Abstract: For a scheduled event, it is determined, based on at least one policy, whether the scheduled event is to be established according to a current time and a participation status of attendees. The at least one policy specifies a time criterion and an attendee participation criterion.

Abstract: A device control system includes a general device component, a feature definition set, and a specific device component. The feature definition set is operatively connected to the general device component. The specific device component is operatively connected to the general device component. The general device component defines an application program interface (API) for accessing a device. The feature definition set defines features associated with the device. The specific device component supports the features.

Abstract: A system including a first node configured to receive first data in a first format that specifies a network destination for the first data and convert the first data to second data in a second format that does not specify a network destination for the second data and a second node configured to receive the second data from the first node over a first connection and convert the second data to third data in a third format that specifies a network destination for the third data is provided.

Abstract: A coordinated media control system includes a node manager, a device control system, and a device. The node manager is operatively connected to a first node. The device control system is operatively connected to the node manager. The device is operatively connected to the device control system. The node manager is configured to establish and coordinate media streams for transmitting media from the device to a second node or for receiving media to the device from the second node.

Abstract: An apparatus has a content node to logically select a first A/V stream from an application layer of a first network and a collaboration node to logically select a second A/V stream from an application layer of a second network. A set of non-network media link interfaces are configured to transmit the second A/V stream from the collaboration node to the content node, and to transmit the first A/V stream from content node to the collaboration node. The non-network media link interfaces provide for limited information encoding to prevent network protocol information from being transferred between the first and second networks.

Abstract: A coordinated media control system includes a node manager, a device control system, and a device. The node manager is operatively connected to a first node. The device control system is operatively connected to the node manager. The device is operatively connected to the device control system. The node manager is configured to establish and coordinate media streams for transmitting media from the device to a second node or for receiving media to the device from the second node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing virtual collaboration systems are disclosed herein. A virtual collaboration system includes a hoster configured to receive second media streams from at least a second node, and to transmit those streams from at least one simulated node to at least a first node; and a management subsystem adapted to dynamically configure a topology of a virtual collaborative event, wherein configuration of the topology includes a determination of media stream connections among the at least one simulated node and the at least a first node based on at least one policy, and wherein the media stream connections establish and maintain virtual relationships among the at least one simulated node and the at least a first node.

Abstract: An apparatus has a content node to logically select a first A/V stream from an application layer of a first network and a collaboration node to logically select a second A/V stream from an application layer of a second network. A set of non-network media link interfaces are configured to transmit the second A/V stream from the collaboration node to the content node, and to transmit the first A/V stream from content node to the collaboration node. The non-network media link interfaces provide for limited information encoding to prevent network protocol information from being transferred between the first and second networks.

Abstract: A method of creating a synthetic bridge (100) has select data (406) logically extracted from an application layer of a first network (12A) which contains one or more first data streams to be transported to a second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B) which contains one or more second data streams to be transported to the first network (12A). The two or more first and second data streams are transported over separate sets of non-network media link interfaces (130-133) that only allow for limited information encoding and inherently prevent any network protocol information from being passed with the two or more first and second data streams until after the two or more first and second data streams are in the control of the opposite network from which they were transported.

Abstract: A method of creating a synthetic bridge (100) has select data (406) logically extracted from an application layer of a first network (12A) which contains one or more first data streams to be transported to a second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B) which contains one or more second data streams to be transported to the first network (12A). The two or more first and second data streams are transported over separate sets of non-network media link interfaces (130-133) that only allow for limited information encoding and inherently prevent any network protocol information from being passed with the two or more first and second data streams until after the two or more first and second data streams are in the control of the opposite network from which they were transported.

Abstract: A system including a first node configured to receive first data in a first format that specifies a network destination for the first data and convert the first data to second data in a second format that does not specify a network destination for the second data and a second node configured to receive the second data from the first node over a first connection and convert the second data to third data in a third format that specifies a network destination for the third data is provided.

Abstract: A device control system includes a general device component, a feature definition set, and a specific device component. The feature definition set is operatively connected to the general device component. The specific device component is operatively connected to the general device component. The general device component defines an application program interface (API) for accessing a device. The feature definition set defines features associated with the device. The specific device component supports the features.

Abstract: A coordinated media control system includes a node manager, a device control system, and a device. The node manager is operatively connected to a first node. The device control system is operatively connected to the node manager. The device is operatively connected to the device control system. The node manager is configured to establish and coordinate media streams for transmitting media from the device to a second node or for receiving media to the device from the second node.

Abstract: A method is described for aligning video streams and positioning camera in a collaboration event to create a blended space. A local physical environment of one set of attendees is combined with respective apparent spaces of other sets of attendees that are transmitted from two or more remote environments. A geometrically consistent shared space is created that maintains natural collaboration cues of eye contact and directional awareness. The remote environments in the local physical environment are represented in a fashion that is geometrically consistent with the local physical environment. The local physical environment extends naturally and consistently with the way the remote environments may be similarly extended with their own blended spaces. Therefore, an apparent shared space that is sufficiently similar for all sets of attendees is presented in both the local and remote physical environments.