Abstract: An input of a media relay server is configured to receive multiple media streams from a network via the same port simultaneously, each stream being directed to the server network address and indicating a port identifier of the port and a separate target session identifier. A relay module of the server is configured to, for each stream: determine an endpoint network address associated in a database with the target session identifier indicated by that stream, and transmit that stream to that endpoint network address. In this manner, multiple media streams are relayed to different network endpoints via the same port simultaneously.

Abstract: A media session between an initiating endpoint and a responding endpoint is established. A set of candidate pairs is generated at the endpoint. Each of the candidate pairs comprises a respective network address available to the initiating endpoint and a respective network address available to the responding endpoint. The set of candidate pairs is generated by exchanging network addresses between the initiating endpoint and the responding endpoint. The media session is established using a candidate pair of the set determined to be valid by the endpoints performing connectivity checks for at least one candidate pair of the set to determine whether or not the candidate pair is valid. The set includes a multiplexed relayed candidate pair, which comprises a multiplexed relayed candidate. The multiplexed relayed candidate comprises a unique session identifier to allow multiple media streams to be relayed via the same port of the media relay server simultaneously.

Abstract: A user device within a communications architecture, the user device comprising: an object management entity configured to determine at least one object for a shared scene, the object associated with at least one changeable attribute; the object management entity further configured to determine a change in at least one of the at least one changeable attribute associated with the object; a message entity configured to generate for the at least one object an object attribute update message; a message delivery entity configured to control the output of the object attribute update message such that for a determined period the number of messages output is less than a send path rate number.

Abstract: A media session is established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint via a communication network based on connectivity checks performed by the endpoints. A set of candidate pairs, each comprising a first network address available to the first endpoint and a second network address available to the second endpoint, is generated. To each candidate pair of the candidate pair set, a respective priority is assigned. If none of the criteria is determined to be met by the first endpoint, the priorities are assigned by the first endpoint according to a standardized networking protocol as specified by the standardized networking protocol, and if any of the criteria is determined to be met by the first endpoint, at least one of the priorities assigned by the first endpoint is different from that specified by the standardized networking protocol.

Abstract: It can be determined whether relative one way delay for data packets in a data stream exceeds a delay threshold. If so, then a delay congestion signal indicating that the relative one way delay exceeds the delay threshold can be generated. The delay congestion signal can be used in calculating an adaptive bandwidth estimate for the data stream. A packet loss rate congestion signal may also be used in calculating the bandwidth estimate. It can be determined whether a data stream of data packets is in a contention state. If the data stream is in the contention state, then an adaptive bandwidth estimate can be calculated for the data stream using a first bandwidth estimation technique. If the data stream is not in the contention state, then the bandwidth estimate for the data stream can be calculated using a second bandwidth estimation technique.

Abstract: Video streams are generated using a combination of Multiple Bit Rate (MBR) encoding and Scalable Video Coding (SVC). Capabilities and requests of the clients are used in determining the video streams to generate as well as what video streams to deliver to the clients. The clients are placed into groups based on a resolution capability of the client. For each resolution grouping, MBR is used for generating spatial streams and SVC is used for generating temporal and quality streams.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the recovery of lost real-time media packets within a computer network real-time application implementing Forward Error Control (FEC), such that server performance is not affected from a CPU and memory perspective, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a conference server that is part of a communication network compliant with the Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) is able to avoid regenerating FEC packets by not performing any FEC coding operation on the packets unless it is flagged to indicate regeneration via an FEC (e.g., Reed-Solomon) coding is necessary. Absent the flag, the conference server updates the received FEC packet as per the RTP and transmits the packet to its ultimate destination. Such disclosed systems, methods and computer program products are independent of the nature of the media being protected and flexible enough to support a wide variety of FEC techniques.

Abstract: Mean absolute difference (MAD) prediction for video encoding may be provided. Upon receiving a video stream comprising a plurality of quality layers, a first quantization parameter (QP) may be selected for a first frame of the video stream according to a second QP associated with a second frame and a third QP associated with a third frame. The first frame may then be encoded according to the selected first QP.

Abstract: A network performance monitor for a computer. The performance monitor maintains a baseline for communication paths between a networked computer and other networked computers connected. The network performance baseline is established and maintained by measuring and updating network performance parameters of the communication paths. The network performance parameters are updated using values obtained during time intervals when the communication path consumed a bandwidth approximately equal to its estimated bandwidth. If congestion is detected on the network or the network is underutilized, values of the network performance parameters obtained during that interval are not used to update the network performance parameters. Some performance parameters in the baseline, such as minimum and maximum bandwidth values may be updated by computing a moving average of each parameter. Asymmetric weight values for updating the moving average may be selected based on a direction of change of a value of a network parameter.

