Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for adapting a continuous presence videoconferencing layout according to interactions between conferees. Using regions of interest found in video images, the arrangement of images of conferees may be dynamically arranged as displayed by endpoints. Arrangements may be responsive to various metrics, including the position of conferees in a room and dominant conferees in the videoconference. Video images may be manipulated as part of the arrangement, including cropping and mirroring the video image. As interactions between conferees change, the layout may be automatically rearranged responsive to the changed interactions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for assisting a user to select a customer service representative of a financial institution in preparation for a customer service conference. Embodiments determine that an operative connection is being established between a user device of the user and a system associated with the financial institution, such that the user and the representative of the financial institution may conduct the conference; determine at least one representative from a pool of potential representatives, the at least one representative determined for presentation to the user for user selection; and receive user input selecting one of the at least one representatives for conference connection. Some embodiments establish an operative connection between the user device and a representative system associated with the representative over which the user and the representative can conduct an audio-visual conference.

Abstract: A transmission-side information terminal displays a marker whose wavelength changes with time on the basis of a tag ID acquired from a management server. A receiving-side information terminal takes an image to acquire the tag ID, and transmits storage instruction information to a distribution server, the storage instruction information including the tag ID, an area number indicating a position of the receiving-side information terminal and image data acquired by taking an image. The image distribution server stores the tag ID, the area number and the image data in the storage instruction information in association with one another. The transmission-side information terminal transmits query information including the tag ID acquired from the management server and the area number indicating its own position to the image distribution server, thereby acquiring image data associated with the tag ID and the area number from the image distribution server.

Abstract: A method is provided and includes discovering active participants and passive participants from a meeting recording, generating an active notification that includes an option to manipulate the meeting recording, and a passive notification without the option to manipulate the meeting recording, and sending the active notification and the passive notification to the active participants and the passive participants, respectively. The method can also include discovering followers from the meeting recording, generating a followers notification without the option to manipulate the meeting recording, and which includes access to a portion of meeting recording, and sending the followers notification to the followers.

Abstract: A local teleconference participant can view a near-life-size image of a remote teleconference participant on a thin transparent upright display. Because the display is transparent, local background images that surround the image of the remote participant can be viewed through the display just as they would be if the remote participant were present locally.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that is preferably a peer-to-peer (p2p) system. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among a number of user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals can include at least one master terminal, which could be an unhosted master terminal that does not communicate its own audio and/or video. In one embodiment, a first master terminal is included that controls video or audio, or both, transfers among user terminals and an unhosted second master terminal is provided that communicates with at least two user terminals to provide desired connectivity involving such user terminals in order to ensure proper audio and/or video communications between or among them. In another embodiment, an unhosted master terminal is provided with the communication system when the user terminals include mobile terminals in order to avoid power usage by mobile terminals.

Abstract: While performing or initiating a transaction with a self-service video transaction device, a user may interact with a video agent and a terminal associated therewith. Video and/or audio functionalities may be enabled or disabled based on a length of a wait time to connect to a video agent. If the wait time exceeds a predetermined threshold, video and/or audio functionalities may be disabled, and the self-service device may generate a display indicating that video and/or audio functionalities are unavailable. If the wait time does not exceed the predetermined threshold, video and/or audio functionalities may be enabled, and the self-service device may generate a display indicating that video and/or audio functionalities are available.

Abstract: A remote control station that accesses one of at least two different robots that each have at least one unique robot feature. The remote control station receives information that identifies the robot feature of the accessed robot. The remote station displays a display user interface that includes at least one field that corresponds to the robot feature of the accessed robot. The robot may have a laser pointer and/or a projector.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scene video switch system and a scene video switch method. The system comprises an input unit configured to input an image currently captured by a video capture unit to serve as a current image; a detection unit configured to detect all of interesting elements and latent elements in the current image so as to determine a maximum possible existing area of the interesting elements; a state switch unit configured to carry out, by using a predetermined finite state machine, switching between scene states of the maximum possible existing area according to predetermined different scene states and switching conditions; and a display unit configured to extract, based on a current scene state switched by the state switch unit, an area of concern coinciding with the current scene state from the maximum possible existing area to serve as a scene video for display.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus comprising an interface and conferencing logic coupled with the interface. The conferencing logic is operable to receive via the interface data representative of a conference call for a meeting, the data representative of the meeting comprises data representative of a meeting time and data representative of a meeting participant. The conferencing logic is operable to receive via the interface data representative of a callback number and data representative of a callback time from the meeting participant. The conferencing logic is operable to initiate communications with the meeting participant at the callback time at the callback number. The conferencing logic is operable to couple the meeting participant with the conference call upon establishing communications.

