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 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 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 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 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: 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: The described embodiments include a message server that is configured to send, to multiple receiving electronic devices, corresponding messages that each include a payload acquired from a single request message received from a client electronic device. In these embodiments, the request message received from the client electronic device includes a push token for each of the receiving electronic devices and the payload. Upon receiving the request message, the message server generates, for a receiving electronic device associated with each push token, a message that includes the payload. The message server then sends each message to the corresponding receiving electronic device. In this way, the message server “fans out,” to the multiple receiving electronic devices, corresponding messages that each include the payload from the single request message.

Abstract: In the described embodiments, a connection data exchange (“CDX”) service serves as an exchange point for connection data for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) connections between devices. During operation, the CDX service can receive a connection data structure (a “ticket”) that was created by a matchmaker or an invitation service in response to requests from devices attempting to establish P2P connections. Each ticket can identify a corresponding device and can include encrypted NAT hole-punch data associated with the corresponding device. The CDX service can authenticate each ticket and decrypt the NAT hole punch data from the ticket using a corresponding key. The CDX service can then use corresponding NAT hole punch data to send connection data to each of the devices that reside behind NAT devices.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for managing a video conference between a first device and a second device. The method identifies a first ceiling bit rate for transmitting video conference data to the second device through the communication channel. The method identifies a current bit rate that is less than the first ceiling bit rate. The method receives networking data regarding the communication channel from the second device. The method determines, from the received network data, that the communication channel will sustain an increase in the current bit rate. The method increments the current bit rate. The method iteratively performs the receiving, determining, and incrementing operations until a determination is made that the communication channel will not sustain the increase in the current bit rate.

Abstract: Some embodiments use several different types of networks to relay several different types of media content among several different computing devices. The media content of some embodiments is data that a computing device can process in order to provide a presentation of the media content to a user of the device. Examples of types of such media content include audio data, video data, text data, picture data, game data, and/or other media data. In some embodiments, two different networks relay media content of two different types among multiple computing devices. Specifically, in some embodiments, a first network routes among the computing devices one type of media data content (e.g., game data), while a second network routes among the computing devices another type of media data content (e.g., audio and/or video data of game participants). The two networks differ in some embodiments based on their topology.

Abstract: The described embodiments include a message server that is configured to send, to multiple receiving electronic devices, corresponding messages that each include a payload acquired from a single request message received from a client electronic device. In these embodiments, the request message received from the client electronic device includes a push token for each of the receiving electronic devices and the payload. Upon receiving the request message, the message server generates, for a receiving electronic device associated with each push token, a message that includes the payload. The message server then sends each message to the corresponding receiving electronic device. In this way, the message server “fans out,” to the multiple receiving electronic devices, corresponding messages that each include the payload from the single request message.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for conducting a video conference between a first mobile device and a second device. The first mobile device includes first and second cameras. The method selects the first camera for capturing images. The method transmits images captured by the first camera to the second device. The method receives selections of the second camera for capturing images during the video conference. The method terminates the transmission of images captured by the first camera and transmits images captured by the second camera of the first mobile device to the second device during the video conference.

Abstract: In the described embodiments, a connection data exchange (“CDX”) service serves as an exchange point for connection data for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) connections between devices. During operation, the CDX service can receive a connection data structure (a “ticket”) that was created by a matchmaker or an invitation service in response to requests from devices attempting to establish P2P connections. Each ticket can identify a corresponding device and can include encrypted NAT hole-punch data associated with the corresponding device. The CDX service can authenticate each ticket and decrypt the NAT hole punch data from the ticket using a corresponding key. The CDX service can then use corresponding NAT hole punch data to send connection data to each of the devices that reside behind NAT devices.

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 provide a method for allowing a first device that is in a video conference with a second mobile device to remotely control the second mobile device. The method sends images captured by a camera of the first device to the second device. The method receives images captured by a camera of the second device. The method sends a command through a communication channel of a real-time communication session to the second device. The command is for instructing the second device to perform an operation that modifies the images captured by the camera of the second device.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing, maintaining and utilizing backup channels in a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) network. For example, in one embodiment, each mobile device can establish a primary P2P communication channel with one or more other mobile devices. Once the primary channel is established, each mobile device can use the primary channel to exchange secondary channel connection data and can subsequently open one or more secondary P2P communication channels with the other mobile devices. Upon detecting that the primary P2P communication channel has failed or has degraded below a specified threshold (e.g., a bandwidth or bitrate threshold), one of the secondary P2P communication channels can be automatically promoted to a primary P2P communication channel.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of combining multiple streams of data packets into a single combined stream in a manner that facilitates accurate estimation of bandwidth of a connection over a network between two devices. When combining the streams into the combined stream, the method associates a set of packets from a first stream and a reference packet from a second stream to form a longer sequence of packets in the combined stream. The method sends the combined stream from a first device to a second device so that the second device can estimate the bandwidth of the connection between the first and second devices based on the inter-arrival times of the packets in the sequence of packets.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for securely and efficiently exchanging connection data for a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) session on a network comprising. For example, in one embodiment, a connection data exchange (“CDX”) service can perform the function of a central exchange point for connection data. In one embodiment, the CDX service can perform the operations of receiving a connection data structure, sometimes referred to herein as a “ticket,” created by a matchmaker or an invitation service in response to requests from a group of mobile computing devices attempting to establish peer-to-peer (“P2P”) connections. The ticket can identify each of the group of mobile computing devices and can include encrypted NAT hole punch data associated with each of the mobile computing devices.

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.