Abstract: A High Speed Serial Bus connecting teleconference devices, such as video conference unit, speakerphone, external loudspeakers or microphones is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments enable the distributing and sharing of controls among the linked devices. They enable incremental upgrades or capacity increases of the teleconference system.

Abstract: A telepresence device allows a remote meeting participant to establish a telepresence at a remote meeting location. The telepresence device provides a video image of the remote meeting participant on a video display screen at a meeting location To enhance the visual sensation that the remote person is present at the meeting location, the telepresence device may display the silhouette image of the remote meeting participant without the image of the background scene of the remote participant's location (e.g., office, home or home office). Further, the telepresence device may be equipped with a rear-facing camera that captures a video image of the background scene behind the telepresence device at the meeting location. The silhouette image of the remote meeting participant may be superimposed on the video image of the background scene at the meeting location, which is captured by the rear-facing camera.

Abstract: A videophone apparatus includes a communication interface for communicating with a system server and a peer; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code cause the videophone apparatus to connect the videophone apparatus via a first wireless connection to the system server; transmit authentication information from the videophone apparatus to the system server via the first wireless connection for initiating account generation for at least one video call service; and receive client information from the system server. The videophone apparatus further determines a client application based on the received client information; establishes a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone apparatus and the peer over a second wireless connection; and triggers a video call service over the peer-to-peer connection utilizing the determined client application and the account generated by the system server.

Abstract: Providing high availability multi-way conferencing. Separate signaling and media components may be provided within an MCU or among a cluster of MCUs. A signaling server may control signaling aspects of a conference while a media server may provide media support for the conference. In the event of media server failure, the signaling server may assign a new media server to provide media support for the conference. A backup signaling server may also monitor the signaling server and may provide signaling support for the conference in the event of signaling server failure.

Abstract: A data processing and communications system for communications between remote stations, the apparatus comprising; a communications module; and a data processing module, a power supply including a power source for generating power and a power link to said modules; a data and power link between the communications module and the data processing module to enable communications and mutual operations therebetween. A camera and MCU for each data transmission station is provided along with a frame comparator in the MCU to select characteristic frame image changes in an image transmission and means for ascertaining characteristic data/image changes based on comparison between each of a predetermined number of per second and next camera captures.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system in which multiple browsers are utilized to present content and control functions for a server based videoconference. The content of the videoconference (e.g., video and audio streams) is presented on a display device driven by a local computer running a browser. The local computer also runs a separate browser that presents control functions on a different display device (e.g., a touch screen). The system can be scaled to include additional monitors and browsers running on the local computer. A local server is provided on the local computer for facilitating communications among the locally running browsers. In this manner, the browsers can communicate with each other via the local server executing on the local computer. The need to send traffic to a remote server to effectuate the browser-to-browser communication is eliminated. This provides for reduced latency and lowers the demands on the remote server.

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: A system and method for distributed audio/video bridging for conferencing endpoints are disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of endpoints are connected to a modified video communication terminal (MVCT) via a communication network. The MVCT is an endpoint including an audio/video bridging module (AVBM). Further, one of the plurality of endpoints capable of holding audio and/or video bridging is determined by the AVBM. Furthermore, the connection of one or more remaining endpoints is transferred to the determined endpoint by the AVBM for load balancing. Also, audio and/or video bridging of the endpoints and the MVCT is enabled by the AVBM and the determined endpoint based on connectivity information of the remaining endpoints with the MVCT and the determined endpoint for conferencing participants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals.

Abstract: The subject technology discloses configurations for receiving input device data via an unreliable data channel from a first computing device in which the input device data includes keyboard data, mouse input data and/or touch and gesture data from the first computing device. The subject technology determines a host client computing device among one or more second computing devices in a multiway video conference for receiving the input device data. Further, the subject technology transmits the input device data via a second unreliable data channel to the determined host client computing device, where the input device data is transmitted on a separate data channel from any video or audio data transmitted to the host client computing device.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a web optimized user device is provided. The web optimized device reduces complexity and facilitates interaction with web-based services and content. The web optimized device can be configured without a hard drive, facilitating integration of web-based services into a computing experience. The web optimized device presents a user interface that integrates video chat functionality into every aspect of the computer content accessed. In particular, a display manager manages the user interface presented and integrates video chat displays and features into the content displays in a content and/or context aware manner. These displays permit a user to intuitively interact with the video chat content and features while the user changes content, for example, web-based services, web-based applications, and other media content, without interruption of or interference from the video chat content.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing multicast traffic in an OpenFlow environment, includes: a network topology and configuration information management unit configured to generate network topology and related switch configuration information based on switch configuration information received from one or more OpenFlow switches. Further, the apparatus includes a path information processing unit configured to, when traffic for video conference service is received, generate ring-type transmission path information to be used to process the traffic, based on the network topology and related switch configuration information, and set the ring-type transmission path information in one or more OpenFlow switches to be used for the video conference service, thereby setting up a ring-type transmission path.

