Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first module that causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. The apparatus includes a second module that causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first module that causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. The apparatus includes a second module that causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream comprises two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a medium encoded with instructions for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving one or more far end camera control messages over a packet network from a first participant of a multipoint videoconference; maintaining an indication of a far end camera control mode for the first participant, the mode being one of a set of modes; and depending on the far end camera control mode and on controls possible, carrying out a control according to one ore more the camera control messages.

Abstract: Providing a conference call includes establishing a bidirectional first class stream for each of a set of first class endpoints. A second class stream is established for each of a set of second class endpoints. Mixed streams are generated using the bidirectional first class streams, and one or more mixed streams are broadcasted to the set of second class endpoints. A particular second class endpoint is determined to have a right to have its stream included in the mixed streams. The second class stream for the particular second class endpoint is mapped to a bidirectional second class stream for the particular second class endpoint. Next mixed streams are generated using the bidirectional second class stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream.

Abstract: A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing layout selection, participant selection, and/or participant-to-participant far end camera control of the selected participant for use in a continuous presence multipoint videoconference. The method includes receiving an FECC message of a set of FECC messages over a packet network from a first participant, the first participant having a set of FEEC modes and being in one of the FECC modes. The method further includes maintaining knowledge of the mode of the first participant and interpreting the received FECC message according to the FECC mode of the first participant.

Abstract: An audio mixer on a first device receives one or more incoming audio streams. Each of the one or more incoming audio streams has an associated timestamp. The audio mixer generates a mixed audio stream from the one or more incoming audio streams. The audio mixer determines differences in the time base of each of the one or more incoming audio streams and the time base for the mixed audio stream. The audio mixer generates mapping parameters associated with the determined differences and transforms the timestamp of each of the one or more incoming audio streams to a corresponding output timestamp associated with the mixed audio stream according to the mapping parameters. the mapping parameters are provided to a video mixer for similar processing and transformation such that the mixed audio stream is in synchronization with a mixed video stream.

Abstract: A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.