Methods and apparatus for performing virtual relocation during a network conference

A host apparatus for relocating a conference participant during a network conference, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver configured to transmit and receive information with conference participants during a network conference;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• generate and transmit a host video stream that includes a host background;
• receive an identification of a participant video stream associated with a selected conference participant;
• receive the participant video stream associated with the selected conference participant;
• transmit a request to remove a background from the participant video stream to generate a modified video stream;
• receive the modified video stream;
• relocate the modified video stream within the host background, wherein the operation of relocating comprises adjusting at least one of position, size, aspect ratio, and rotation of the modified video stream within the host background;
• and
• transmit an instruction for relocating the modified video stream within the host background.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations of:

• generating and transmitting, by a first conference participant device, a video stream comprising a background of the first conference participant device;
• receiving, at the first conference participant device, video streams from one or more conference participant devices;
• identifying a video stream of a selected conference participant;
• transmitting a request to a participant device associated with the selected conference participant to remove a background from the video stream of the selected conference participant to generate a modified video stream;
• receiving, at the first conference participant device, the modified video stream from the participant device associated with the selected conference participant;
• relocating, by the first conference participant device, the modified video stream in the background, wherein the operation of relocating comprises adjusting at least one of position, size, aspect ratio, and rotation of the modified video stream within the background of the first conference participant;
• and
• transmitting, by the first conference participant device, an instruction for relocating the modified video stream within the background of the first conference participant.