Abstract: There is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party's voice is detected by the speaking party's communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party's communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time.

Abstract: A technique joins an electronic device to an electronic conference hosted by a conference server. The technique involves sensing, by the electronic device, sound input. The technique further involves receiving, by the electronic device, sound from a sound initiating device (e.g., a primary device of a user). The technique further involves automatically establishing, based on the sound received from the sound initiating device, a communications channel from the electronic device (e.g., a helper device of the user) to the electronic conference hosted by the conference server to enable a user of the electronic device to participate in the electronic conference through the communications channel by using the electronic device. Once the electronic device has joined the electronic conference, a user can operate the electronic device in a variety of ways to enhance the overall experience, e.g., as a control panel to replace a control panel of the sound initiating device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a multi-event videoconference correct marketing sales event is provided. Attendees walked into a videoconference event server's (VES) webpage, which then begins downloading a master event file of video clips to the way during the course of the event. The VES provides a step by step guide to managing the operation of the event including order entry and recruitment of future hosts.

Abstract: Videoconferencing may be provided. A participant may be identified from audio information and in video information. From the video information, a plurality of images may be captured of the participant identified in the video information. A unique identifier may be associated with the captured plurality of images. The unique identifier may correspond to the participant identified from the audio information. The captured plurality of images and the associated unique identifier may be saved in a database.

Abstract: In the field of communication, embodiments of the present invention provide a video communication method, device and system. The technical solutions provided by the present invention include: at least two local video cameras, configured to shoot at least two channels of local video images; an apparatus for local shooting, stitching, and fusing, configured to fuse the at least two channels of local video images, generate a panoramic video image, encode the panoramic video image into a video code stream, and transmit the video code stream to a video communication site at a remote end; a local display fusing apparatus, configured to obtain at least two channels of video data by decoding a video code stream received from the remote end, fuse the at least two channels of video data, and output the fused video data to local display apparatuses for display.

Abstract: A visual telephony apparatus, system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the visual telephony method includes a method implemented using a processor, the method including the steps of: detecting at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a voice communication device to a publicly switched telephone network number; identifying a visual content that has been preassociated with the at least one telephony attribute; initiating a request for the visual content in response to the detecting step; and receiving the visual content in response to the initiating step, the visual content being received at a display device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing unauthenticated client access to session initiation protocol (SIP) communication services provided by an Ethernet device comprising a proxy and a conference bridge. A device installed as an Ethernet adapter receives a SIP call request from a first client, the SIP call request comprising a first uniform resource identifier (URI), the first URI comprising a SIP alias. The device determines that the first client has not been authenticated. The device identifies that the first URI comprises a SIP alias. The device proxies the SIP call request to an endpoint associated with the SIP alias, responsive to the identification of the first URI as a SIP alias.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and device for conference switching, relating to communications technologies, which solve the technical problem in the prior art that the operation during conference switching is complicated and user experience is poor. The method embodiments of the present invention include: receiving, from a conference terminal, a switching request message requesting switching to a destination conference, where the switching request message includes information of the destination conference; and determining, according to the switching request message, to switch to the destination conference indicated by the information, and performing the process of switching to the destination conference. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applicable to the field of multimedia communication technologies.

Abstract: The “relevant” participants for each person in an online meeting may be automatically identified and a personalized view created to dynamically represent these relevant people as the meeting progresses. Relevancy of participants may be determined based on a number of factors and data from a variety of sources at the initialization of the meeting or when the participant for whom the personalized view is created joins the meeting. The relevancy computation may be updated and the personalized view dynamically changed during the meeting based on changes in participants, their participation modality, and comparable factors.

Abstract: A conference system provides metadata about the display of a multimedia stream to allow communication endpoints to control the format of a video conference. A multipoint control unit (MCU) can provide metadata that describes the display layout and other information about the multimedia stream. After setting up the conference, the MCU can generate a layout description in eXstensible Markup Language (XML) that can be sent to and understood by the communication endpoints. The communication endpoints can read and interpret the XML metadata to determine how the display layout is configured. If desired by the user, the communication endpoint can change the display layout or other multimedia stream function based on the received metadata.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a video conference control method and a conference terminal. The method includes: receiving multi-video information, where the multi-video information includes videos of at least two remote conference sites; displaying the multi-video information on a display screen, where the display screen includes a main video display area and an auxiliary video selection area; and performing, according to a received conference control operation request, a corresponding conference control operation on a conference site corresponding to a video displayed in the auxiliary video selection area. According to the present invention, the display screen is divided into the main video display area and the auxiliary video selection area, so that a user may perform a conference control operation on a video of a remote conference site through the auxiliary video selection area, a conference site that needs to be viewed is displayed in the main video display area.

