Split screen video in a multimedia communication system

An apparatus for encoding video comprising:

• means for capturing a video sequence at a full frame resolution;
• means for identifying boundaries for an inner region within frames of the video sequence;
• means for encoding the video sequence at the full frame resolution into a bitstream, the bitstream including a sub-bitstream encoding for the inner region;
• means for embedding data within the bitstream, the data identifying the sub-bitstream within the bitstream.

A machine-readable medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a machine-implemented method comprising:

• capturing a video sequence at a full frame resolution;
• identifying boundaries for an inner region within frames of the video sequence;
• encoding the video sequence at the full frame resolution into a bitstream, the bitstream including a sub-bitstream encoding for the inner region;
• embedding data within the bitstream, the data identifying the sub-bitstream within the bitstream.

A method comprising:

• receiving an encoded bitstream, the bitstream encoding for a video sequence at a full frame resolution;
• identifying a sub-bitstream within the bitstream, the sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region within frames of the video sequence, the inner region having a first resolution lower than the full frame resolution;
• and
• discarding bits of the bitstream to obtain the sub-bitstream.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving an encoded bitstream, the bitstream encoding for a video sequence at a full frame resolution;
• means for identifying a sub-bitstream within the bitstream, the sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region within frames of the video sequence, the inner region having a first resolution lower than the full frame resolution;
• and
• means for discarding bits of the bitstream to obtain the sub-bitstream.

A machine-readable medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a machine-implemented method comprising:

• receiving an encoded bitstream, the bitstream encoding for a video sequence at a full frame resolution;
• identifying a sub-bitstream within the bitstream, the sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region within frames of the video sequence, the inner region having a first resolution lower than the full frame resolution;
• and
• discarding bits of the bitstream to obtain the sub-bitstream.

A method comprising:

• identifying a split screen layout, the split screen layout for presenting video sequences from a plurality of end points;
• determining a capability of an end point, the capability including a first resolution for capturing a video sequence at the end point;
• determining a second resolution for displaying the video sequence within the split screen layout;
• determining whether cutting the video sequence from the first resolution to the second resolution is acceptable;
• if the cutting is acceptable, instructing the end point to encode the video sequence into a bitstream at the first resolution, the bitstream including a sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region of the video sequence at the second resolution.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying a split screen layout, the split screen layout for presenting video sequences from a plurality of end points;
• means for determining a capability of an end point, the capability including a first resolution for capturing a video sequence at the end point;
• means for determining a second resolution for displaying the video sequence within the split screen layout;
• means for determining whether cutting the video sequence from the first resolution to the second resolution is acceptable;
• if the cutting is acceptable, means for instructing the end point to encode the video sequence into a bitstream at the first resolution, the bitstream including a sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region of the video sequence at the second resolution.

A machine-readable medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a machine-implemented method comprising:

• identifying a split screen layout, the split screen layout for presenting video sequences from a plurality of end points;
• determining a capability of an end point, the capability including a first resolution for capturing a video sequence at the end point;
• determining a second resolution for displaying the video sequence within the split screen layout;
• determining whether cutting the video sequence from the first resolution to the second resolution is acceptable;
• if the cutting is acceptable, instructing the end point to encode the video sequence into a bitstream at the first resolution, the bitstream including a sub-bitstream encoding for an inner region of the video sequence at the second resolution.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for displaying a split screen window within a graphical user interface, the window including a plurality of regions, each region to display a video sequence received from one of a plurality of end points;
• means for receiving a selection of a first region within the window;
• means for receiving a command to drag the selected first region over a second region within the window;
• means for receiving a command to drop the selected first region over the second region;
• and
• means for, in response to receiving the command to drop the selected first region, switching positions of the first region and the second region within the window.