Integration of audio conference bridge with video multipoint control unit

A method comprising:

• receiving audio media streams from a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference session, the endpoints including audio-only endpoints and video endpoints;
• receiving control signals from the plurality of endpoints;
• establishing a video media channel between each of the video endpoints and a video multipoint control unit (MCU);
• detecting that a first video endpoint is an active speaker in the conference session;
• sending a pre-recorded audio clip to the video MCU over an audio channel associated with the first video endpoint, the video MCU sending an image of a user of the first video endpoint to one or more of the video endpoints in response to the pre-recorded audio clip.

Logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed is operable to:

• detect when a first video endpoint becomes an active speaker in a conference session among one or more audio-only endpoints and a plurality of video endpoints which includes the first video endpoint;
• send a dummy audio stream to a video bridge via an audio channel that corresponds to the first video endpoint, the dummy audio stream causing the video bridge to include an image received from the first video endpoint in an output video stream;
• detect when the first video endpoint is no longer the active speaker;
• and
• halt the sending of the dummy audio stream.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
• receive audio input streams received from audio endpoints and audio/video (A/V) endpoints;
• mix the audio packet streams to produce one or more audio output streams for transmission to the audio and A/V endpoints;
• establish a video channel between each of the A/V endpoints and a video multipoint control unit (MCU);
• detect that a first A/V endpoint is an active speaker;
• send a dummy audio packet stream to the video MCU over a dummy audio channel associated with the first video endpoint, the video MCU switching a video output stream sent to the A/V endpoints in response to the dummy audio packet stream.

A method comprising:

• detecting, by an audio conferencing bridge, an attempt by an audio/video (A/V) endpoint to establish a video session;
• negotiating, by the audio conferencing bridge, a session between the A/V endpoint and a video multipoint control unit (MCU);
• and
• negotiating a dummy session between the audio bridge and the video MCU, the dummy session for indicating to the video MCU when the A/V endpoint is an active speaker in a conference session.