selected by the user, the invitation being communicated via a private media channel separate from a media stream associated with the conference session. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.