Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for controlling the rate a data encoder generates compressed data. The system and method are preferably implemented as program code stored and executed by a processor or computer that is interfaced to standard variable or constant bit rate encoders known in the art. The system preferably encodes and compresses video signals received from a camera, and controls the rate at which the compressed data is generated by the encoder so that storage capacity reserved for the compressed data will not be exceeded. The device preferably takes advantage of periods when the data generation rate is low to increase the quality of video data generated during periods of high activity.

Abstract: A television and camcorder combination include an acoustic echo canceller and a videoconference protocol stack in order to provide videoconferencing capabilities using only a television in combination with an attached camcorder. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.

Abstract: A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.

Abstract: A technique of encoding video frames allocates an available number of bits to different portions of the video frame. A processing unit identifies a region of interest (ROI) in a video frame, and computes a first and second complexity parameter respectively representing the change in video information in the ROI portions and non-ROI portions in the video frame relative to a reference frame. Bits are allocated to the ROI portion proportional (positive correlation) to the first complexity parameter and a ratio of the area of the ROI to the area of the frame. The remaining available bits are allocated to the non-ROI. In an embodiment, the bits are encoded according to H.264 standard.

Abstract: A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.

Abstract: An image processing system processes images such that a proportion of area of regions of interest within the image can be increased at the expense of regions of lesser interest. First, regions of interest, such as portions of the image including participants, are determined. Then compressible background regions are determined and compressed. This results in the proportion of the area of the regions of interest to increase. After the image is stored or transmitted, the regions of interest can be seen more clearly both because they are larger and because any loss of detail caused by down-sampling or lossy image compression needed to limit the amount of image information is reduced due to the smaller image size. The process also preserves more of the relative spatial relationship between various regions of interest than prior methods.

Abstract: Video conferencing with reduced bandwidth usage is disclosed. One method comprises receiving an audio stream at a server station connected to a plurality of participants in the video conference, at least one participant being a client station connected to the server station by a network and supplying the audio stream, the server station including a first memory and processor, and the client station including a second memory and processor. A mixing algorithm is performed that determines which video streams of the participants to mix to form a conference video stream for display by at least one of the participants. A video stream from the client station is selectively transmitted to the server station responsive to the mixing algorithm, and the server station transmits the conference video stream and/or the streams to be mixed to the participant(s).

Abstract: A method and device for communicating a video with a simulation image is provided. The method includes: acquiring, by a sender, video data, transforming the acquired video data into vector data in image recognition algorithm, and sending the vector data to a receiver; and calling, by the receiver, a cartoon rendering model and rendering the received vector data in the video with a corresponding cartoon simulation image according to the cartoon rendering model. By using the present invention, the amount of data transmitted in a network may be reduced, and network bandwidth resources are saved.

Abstract: A method for switching video resolution includes: confirming that a video sender and a video receiver have established a video communication connection, and obtaining an initial resolution of the video sender; confirming that bandwidth of the video communication connection and hardware of the video sender meet preset conditions, and switching the initial resolution of the video sender to a target resolution, in which the target resolution is higher than the initial resolution. After establishing video communication connections between terminals, when there are available bandwidth and hardware of the terminal using video communication, the resolution of terminal may be switched to provide a more clear video communication for terminal user, and guarantee smooth switching of resolution.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes generating a test frame of video data having a first format, and rendering the test frame of video data to a frame buffer, wherein the frame buffer is configured to store video data in a second format. The method also includes reading, from the frame buffer, a return frame of video data, wherein the return frame of video data comprises the video data of the test frame formatted in the second format, and determining the second format based on a comparison of the test frame having the first format and the return frame having the second format.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a video input from a camera element; using change detection statistics to identify background image data; using the background image data as a temporal reference to determine foreground image data of a particular video frame within the video input; using a selected foreground image for a background registration of a subsequent video frame; and providing at least a portion of the subsequent video frame to a next destination.

