Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device that transmits/receives encrypted communications with another device. A first device, such as a smart phone or smart watch, may generate a message associated with a certain data class, which may determine the security procedure used in the communication of the message. The first device may establish an encryption session for the purpose of communicating the message to a second device. Prior to sending the message, the first device may wait until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the data class of the message. Similarly, after receiving the message, the second device may not be able to decrypt the message until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the message data class.

Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: For a first device participating in a video communications session with a second device, some embodiments provide a method that receives sets of encoding features supported by each of one or more decoders of the second device. The method selects an encoder for the video communication session from several encoders available to the first device. The method selects a set of encoding features of the selected encoder based on the sets of encoding features received from the second device. The method transmits an encoded video bitstream to the second device along with information identifying the selected features in order for the second device to select a decoder to decode the bitstream.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for initiating a video conference using a first mobile device. The method presents, during an audio call through a wireless communication network with a second device, a selectable user-interface (UI) item on the first mobile device for switching from the audio call to the video conference. The method receives a selection of the selectable UI item. The method initiates the video conference without terminating the audio call. The method terminates the audio call before allowing the first and second devices to present audio and video data exchanged through the video conference.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: When direct communication, such as via Bluetooth, is unavailable, a communication protocol is used by an initiating communication device and/or a recipient communication device to establish a communication session via a cloud-based relay server. Establishing the communication session, such as a phone call or video streaming, includes setting up at least a first connection or link between the initiating communication device and the relay server, and at least a second connection or link between the relay server and the recipient communication device. Transports and interfaces for the first link and the second link may be selected independently of each other, and at least one of transports and interfaces for the first link and the second link may differ, e.g., the communication session may include asymmetric transport.

Abstract: A quick relay communication protocol is used by an initiating communication device (such as a wearable electronic device, e.g., a smart watch) and/or a recipient communication device (such as a companion electronic device to the wearable electronic device, e.g., a smart phone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer) to selectively communicate messages via different communication channels. Based on available connections and a communication constraint associated with a message, a processor executing a program module in an application layer in the initiating communication device provides transmission instructions to an interface circuit in the initiating communication device, which transmits a message to the recipient communication device based on the transmission instructions.

Abstract: When direct communication between devices, such as via Bluetooth, is unavailable, a communication protocol is used by an initiating communication device and/or a recipient communication device to establish a communication session via a cloud-based relay server. This communication protocol efficiently allocates (or binds) the initiating communication device, the recipient communication device, and the relay server together for the communication session. The communication protocol may include handshaking messages that specify a transport type and channel used for connections in the communication session, as well as an address of the relay server. After the communication session is confirmed, the communication protocol allows the initiating communication device and the recipient communication device to share messages even when physically separated from each other.

Abstract: A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

Abstract: Performing a real-time application on a mobile device, involving communication of audio/video packets with a remote device. The mobile device may initially communicate the audio/video packets on a first communication channel with the remote device. During the real-time communication, the mobile device may determine if no packets have been received by the mobile device from the remote device for a first threshold period of time. If no packets have been received by the mobile device from the remote device for the first threshold period of time, the mobile device may establish a second communication channel for transmission of the audio/video packets with the remote device. In response to using the second communication channel, the mobile device may modify a resolution or bit rate of the audio/video packets transmitted to the remote device.

Abstract: An integrated accessory control system can efficiently set up a new media streaming session with one or more accessories. A session identifier for the new session, as well as a destination address and security parameters can be generated. A data object comprising the generated elements can be written to a resource location. Additionally, a second data object comprising the session identifier, a streaming source address, a source identifier, and additional security parameters can be read from the resource location. A third data object comprising the session identifier, a session start command, and codec parameters can then be generated. The third data object can also be written to the resource location. Further, streamed media data conforming to the codec parameters and the security parameters may be received.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for initiating a video conference using a first mobile device. The method presents, during an audio call through a wireless communication network with a second device, a selectable user-interface (UI) item on the first mobile device for switching from the audio call to the video conference. The method receives a selection of the selectable UI item. The method initiates the video conference without terminating the audio call. The method terminates the audio call before allowing the first and second devices to present audio and video data exchanged through the video conference.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device that transmits/receives encrypted communications with another device. A first device, such as a smart phone or smart watch, may generate a message associated with a certain data class, which may determine the security procedure used in the communication of the message. The first device may establish an encryption session for the purpose of communicating the message to a second device. Prior to sending the message, the first device may wait until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the data class of the message. Similarly, after receiving the message, the second device may not be able to decrypt the message until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the message data class.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device that transmits/receives encrypted communications with another device. A first device, such as a smart phone or smart watch, may generate a message associated with a certain data class, which may determine the security procedure used in the communication of the message. The first device may establish an encryption session for the purpose of communicating the message to a second device. Prior to sending the message, the first device may wait until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the data class of the message. Similarly, after receiving the message, the second device may not be able to decrypt the message until encryption credentials are accessible according to certain conditions, which may be determined at least in part by the message data class.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, service providers generate bloom filters with the user ID codes of registered users and exchange the bloom filters with one another. In response to a request to locate a first user, a first service provider will query its own registration database to determine if the first user is registered with the first service provider. If the first user is not registered with the first service provider, then the first service provider will query its bloom filters to identify other service providers with which the first user may be registered. A positive response from a bloom filter indicates that the first user may or may not be registered with the service provider associated with that bloom filter, and a negative response indicates with certainty that the first user is not registered with the service provider associated with that bloom filter.

Abstract: Conducting a real time application between a mobile device and a remote device. A first one or more messages may be transmitted to the remote device to establish a primary channel of communication for the real-time application. The primary channel may use a first radio access technology (RAT), such as WiFi or a cellular RAT. A second one or more messages may be transmitted to the remote device to establish a secondary channel of communication for the real-time application. The secondary channel may use a second RAT that is different from the first RAT. Data of the real-time application may be transmitted over both the primary channel and the secondary channel in a concurrent or redundant fashion.

Abstract: Performing a real-time application on a mobile device, involving communication of audio/video packets with a remote device. The mobile device may initially communicate the audio/video packets on a first communication channel with the remote device. During the real-time communication, the mobile device may determine if no packets have been received by the mobile device from the remote device for a first threshold period of time. If no packets have been received by the mobile device from the remote device for the first threshold period of time, the mobile device may establish a second communication channel for transmission of the audio/video packets with the remote device. In response to using the second communication channel, the mobile device may modify a resolution or bit rate of the audio/video packets transmitted to the remote device.

Abstract: Computing devices may implement instant video communication connections for video communications. Connection information for mobile computing devices may be maintained. A request to initiate an instant video communication may be received, and if authorized, the connection information for the particular recipient mobile computing device may be accessed. Video communication data may then be sent to the recipient mobile computing device according to the connection information so that the video communication data may be displayed at the recipient device as it is received. New connection information for different mobile computing devices may be added, or updates to existing connection information may also be performed. Connection information for some mobile computing devices may be removed.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a video call between an originating device and a terminating device by establishing a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection between the devices. The originating and terminating devices exchange candidate information through a P2P server, except that the candidate information for the terminating device is altered before arriving at the originating device. The altering includes changing the IP address and corresponding port for each candidate. The originating device uses the altered candidate information to derive new candidate pairs that are sent to the terminating device, which uses the new candidate pairs to also derive a second candidate list. If the candidate pairs match, a P2P connection is established between the devices.