Abstract: Disclosed are different terminals involved in a conference and arranged in a tree topology. Each terminal stores a list of participating terminals, the types of media streams of each terminal, and a media diagram referring to the processing actions of the terminals, in order to allow the conference to be conducted without a server and in a self-organized manner, providing fault tolerance such that the conference as a whole can overcome the failure of any of the participating terminals, allowing the conference to be reconfigured when a user leaves the same, either because it ceases to respond owing to a problem in the terminal or because the user so desires.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method for facilitating an anonymous video/multimedia communication session in a communications environment over a network is provided that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, a request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The method also includes identifying end user data associated with both endpoints. The data associated with the first endpoint is mapped to an identity of the first endpoint. The second endpoint can be shown the identity of the first endpoint and not the end user data associated with the first endpoint. Also, the data associated with the second endpoint can be mapped to an identity of the second endpoint. The first endpoint is shown the identity of the second endpoint and not the end user data associated with the second endpoint.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for implementing a video call with a Bluetooth-based headset and a video communication terminal. The method includes: looking up a Bluetooth headset; starting a VTCALL unit of the AP module and an AG unit; sending a VTCALL command and an AG command to the audio module; switching an audio channel to a BTVTCALL channel; starting a recording and playing mode of the video communication terminal, collecting uplink and downlink audio data, and transmitting the uplink and the downlink audio data to the Bluetooth module; transmitting the uplink and the downlink audio data to the Bluetooth headset; executing the data exchange with the Bluetooth headset for implementing a Bluetooth video call. The present invention implements the Bluetooth video call by modifying software, thereby using the current hardware resources and decreasing the cost.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds of audio and video streams from video conference endpoints. The approach provides various ways for the participants to the video conference to access, control, and interact with each other during the conference for a customized personal experience. A globally distributed infrastructure supports the sharing of the event among the participants at geographically distributed locations through a plurality of MCUs (Multipoint Control Unit), each configured to process the plurality of audio and video streams from the plurality of video conference endpoints in real time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing videoconferencing using split endpoints are disclosed herein. These endpoints can include a Main Unit and a Satellite Unit that are associated with each other, and where the tasks of video and audio encoding and decoding are separated between the two. In some embodiment the Main Unit performs video and audio encoding, and the Satellite Unit performs video and audio decoding. In some embodiments the Satellite Unit obtains media date through its associated Main Unit, whereas in other embodiments the Satellite Unit obtains media data directly from the Server.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method integrating two different conferencing systems through an automatic mapping mechanism. Conference across two different systems are automatically connected without users in both systems being required to be provisioned.

Abstract: A multi-picture synthesizing method in a conference television system is disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: synthesizing multiple pictures into a bottom layer of a multi-picture image according to a preset multi-picture layout, creating at least one layer of image layer over a bottom layer of a multi-picture image, creating at least one image frame in each image layer, and adjusting a pre-output picture corresponding to the image frame according to output characteristics of each image frame, and outputting the pre-output picture into the corresponding image frame. The present invention further discloses a multi-picture synthesizing apparatus in a conference television system. According to the technical scheme of the present invention, the multi-picture synthesizing of a conference television system is implemented flexibly and simply.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system may include a first conferencing system with a first speaker and a second speaker. The first conferencing system may be coupled to a second conferencing system and a third conferencing system. In some embodiments, audio from the second conferencing system may be reproduced through the first speaker, and audio from the third conferencing system may be reproduced through the second speaker. In some embodiments, audio from various participants at various conferencing systems may be reproduced on audio system components relative to the location of participants at the conferencing system. For example, audio from a first participant on the left side of a camera at a second conferencing system may be reproduced through left side speakers at the first conferencing system.

Abstract: A method for creating situation awareness when scheduling video conferences includes providing a user with access to a set of names stored in a directory service database, and allowing the user to select one or more of the names. In response to selection of one or more names, geographical location values associated with the names in the directory service database are retrieved, and a map is provided. The map and one or more geographical objects showing the geographical location of the users associated with the selected names is then displayed on a display.