Abstract: Mean absolute difference (MAD) prediction for video encoding may be provided. Upon receiving a video stream comprising a plurality of quality layers, a first quantization parameter (QP) may be selected for a first frame of the video stream according to a second QP associated with a second frame and a third QP associated with a third frame. The first frame may then be encoded according to the selected first QP.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the recovery of lost real-time media packets within a computer network real-time application implementing Forward Error Control (FEC), such that server performance is not affected from a CPU and memory perspective, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a conference server that is part of a communication network compliant with the Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) is able to avoid regenerating FEC packets by not performing any FEC coding operation on the packets unless it is flagged to indicate regeneration via an FEC (e.g., Reed-Solomon) coding is necessary. Absent the flag, the conference server updates the received FEC packet as per the RTP and transmits the packet to its ultimate destination. Such disclosed systems, methods and computer program products are independent of the nature of the media being protected and flexible enough to support a wide variety of FEC techniques.

Abstract: It can be determined whether relative one way delay for data packets in a data stream exceeds a delay threshold. If so, then a delay congestion signal indicating that the relative one way delay exceeds the delay threshold can be generated. The delay congestion signal can be used in calculating an adaptive bandwidth estimate for the data stream. A packet loss rate congestion signal may also be used in calculating the bandwidth estimate. It can be determined whether a data stream of data packets is in a contention state. If the data stream is in the contention state, then an adaptive bandwidth estimate can be calculated for the data stream using a first bandwidth estimation technique. If the data stream is not in the contention state, then the bandwidth estimate for the data stream can be calculated using a second bandwidth estimation technique.

Abstract: A method of measuring, for communication paths between a networked computer and at least one other networked computer connected via a network performance, network information to detect network performance degradation and diagnose source(s) of the performance degradation. The diagnosis may be performed by a progressive elimination of possible sources. Network performance degradation may be attributed to problems at a local network or the Internet. The problem sources on the Internet may comprise, for example, an internet server provider (ISP) or a single remote server in communication with the networked computer. A network performance baseline established and maintained for each path may be employed in diagnosing the network performance degradation.

Abstract: Mean absolute difference (MAD) prediction for video encoding may be provided. Upon receiving a video stream comprising a plurality of quality layers, a first quantization parameter (QP) may be selected for a first frame of the video stream according to a second QP associated with a second frame and a third QP associated with a third frame. The first frame may then be encoded according to the selected first QP.

Abstract: A method of measuring, for communication paths between a networked computer and at least one other networked computer connected via a network performance, network information to detect network performance degradation and diagnose source(s) of the performance degradation. The diagnosis may be performed by a progressive elimination of possible sources. Network performance degradation may be attributed to problems at a local network or the Internet. The problem sources on the Internet may comprise, for example, an internet server provider (ISP) or a single remote server in communication with the networked computer. A network performance baseline established and maintained for each path may be employed in diagnosing the network performance degradation.

Abstract: Passive analysis connection detection architecture that leverages connection-oriented end-to-end stack protocol information. In a TCP/IP implementation, by passively leveraging TCP information, a given system can determine in a more realtime fashion the connectivity state of a TCP pathway. Additionally, other passive information from the TCP/IP stack such as send/receive packet counts can be considered. Based on analysis of TCP path information and/or send/receive packet counts, loss of certain network connectivity can be inferred, which greatly improves the accuracy and responsiveness of detecting network connectivity losses. The disclosed architecture also facilitates improved performance when using proxy systems for network connectivity so as to reduce unnecessary network traffic and to route network systems to other online systems in a more efficient and effective manner.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for identifying a configuration of a private network that may disrupt operations involving communication between two devices on the network. The tool, when run on a device in the network, can identify a “double NAT” configuration in which the device may be separated from other devices on the private network by a NAT device. The tool, when run on a computing device, identifies a NAT device, such as a router, to which the device is connected. The tool then identifies a list containing one or more other devices that may be connected to the NAT device. The tool tests whether these other devices also perform NAT functions and are on the private network. Both the NAT device and the devices that may be connected to the NAT device are identified and a determination is made of whether those devices are on the private network by sending requests using one or more protocols that devices on a private network conventionally use but are not conventionally used by devices on other networks.

Abstract: Video streams are generated using a combination of Multiple Bit Rate (MBR) encoding and Scalable Video Coding (SVC). Capabilities and requests of the clients are used in determining the video streams to generate as well as what video streams to deliver to the clients. The clients are placed into groups based on a resolution capability of the client. For each resolution grouping, MBR is used for generating spatial streams and SVC is used for generating temporal and quality streams.

Abstract: A quantization factor is determined using information from a histogram of transform coefficients that are produced from a transformed video frame. The histogram is used in estimating an encoded frame size of the video frame that is currently in the process of being encoded. The quantization factor used in the quantization step of the video encoding is adjusted for the current video frame based on the information from the histogram. The histogram is balanced against the desired length of the encoded frame size. Cutoff thresholds in the histogram correlate with different choices of quantization factors, and the ratio of points on or below those thresholds are used to estimate the size of the encoded frame.

Abstract: A method of measuring, for communication paths between a networked computer and at least one other networked computer connected via a network performance, network information to detect network performance degradation and diagnose source(s) of the performance degradation. The diagnosis may be performed by a progressive elimination of possible sources. Network performance degradation may be attributed to problems at a local network or the Internet. The problem sources on the Internet may comprise, for example, an internet server provider (ISP) or a single remote server in communication with the networked computer. A network performance baseline established and maintained for each path may be employed in diagnosing the network performance degradation.