Abstract: Conducting a private videoconference within a videoconference. A videoconference may be established between a plurality of endpoints. Input may be received requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The private videoconference may be established between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The initial videoconference may continue during the private videoconference. Private videoconference data may be transmitted only to the plural subset of endpoints of the private videoconference. The private videoconference may be sent directly between the plural subset of endpoints or may be sent via a multipoint control unit, e.g., of the initial videoconference. The private videoconference data may not be sent to the remaining endpoints of the initial videoconference.

Abstract: A stream condense unit coupled to a streaming server and a client player is provided. The stream condense unit includes a streaming data input unit, a stream content analysis unit, a frame timestamp adjust unit, and a streaming data output unit. The streaming data input unit is configured to receive a plurality of streaming content groups sent by the streaming server. The stream content analysis unit is configured to receive the plurality of streaming content groups, execute a content analysis to get importance scores of the source streaming contents. The frame timestamp adjust unit is configured to receive the condensed stream and adjust a timestamp of each frame in the condensed stream. The streaming data output unit is configured to receive the condensed stream and attach content identifying labels and tables to the condensed stream, and send the condensed stream to the client player to display.

Abstract: A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.

Abstract: Implementations relate to a system for video encoding and conversion including an image resolution conversion component operable to convert a resolution of a source image frame from a first resolution to a second resolution to produce a first intermediate image frame at the second resolution; an image conversion component operable to receive the first intermediate image frame and convert an image size of the first intermediate image frame to another image frame size to produce a first viewable image frame; an image viewer component operable to display the first viewable image on a first display; a color space conversion component comprising a luminance conversion component and a chrominance operable to receive the first viewable image frame and convent a first luminance value and a first chrominance value of the first viewable image frame to a second intermediate image frame having a second luminance value and a second chrominance value.

Abstract: A transmission device includes an image capturing part that captures a subject and generates a plurality of temporally successive frame images, an analyzer that analyzes a size of a motion of the subject by use of at least two or more of the frame images, a viewing condition receiver that receives viewing conditions from a reception device, and a network bandwidth measurement part that measures a congestion degree of a network. The transmission device further includes a controller that controls a data volume of the plurality of frame images based on the size of the motion of the subject, the viewing conditions, and the congestion degree of the network, to determine a predetermined parameter for encoding, an encoder that encodes the plurality of frame images based on the predetermined parameter, and a transmitter that transmits the plurality of encoded frame images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for facilitating processing of images contained in an encoded video stream wherein a plurality of non-intra coded images are transcoded into intra-coded images (I-images). The transcoded I-images are then used to facilitate trick mode playback, such as reverse playback, fast reverse playback or fast forward playback. In addition, an image sequence window is defined and transcoded I-images which fall outside of the image sequence window are deleted from a memory.

Abstract: An example method may include receiving a media stream from a first endpoint, where the media stream is intended for a second endpoint; processing the media stream according to at least one processing option; compressing the media stream; and communicating the media stream to the second endpoint. In more specific instances, the processing may include converting a speech in the media stream to text in a first language; converting the text in the first language to text in a second language; rendering the text in the second language; and adding the rendered text in the media stream.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system which encodes different streams of information. The information may include video, audio, speech recognized versions of the audio, and language translated versions of the audio. Text may be sent as part of the videoconference.

Abstract: A communication method and apparatus for a user terminal provided in the present invention can detect the user terminal, obtain first capability information on a video communication of a wireless network, and second capability information on the video communication of said user terminal, process the first capability information and the second capability information to generate video communication capability indication information, and select one of operations to perform according to said video communication capability indication information, said operations including enabling a video session or enabling the video session after closing at least a part of applications being used by said user terminal or enabling an audio session. Such a processing scheme of the communication for a user terminal is of high efficiency, with a clear process and can be easily optimized, with an improved success rate for establishing a video session at a time.

Abstract: A self-adaptive adjustment method of video call service and a video mobile terminal are disclosed in the present invention, wherein the method includes: the video mobile terminal receiving parameter information representing the channel capacity of a cell to which the video mobile terminal belongs; and the video mobile terminal adjusting quality of a video call that is being performed or will be initiated by the video mobile terminal according to the parameter information received by the video mobile terminal. By the present invention, the video mobile terminal is enabled to accomplish utilization of the video call service to a maximum extent in a limited channel capacity of the cell, and the user experience is improved.