Abstract: Provided are a video communication apparatus having an eye-to-eye communication function that enables video communication users to communicate with each other in an eye-to-eye state, and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a video of a video communication partner, the display unit including a plurality of cameras activated according to a selection control signal; a video processor configured to encode a captured video from the activated camera, and to decode a video from the video communication partner and identify a position of the video communication partner's eyes from the video; a camera selector configured to activate a camera installed in a position corresponding to the position among the plurality of cameras; and a transceiver configured to transmit the encoded video from the video processor to the video communication partner and provide the video from the video communication partner to the video processor.

Abstract: A conferencing system and method that allows participants to review recorded conference information and to join the conference live are disclosed. Exemplary systems and methods continuously record or buffer at least a portion of a conference, such that participants joining late or that otherwise miss a portion of the conference can review a recording of the portion of the conference and catch up to the live portion of the conference.

Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for investigating an insurance claim. A system may be configured to perform operations including establishing a video conferencing session with a mobile device associated with an insurance product and providing a user interface configured to provide a claims adjuster with remote control of a set of functions on the mobile device associated with the insurance product during the video conferencing session. The operations further include receiving, via the user interface, instructions for requesting the mobile device to perform at least one function in the set of functions on the mobile device and transmitting, to the mobile device, a request to perform the at least one function on the mobile device.

Abstract: A solution for managing a videoconference is provided. Multiple virtual backgrounds can be stored, and a virtual background can be selected to be used for a first participant when he/she is conducting a videoconference with a second participant. The virtual background can be selected based on one or more attributes of the first and/or second participant, one or more attributes of the videoconference, and/or the like. The virtual backgrounds can be utilized, for example, to provide a desired perception, message, and/or the like, of a business entity to individuals outside of the business entity that are interacting with its personnel via videoconferencing.

Abstract: An audio processor for a video conference system receives an audio signal from content to be shared over a video conference and an audio signal from a network. The audio signal from the shared content and the audio signal from the network are mixed together for output to a speaker. The audio processor may also receive a local audio signal from a microphone. The local audio signal is mixed with the audio signal of the shared to content to generate an outbound signal.

Abstract: A digital video viewing system including methods for user selection of video advertisement content and time of display of video advertisements during a live video content stream. The digital video viewing system includes modules for receiving, evaluating and transmitting data within the digital video viewing system and to Internet protocol content providers. Also shown are methods for recording and re-playing live internet protocol content in conjunction with the video advertisement display methods.

Abstract: A system may include a device that receives requests to initiate a videoconference call. The requests may include an indication of a service priority tier that should be applied to the call and first and second client devices for the call. The system may determining bandwidth availability in a network and determine, based on the bandwidth availability and based on the indication of the service priority tier of the call, whether to admit the videoconference call to the network. The device may provision, when it is determined to admit the call to the network, traffic policies corresponding to one or more network devices, where the policies are determined based on the service priority tier of the videoconference call.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes a touch screen display device and a videoconferencing unit. The display device displays video data for the videoconference and generates touch data based on user selections relative to the touch screen. The videoconferencing unit is operatively coupled to the touch screen device by a video connection and a data interface connection, for example. The unit establishes and conducts a videoconference with one or more endpoints via a network. The unit sends video data to the display device and receives touch data from the device. The received touch data is used to control operation of the videoconferencing system. The received touch data can be used to initiate a videoconference call, change an operating parameter, change orientation of a camera, initiate a picture-in-picture display, access a menu, access memory, change a source of video data, initiate a whiteboard display, and access a screen of a connected device.

Abstract: A combined video image is created from a plurality of video images. Each video image has a plurality of video image components, and each video image component has an image component header. The image header is removed from each video image to be included in the combined video image, and a new image header is generated for the combined video image. The image component header of each video image component to be included in the combined video image is altered to set an image position for the video image component within the combined video image. The combined video image is generated by concatenating the new image header with the plurality of video images having no image headers and the video image components having the altered image component headers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying priority objects in a composite image created from one or more input video streams, processing the composite image, and generating a plurality of output video streams. The output video streams correspond to display screens available for viewing the output video streams and the number of output video streams is different than the number of input video streams. Processing the composite image includes positioning the priority objects to prevent placement of the priority objects at a location extending over two of the display screens. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for translation of speech in a video messaging application. A segment of streaming video is decoded to separate the visual component from the audio component. The audio component is then converted to text, which may then be translated and converted to a translation output comprising a new language. In response, the translation output may be encoded with the previously separated visual component. A delay is imposed on the visual component to account for any delays that may arise in translation. The translated video may then be streamed to participants giving the appearance of real-time video conferencing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating videoconferences in instant messaging systems is described, including posting of a videoconference URL in the instant messaging chat window if any of the desired participants of the videoconferencing session is unavailable, so that the unavailable participants can simply click on the videoconference URL and join the videoconferencing session.