Abstract: A meeting management system for managing the conduct of a large meeting online provides the ability to split the online attendees into two classes, those who will actively take part in the meeting or videoconference and who will both receive and provide a video and audio stream, and those who will only receive a video and audio stream. The latter attendees will receive the stream from servers remote from the actual meeting manage system, possibly after the stream has been forwarded through several remote servers and has gained considerable latency. The latency will not be an issue as these attendees have no comparison with the live stream.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual meeting managing method includes controlling a communication unit to transmit a participant input to a server, controlling the communication unit to receive signals from the server, and controlling a display unit to display a virtual meeting room and actions of a plurality of virtual participants in the virtual meeting room according to the received signals. The method further controls the communication unit to pause the transmission of the participant input to the server and pause the reception of the signals from the server when the participant of the virtual meeting requests to join in a private conference, and establishes a point-to-point/point-to-multipoint connection between/among the participants of the private conference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for controlling a conference including a telepresence conference site, and relate to the field of network communications technologies. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling a conference site in a telepresence conference, including: receiving attribute information of a telepresence conference site sent by the telepresence conference site, where the telepresence conference site includes at least two video areas; and performing conference control according to the received attribute information of the telepresence conference site. Through application of the present invention, the conference control process of the telepresence conference site may be simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for changing a main screen based on distributed telepresence. A distributed telepresence-based control server includes a main speaker change request reception unit for receiving a main speaker change request for requesting change of a main speaker from a first speaker who is an existing main speaker to a second speaker different from the first speaker. A video transmission requesting unit requests a client of the second speaker to transmit a high-resolution video of the second speaker in response to the main speaker change request. A video transmission stop request reception unit receives a video transmission stop request for requesting stop of transmission of a high-resolution video of the first speaker. A video transmission stop requesting unit requests a client of the first speaker to stop transmitting the high-resolution video of the first speaker in response to the video transmission stop request.

Abstract: Systems and methods of video conferencing, in which existing video encoders associated with a multipoint control unit (MCU) can be shared among conference participant devices, depending upon the availability of processor and/or memory resources for the MCU. In making decisions regarding the sharing of video encoders, the systems and methods take into account various parameters associated with potential conference participant devices and the total cost of the processor/memory resources for the MCU, to determine whether a video encoder of the MCU can be shared with, or allocated to, the respective conference participant devices. By determining whether to share or allocate a video encoder of the MCU, depending upon the available processor/memory resources for the MCU, the MCU can be made to operate with increased stability. The systems and methods can be applied to any application that sends the same content to multiple receivers, including announcement and video streaming applications.

Abstract: A communication management system includes: a storage unit configured to store destination information of a first communication terminal that establishes a first session with a relay device that relays communication data, destination information of a conversion system that performs mutual conversion between communication schemes of communication data transmitted from the first communication terminal and a second communication terminal and establishes a second session with the relay device, and destination information of the second communication terminal that establishes a third session with the conversion system; a receiving unit configured to receive start request information to start communication between the communication terminals from the first communication terminal; an extracting unit configured to extract destination information of each communication terminal and the conversion system stored in the storage unit, based on the received start request information; and a transmitting unit configured to tra

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a video call between an originating device and a terminating device by establishing a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection between the devices. The originating and terminating devices exchange candidate information through a P2P server, except that the candidate information for the terminating device is altered before arriving at the originating device. The altering includes changing the IP address and corresponding port for each candidate. The originating device uses the altered candidate information to derive new candidate pairs that are sent to the terminating device, which uses the new candidate pairs to also derive a second candidate list. If the candidate pairs match, a P2P connection is established between the devices.

Abstract: A remote conference control method, a terminal equipment, a multipoint control unit (MCU), and a video conferencing system, where the method includes: when a conference joining terminal receives pause conference indication information sent by a multipoint control unit MCU during a process of a video conference, disabling, by the conference joining terminal according to the received pause conference indication information, a media channel of the conference joining terminal, saving channel parameters, and entering a standby or hibernation state; when the conference joining terminal receives resume conference indication information sent by the MCU, enabling, by the conference joining terminal according to the received resume conference indication information and the saved channel parameters, the media channel of the conference joining terminal, and resuming a working state.

Abstract: A teleconferencing method for a teleconferencing device (1), the device combining multiple individuals (21, 22, 23, 24) in different location (11, 12, 13) over a communication network (31), the device comprising at least one sensor (3, 4, 5) per location and at least one audio and/or visual playback means (2) per location, the teleconferencing method comprising the following steps: assigning multiple interaction counters (41, 42, 43, 44) to each of the individuals (21, 22, 23, 24) participating in the teleconference, each interaction counter (41, 42, 43, 44) characterizing interactions (70) between a specific individual and a third-party individual; estimating the interactions (70) between the specific individual and the third-party individual based on a measurement of the sensors (3, 4, 5) of the specific individual's location or the third-party individual's location; altering a value of the interaction counter (41, 42, 43, 44) corresponding to the interaction (70) between the specific individual and the

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, terminal and system for caption transmission for telepresence, relating to the field of telepresence technologies and solving the problem that caption display on each display terminal cannot be coordinated in the prior art. Some embodiments include acquiring entire caption content and attribute information corresponding to the caption content; determining, according to the entire caption content and the attribute information corresponding to the caption content, caption content to be displayed on each display terminal and a display timing; and transmitting the determined caption content to each corresponding display terminal according to the display timing so that each display terminal superposes the determined caption content to an image.