Abstract: A system for a multi-point videoconference consisting of three or more simultaneously connected end-points in a one-to-many or a many-to-many conference via a dynamic-virtual-multi-point-control-unit. The system comprising of a dynamic control unit is created when the Audio and Video parameters with conference participants are input by the initiator. After the establishment of the conference the dynamic-control-unit may shift from end-point to end-point in the course of a conference without terminating the conference. The movement of the Composite table of parameters creates a virtual multipoint conference control unit first by selecting the best endpoint to host the dynamic control unit using the client device resources. The dynamic-control-unit uses a protocol to establish the connections between multipliable endpoints, including a requesting or initiating endpoint and two or more participating endpoints.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate describing, communicating, utilizing, etc. a frame dependency structure in connection with real time video communication. For example, a protocol can be employed to communicate the dependency structure from a sender to a receiver. Moreover, a mechanism on a receiver side can detect frame(s) that will be rendered with artifacts if displayed due to previous frame loss; this mechanism can leverage receiver side knowledge concerning the dependency structure of the of the frames.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for controlling an encoder that is particularly suited for high definition video conferencing. The method includes: receiving an average allowance of bits for encoding a data frame; receiving a burst allowance for data encoded by the encoder, where the burst allowance specifies a variance above the average allowance for a given time period; determining bits needed to encode an incoming data frame; comparing the bits needed to encode the incoming data frame to the average allowance of bits; computing a bit allowance for the incoming data frame using the bits needed to encode the incoming data frame and the burst allowance when the bits needed to encode the incoming data frame exceeds the average allowance of bits; computing a quantization parameter for the incoming data frame using the bit allowance for the incoming data frame; and providing the quantization parameter to the video encoder.

Abstract: A method and computing system for receiving an indication of a first user participating in a videoconference. A determination is made concerning whether bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference. If bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference: an unprocessed video stream associated with the first user is processed to generate a reduced bandwidth video stream, and the reduced bandwidth video stream is provided to a video encoder. Processing the unprocessed video stream includes performing an edge detection procedure on the unprocessed video stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a mobile streaming adaptor includes a processor configured to receive media content from a remote camera, process the received media content by capturing, encoding and encapsulating the media content at a mobile electronic device, connect to a remote streaming server through function of a mobile networked device; and stream the encapsulated media content to the mobile networked device for communication of the encapsulated content to the remote streaming server through an Internet Protocol (IP) network for real-time distribution to a communication device. A corresponding computer program product and method are also provided.

Abstract: A method for executing a video conference is provided that includes receiving one or more audio streams associated with a video conference from one or more end points and determining an active speaker associated with one of the end points. Audio information associated with the active speaker may be received at one or more media switches. One or more video streams may be suppressed except for a selected video stream associated with the active speaker, the selected video stream propagating to one or more of the media switches during the video conference. The selected video stream may be replicated such that it may be communicated to one or more of the end points associated with a selected one of the media switches.

Abstract: The invention involves local media rendering of a multi -party call, performed by a Client User Equipment (1). The media is encoded by each party in the call, and sent as a media stream to a Media server (2), and the media server receives a request for media streams from each Client User Equipment, each media stream in the request associated with a client priority. The Media server selects the media streams to send to each Client User Equipment, based on the request, and further such that the number of streams does not exceed a determined maximum number, which is based e.g. on the available bandwidth.

Abstract: A system for videoconferencing that offers, among other features, extremely low end-to-end delay as well as very high scalability. The system accommodates heterogeneous receivers and networks, as well as the best-effort nature of networks such as those based on the Internet Protocol. The system relies on scalable video coding to provide a coded representation of a source video signal at multiple temporal, quality, and spatial resolutions. These resolutions are represented by distinct bitstream components that are created at each end-user encoder. System architecture and processes called SVC Thinning allow the separation of data into data used for prediction in other pictures and data not used for prediction in other pictures. SVC Thinning processes, which can be performed at video conferencing endpoints or at MCUs, can selectively remove or replace with fewer bits the data not used for prediction in other pictures from transmitted bit streams.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a system are provided, wherein the system includes an encoding engine to encode and/or compress one or more objects of interest within individual image frames with higher bit densities than the bit density employed to encode and/or compress their background. The system may further include a context engine to identify a region of interest including at least a part of the one or more objects of interest, and scale the region of interest within individual image frames to emphasize the objects of interest.