Abstract: ViSTORE is a video teleconferencing system used with networked devices and is capable of storing all or parts of video conferencing sessions on demand that can be played back at a later time. The system consists of a web portal, where all multimedia data is stored, and a software application hosted in the networked devices. The networked devices can be any wired or wireless devices such as laptops and smart phones. The system is capable of hosting multiple videoconferencing parties and each user is capable of storing any part of a given user video session. The system also can play concurrently video feeds, such as a live TV channel, or video clips, such as those of news websites. In addition, the system can display simultaneously multimedia such as photos and images. Finally, the system allows user to create and display notes and MS Office applications files.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a system for establishing a multi-cascade channel. The method includes: receiving the site code stream obtaining request, where the request includes at least one identifier of the site; receiving an address and a port that correspond to the identifier of the site according to encoding information of a stream of the site code identified by the identifier of the site, and the address and the port that correspond to the identifier of the site; establishing a multi-cascade channel used for transmitting the code stream of the site identified by the identifier of the site; and sending the code stream of the site identified by the identifier of the site through the multi-cascade channel.

Abstract: A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for interfacing heterogeneous endpoints and web-based media sources in a video conference. Interfacing heterogeneous endpoints can be challenging due to audio/video (A/V) streams being encoded in a format that is proprietary to a media provider of the A/V stream (e.g., format that is proprietary to Skype). To address such a challenge, a client application from the media provider may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to decode A/V streams that are encoded in a format proprietary to the media provider. Further, to display content from a web-based media source (e.g., YouTube) in a video conference, a browser may be installed at a virtual machine, and may be used to virtually render a media signal from the web-based media source, such virtually rendered media signal subsequently being captured and presented in a video conference.

Abstract: A method for controlling a visual light source, a terminal, and a video conference system are provided that relate to the field of communications technologies. The method for controlling a visual light source includes: when a first terminal and a second terminal are in a video conference state, receiving, by the first terminal, control information sent by the second terminal; controlling, by the first terminal according to the control information, a first visual light source on a local rotatable platform to rotate, so that a target indicated by the first visual light source is consistent with a target displayed by a display corresponding to the second terminal. Embodiments of the present invention improve user experience of participants in a video conference.

Abstract: A video-phone device which transmits and receives sharable data to and from video-phones belonging to other parties is provided with a communication control means which, upon receiving a reception request or a transmission request for shareable data, assesses whether or not the reception request or the transmission request satisfies predetermined conditions, specifically, whether or not the other party has been stored in a recoding unit as a party to which transmission/reception of sharable data is permitted, and receives sharable data from the other party or transmits sharable data to the other party only when the conditions are satisfied. Thus the video-phone can automatically permit only reception of sharable data from trusted parties on the other end of a communication line, or transmission of sharable data to trusted parties on the other end of a communication line.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure performs, for example, displaying a video image of a remote scene at a display surface, wherein the remote scene is remote from the display surface. Overlapping video images are obtained from different vantage points of a local scene observable from the display surface. A composite video image is generated of the local scene from the video images and forwarded to the remote location. A first audio signal is generated representing first sounds associated with a first region of the local scene without representing other sounds associated with a second region of the local scene. The first audio signal is forwarded to audio processing equipment at the remote location to present the first sounds at a first region of the remote scene at the remote location without presenting the first sounds at a second region of the remote scene. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The video telephony service method includes the step of the mobile communication system, which stores profile information, setting up a call between culling and called mobile communication terminals; the step of the mobile communication system transmitting the profile information of the calling mobile communication terminal to the called mobile communication terminal, as the calling mobile communication terminal transmits the profile information thereof to the mobile communication system; the step of the called mobile communication terminal consulting the profile information, and transmitting a response signal to the mobile communication system after establishing conditions for video telephony if it is determined that video telephony is possible for a received profile, and the mobile communication system transmitting the response signal to the calling mobile communication terminal; and the step of the mobile communication system establishing a communication path between the calling and called mobile communica