Abstract: A video conference is set up by a video conference system between three or more video terminals. Each video terminal in the video conference sends its video stream to the video conference system. The video conference system in turn sends out the video streams to video terminals to set up a video conference in the traditional manner. A video controller receives an indication of a change in how at least one of the other video terminals is displaying a video stream from one of the video terminals. Based on the indication of change, a change to the bit rate of the video stream is made. This results in the video conference system be able to send reduced bandwidth based on who is viewing the video conference.

Abstract: A video conference is set up by a video conference system between three or more video terminals. Each video terminal in the video conference sends its video stream to the video conference system. The video conference system in turn sends out the video streams to video terminals to set up a video conference in the traditional manner. A video controller receives an indication of a change in how at least one of the other video terminals is displaying a video stream from one of the video terminals. Based on the indication of change, a change to the bit rate of the video stream is made. This results in the video conference system be able to send reduced bandwidth based on who is viewing the video conference.

Abstract: The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network.

Abstract: The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network.

Abstract: The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network.

Abstract: Packet-based central conference bridges, packet-based network interfaces and packet-based terminals are used for voice communications over a packet-based network. Modifications to these apparatuses can reduce the latency and the signal processing requirements while increasing the signal quality within a voice conference as well as point-to-point communications. For instance, by selecting the talkers prior to the decompression of the voice signals, decreases in the latency and increases in signal quality within the voice conference can result due to a possible removal of the decompression and subsequent compression operations in a conference bridge unnecessary in some circumstances. Further, the removal of the jitter buffers within the conference bridges and the moving of the mixing operation to the individual terminals and/or network interfaces are modifications that can cause lower latency and transcoding within the voice conference.

Abstract: In an IP communication network, telephone number based services, such as Voice-over-IP (VoIP), Fax-over-IP, and IP Paging, are supported using network address translation. A gatekeeper determines a gateway for a connection between a first telephone number based device in a first network and a second telephone number based device in a second network based upon a telephone number for the second telephone number based device.

Abstract: An interface that provides priority access to a network is disclosed. The interface includes several ports. Preferably the ports are Ethernet compliant ports. At least one of the ports transmits high priority frames in advance of lower priority frames. High priority frames are preferably buffered. Buffered high priority frames pre-empt transmission of lower priority frames at the port. If the port is operating half duplex using CSMA/CD, transmission of high priority frames pre-empts re-transmission of lower priority frames for which a collision has been detected. Additionally, in the case of frames to be broadcast to multiple ports, buffered frames may be transmitted at varying times at the ports at which the frame is to be broadcast. The interface may further buffer frames received at each port. As the buffer fills, flow of frames into the interface is preferably limited on a per-port basis, based on the number of frames already buffered for a particular port.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for interconnection system. A first connector located on a first card provides first contacts for first signal traces on the first card. The first connector has a first housing enclosing the first contacts and a first extension portion. A second connector located on a second card provides second contacts for second signal traces on the second card. The second connector has a second housing enclosing the second contacts. The second connector is coupled to the first connector when the first and second housings are mated such that the first and second cards are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second card is aligned on the first extension portion.

Abstract: The performance of a voice conference using a packet-based conference bridge can be improved with a number of modifications. In one modification, the conference bridge receives speech indication signals from the individual packet-based terminals within the voice conference, these speech indication signals then being used by the conference bridge to select the talkers within the voice conference. This removes the need for speech detection techniques within the conference bridge, hence decreasing the required processing power and the latency within the conference bridge. In another modification, the conference bridge sends addressing control signals to the individual packet-based terminals selected as talkers, these addressing control signals directing the terminals selected as talkers to directly transmit their voice data packets to the other terminals within the voice conference. This direct transmission of voice data packets can reduce transcoding and latency within the network.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for interconnection system. A first connector located on a first card provides first contacts for first signal traces on the first card. The first connector has a first housing enclosing the first contacts and a first extension portion. A second connector located on a second card provides second contacts for second signal traces on the second card. The second connector has a second housing enclosing the second contacts. The second connector is coupled to the first connector when the first and second housings are mated such that the first and second cards are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second card is aligned on the first extension portion.

Abstract: A configurable connection fabric between a switching fabric and a backplane allows any of the ports of the backplane to be connected to any of the ports of the switching fabric. The connection fabric receives bandwidth load requirements from modules connected to the backplane and uses these load requirements to determine the number of ports required to make a particular connection.