Abstract: Multicast media notifications are provided when unicast media encoders are unavailable to serve endpoints that send a communication session request to a call control device. When the call control device receives a communication session request from an endpoint, a determination is made as to whether any one of a plurality of unicast media encoders is available for the communication session request. When it is determined that none of the plurality of unicast media encoders is available, the endpoint is connected to a multicast media encoder that presents a multicast media notification to the endpoint.

Abstract: One of a plurality of video channels is selected for viewing. A specific one of a plurality of video channels is bookmarked. An object representing said bookmarked channel is displayed. A displayed object is selected to select the bookmarked channel.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving an input video, and identifying values of pixels from noise associated with a current video image within the video input. The method also includes creating a skip-reference video image associated with the identified pixel values, and comparing a portion of the current video image to the skip-reference video image. The method also includes determining a macroblock associated with the current video image to be skipped before an encoding operation occurs.

Abstract: Compression and decompression of image data, including a first image of an object. The first image may be divided into portions. For each portion, it may be determined whether the portion includes a part of the object. The image data may be compressed based on said determining. If a threshold ratio of portions that do not include a part of the object is reached, portions including a part of the object may be compressed according to a first compression method and portions not including a part of the object may not be compressed, where background information is stored for the portions not including a part of the object. If the threshold ratio of portions that do not include a part of the object is not reached, each portion of the object may be compressed according to the first compression method. The compressed data may be decompressed in a reverse fashion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video communication method for dynamically modifying video encoding, which includes: obtaining a video window size change signal in a video receiver; generating an encoding modification signal according to the change signal; transmitting the encoding modification signal to a video sender; the video sender receiving the modification signal and modifying encoding parameters of a encoder in real time according to the modification signal. The present invention also relates to a video communication system for dynamically modifying video encoding. Once video window size changes, the video receiver immediately sends a signal to the video sender to inform the video sender to modify encoding parameters. The video sender modifies the encoding parameters according to the signal, and adaptively modifies bandwidth and CPU requirement of each channel according to the RTCP feedback.

Abstract: A video conference cross-links at least a portion of the clients for point to point communication while still using a video conference server. The video conference server continues to manage some aspects of the video conference for the cross-linked clients and may be configured to perform audio/video processing for some of the clients in a video conference. For example, the video conference server may perform audio/video processing and routing of streams for clients that do not have the capabilities to perform the processing directly. Clients that are able to process their audio/video needs may directly connect to other clients through cross-links while still using the video conference server for management.

Abstract: Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using region of interest (ROI) features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal using pixel data associated with a ROI. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a detector that can be used to detect human flesh tone regions in a video scene as part of providing a video stream to one or more conference participants.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer input/output (I/O) functionality within a remote computing environment. The system comprises a host audio controller and a remote audio controller for bridging audio data between a host computing system and at least one remote audio device, a host USB controller and a remote USB controller for bridging USB data between the host computing system and at least one remote USB device, and an encoder module and a remote display decoder for bridging a digital video signal from the host computing system to a remote display, wherein the host audio controller, the host USB controller, and the encoder module are communicatively coupled to the remote audio controller, the remote USB controller, and the remote display decoder, respectively, via a computer network.

Abstract: Implementations relate to a system for video encoding and conversion including an image resolution conversion component operable to convert a resolution of a source image frame from a first resolution to a second resolution to produce a first intermediate image frame at the second resolution; an image conversion component operable to receive the first intermediate image frame and convert an image size of the first intermediate image frame to another image frame size to produce a first viewable image frame; an image viewer component operable to display the first viewable image on a first display; a color space conversion component comprising a luminance conversion component and a chrominance operable to receive the first viewable image frame and convent a first luminance value and a first chrominance value of the first viewable image frame to a second intermediate image frame having a second luminance value and a second chrominance value.

