Abstract: A communication method comprising receiving input from a participant of a communication event and obtaining an activity metric of said at least one participant in a communication event based on received inputs. A visual theme is varied dynamically in dependence upon the activity metric, to provide a visual indication of the activity of said participant.

Abstract: A system configured to host a teleconference session is disclosed. The system hosts a teleconference session between a plurality of client computing devices. The system provides transitions of displayed content between various positions of a user interface that displays a teleconference stream. The transitions can occur in response to an event that changes a state of the teleconference session, where the state of the teleconference session can be associated with a total number of users participating in the teleconference session. Accordingly, in various examples described herein, a change in state of the teleconference session can be attributed to an event in which a user joins the teleconference session or an event in which a user leaves the teleconference session.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network, a plurality of video streams is received via the network. Each of the streams carries a moving image of at least one respective user. The moving image of a first of the video streams is displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. In the moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a human feature of the respective user is identified. A movement of the identified human feature during the first time interval that matches one of a plurality of expected movements is detected. In response to the detected movement, at least the moving image of the second video stream is displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network. A plurality of video streams is received via the network at a computer connected to the network. Each of the streams carries a respective moving image of at least one respective user. The computer causes the respective moving image of a first of the video streams to be displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. The computer detects, in the respective moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a change in the visual content thereof In response to detecting said change in the visual content, the computer causes at least the second video stream to be displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: An established communication event is conducted between existing participants by transmitting and receiving video streams via a communication network between their user devices. A user interface of a new participant is controlled to operate in a late-to-join mode initially if that participant satisfies a late-to-join condition. In response to expiry of an initial duration, the user interface automatically switches to an active speaker mode instead.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network. A plurality of video streams is received via the network at a computer connected to the network. Each of the streams carries a respective moving image of at least one respective user. The computer causes the respective moving image of a first of the video streams to be displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. The computer detects, in the respective moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a change in the visual content thereof. In response to detecting said change in the visual content, the computer causes at least the second video stream to be displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network, a plurality of video streams is received via the network. Each of the streams carries a moving image of at least one respective user. The moving image of a first of the video streams is displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. In the moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a human feature of the respective user is identified. A movement of the identified human feature during the first time interval that matches one of a plurality of expected movements is detected. In response to the detected movement, at least the moving image of the second video stream is displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: In a communication event between a first user and one or more second users via a communication network. A plurality of video streams is received via the network at a computer connected to the network. Each of the streams carries a respective moving image of at least one respective user. The computer causes the respective moving image of a first of the video streams to be displayed at a user device of the first user for a first time interval. The computer detects, in the respective moving image of a second of the video streams that is not displayed at the user device in the first time interval, a change in the visual content thereof. In response to detecting said change in the visual content, the computer causes at least the second video stream to be displayed at the user device for a second time interval.

Abstract: Embodiments obtain a content item representing graphic content suitable for display as part of a shared media event, determine an activity metric for said content item, determine an activity metric for a participant of said shared media event, comparing the activity metric of the content item and the activity metric the participant, cause a display to render the graphic content associated with said content item, and render a representation of said participant. In at least some implementations, the relative displayed positions of said graphic content and said representation of the participant are based on the result of the comparison of the activity metric of the content item and the activity metric the participant.

Abstract: A user device comprises a network interface, a rendering module, and a scene modification module. The network interface is configured to receive a video signal from another device via a network. The rendering module is configured to control display apparatus of the user device to display a virtual element to a user of the user device, the virtual element comprising a video image derived from the video signal. The modification module is configured to generate rendering data for displaying a modified version of the virtual element at the other device. The modified version does not include said video image. The network interface is configured to transmit the rendering data to the other device via the network. Alternatively or in addition, the rendering data can be modified at the other device to the same end.

Abstract: A user device has a display, a user interface and a network interface. The network interface receive a video data stream from another user interface. A user of the user device is able to pause the video stream. The paused image of the video stream and the video stream are both displayed on the display. The user is able to annotate the paused image.

Abstract: Techniques for visual configuration for communication session participants are described. According to various embodiments, a communication session is established that includes a video feed that is streamed between devices involved in the communication session. The video feed, for example, includes video images of participants in the communication session. A number of participants present at a particular device involved in the communication session is determined and used to generate instructions to other devices for visually representing video of the participants. According to various embodiments, user activity for participants in a communication session is detected and used to determine how the participants are visually represented for the communication session. For instance, users that are determined to be active in the communication session are presented visually more prominently than users that are less active.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting a message in a communication session are described. In at least some embodiments, a message is sent by a participant in a communication session. The message is presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) for the communication session and visually linked to a visual representation of the participant. According to one or more implementations, a number of messages that are presented in a GUI for a communication session is throttled.

Abstract: A user device has a display, a user interface and a network interface. The network interface receive a video data stream from another user interface. A user of the user device is able to pause the video stream. The paused image of the video stream and the video stream are both displayed on the display. The user is able to annotate the paused image.