Abstract: A multiway video broadcast system may include a processor and a memory. The processor may facilitate steps of receiving a plurality of video streams from a plurality of user devices and broadcasting a first video stream of the plurality of video streams at a first quality level and the remaining video streams of the plurality of video streams at a second quality level, where the first quality level is higher than the second quality level. The steps may further include determining that a second video stream of the plurality of video streams should be broadcast at the first quality level, and in response to the determining, and irrespective of control signaling transmitted to the plurality of user devices, broadcasting the second video stream of the plurality of video streams at the first quality level and the remaining video streams of the plurality of video streams at the second quality level.

Abstract: A transmission management apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives, from a first transmission terminal, a communication request for a communication with a second transmission terminal; a fists storage unit that stores therein terminal identification information for identifying the transmission terminals and relay device identification information for identifying a relay device that relays data to be transmitted and received by the first transmission terminal, in an associated manner; a relay device selecting unit that selects the relay device associated with the terminal identification information of the first transmission terminal in the first storage unit; a second storage unit that stores therein the relay device identification information and encryption necessity information in an associated manner; and an encryption necessity determining unit that determines whether encryption is needed based on the encryption necessity information associated, in the second storage unit, with the relay device se

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: A multipoint control unit (MCU) for a video conference system is connected to other MCUs by logical links. If an application service selected by a terminal is not in a list of services on an application server connected to the MCU, the MCU communicates with the other MCUs to receive lists of services from application servers connected to the other MCUs and transmits them to the terminal.

Abstract: A system and a method allowing simultaneous exchange of audio, video or data information between a plurality of units over a communication network, supported by a central unit, wherein the central unit is, based on knowledge regarding one or more of the units, adapted to instruct said one or more units to generate multimedia data streams adjusted to fit into certain restrictions to be presented on other units participating in a same session.

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: 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 video conference system in which a plurality of users communicate video to one another over a data network in a video conference and at least one moderator that moderates the video conference. At least one conference server links users and at least one moderator over a data network so users can communicate at least one video data stream to others. A hierarchical arrangement of control parameters control communications between the users over the at least one conference server. Moderator control parameters in the hierarchical arrangement permit the at least one moderator to specify control parameters from the hierarchical arrangement for one or more of the plurality of users and/or participation rights of one or more of the plurality of users. Computer program products provide a moderator with control or participation of users in accordance with a user set of parameters.

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: 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: Tools and techniques for dynamically transcoding media streams are described herein. These tools may provide machine-readable storage media that contain machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to define initial transcoding schemes under which media streams are to be transcoded as they passes between endpoints. In response to changes in conditions affecting the media streams, the machine may dynamically update the initial transcoding scheme.

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: A media relay conferencing system includes a media relay multipoint control unit and a media relay endpoint that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that media relay videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring media relay endpoint requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting media relay endpoint, a media relay multipoint control unit may respond by requesting the presenting media relay endpoint to synchronize a reference frame in an encoder of the presenting media relay endpoint, which encodes the relevant relay compressed video stream, with a reference frame in a decoder of the requiring media relay endpoint.

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: Methods and systems for presenting video images generated by multiple endpoints in a videoconference such that the displayed images have consistent appearance, for example consistent brightness levels are disclosed. Sampling methods and algorithms are used to calculate an appropriate amount of correction for each video image and the images are adjusted accordingly. Brightness correction may implement one or more brightness sampling and analyzing logical modules (BSAM) and one or more transforming logical module (TLM). The brightness matching methods may be implemented in centralized architecture, for example, as part of a multipoint control unit (MCU). Alternatively, the methods may be implemented using a distributed architecture.

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: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints.

Abstract: Methods, media and devices for generating an optimized image snapshot from a captured sequence of persons participating in a meeting are provided. In some embodiments, methods media and devices for utilizing a captured image as a representative image of a person as a replacement of a video stream; as a representation of a person in offline archiving systems; or as a representation of a person in a system participant roster.

Abstract: A method for controlling a token for an auxiliary stream in a multi-point double-stream conference is provided. In the method, a second conference terminal requests to deprive a token when the token in the multi-point double-stream conference is occupied by a first conference terminal and the auxiliary stream is sent. A Multi-point Control Unit (MCU) receives a token depriving request message sent by the second conference terminal or a chairman conference terminal, judges whether to execute token depriving according to an identifier (ID) carried in the token depriving request message and sends the token depriving request message to the first conference terminal that owns the token after the MCU decides to deprive the token.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals.

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 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 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: 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: 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.