Abstract: A method and system to improve the performance and/or reliability of a solid-state drive (SSD). In one embodiment of the invention, the SSD has logic compress a block of data to be stored in the SSD. If it is not possible to compress the block of data below the threshold, the SSD stores the block of data without any compression. If it is possible to compress the block of data below the threshold, the SSD compresses the block of data and stores the compressed data in the SSD. In one embodiment of the invention, the SSD has logic to dynamically adjust or select the strength of the error correcting code of the data that is stored in the SSD. In another embodiment of the invention, the SSD has logic to provide intra-page XOR protection of the data in the page.

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 data transfer device and method include obtaining a compression ratio and a compression speed of data for each of a plurality of compression levels, obtaining a compression ratio of data for each of the compression levels, adding a predicted time required for the compression and a predicted time required for the transfer of the data for each of the compression levels to determine a compression level for which the added predicted time is shortest, compressing the data to be transferred at the determined compression level and transferring the compressed to a transfer destination.

Abstract: Disclosed is a processing method used in a video conference system having a local terminal device and at least one remote terminal device, comprising a feature detection step of carrying out a feature detection in the local terminal device and the remote terminal device, respectively; a conference mode setting step of setting a conference mode for the local terminal device and the remote terminal device, respectively; and a video encoding step of dividing a video frame in the local terminal device and the remote terminal device, and then pre-processing the divided areas so as to encode the pre-processed areas, respectively.

Abstract: In order to permit a video telephone call to be set up between at least one first video telephone terminal and at least one second video telephone terminal in a telephone network, a service center is adapted to connect with the first and second terminals over the telephone network. A telephone call is first set up between the first terminal and the second terminal in order to exchange availability signals between the terminals to seek availability to hold a video telephone call therebetween. If such availability is confirmed, the telephone call between the first and second terminals is released, and telephone calls are established between the service center and the first and second terminals, whereby the first and second terminals are connected to one another over the telephone network via the service center. A video telephone call is then set up between the first and the second terminals via the service center.

Abstract: A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes determining whether to store a first partial picture when the first partial picture and a first full picture are corresponding to a first temporal point and storing the first partial picture for decoding a second full picture referring to the first partial picture, the second full picture being corresponding to a second temporal point, the second temporal point being located after the first temporal point, wherein a level of the first partial picture on a scalable domain is lower than a level of the second full picture on the scalable domain.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for discriminating areas of content from areas of noise in difference images of a digital video sequence. This allows the fewest bits possible to be used to encode areas of noise according to a video compression algorithm. The method comprises computing a difference frame from current image data and a reference frame; comparing at least one component of a candidate block within the difference frame to a threshold value to discriminate between content and noise; and encoding the candidate block if content is detected.

Abstract: An electronic device that is accessible to a first storage medium that has no communication function and a second storage medium that has a communication function and is detachable to the device, including: an input unit configured to input image data; a designation unit configured to designate at least one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium as a storage medium serving as a storage destination of the image data input by the input unit; and a control unit configured to, if the first storage medium is designated as the storage destination of the image data and the second storage medium is not designated, store the image data in the first storage medium and store the image data in the second storage medium as well so as to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the communication function of the second storage medium.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for adjusting one or more video parameters of a video communication session based on a type of use for the video communication session. At least one method includes detecting a use for a certain video communication session and applying a profile of video parameters to the session based on the use. The method further includes detecting a network constraint and adjusting one or more of the video parameters based on the network constraint.

Abstract: In decoding a scalable video signal using a partial picture reference on a temporal domain and a scalable domain, the present invention provides a method including obtaining a first partial picture on a first temporal point, and decoding a full picture referring to the first partial picture, the full picture being on a second temporal point, the second temporal point being located after the first temporal point, wherein a level of the first partial picture on a scalable domain is lower than a level of the full picture on the scalable domain.