Methods and systems for mobile telepresence

A server-based method for providing telepresence-like capabilities to mobile devices, comprising:

• making a connection to a telepresence system that receives high-definition video from cameras during a telepresence session;
• receiving telepresence session configuration information updates from the mobile device during the telepresence session;
• receiving a plurality of video streams from the telepresence system;
• determining characteristics of telepresence session information to be provided to the mobile device based on accessed mobile device telepresence session configuration information, representative of accepted configuration information updates;
• forming the telepresence session information to be provided to the mobile device according to the determined characteristics;
• and
• transmitting the telepresence session information for reception by the mobile device.

A mobile telepresence-enabled device, comprising:

• a display;
• a network interface;
• a memory resource;
• processing resources coupled with the memory resource, the network interface, the display, for operation under battery power, and comprising one or more modules configured for
• monitoring status of a battery providing the battery power and status of a network to which the network interface communicates,
• controlling elements of a telepresence session involving the device by using one or more of the status of the battery and of the network in formulating control commands to a network-based server, the control commands indicating changes in telepresence session data that is to be transmitted from the server to the device, and
• controlling the display based on the data that is received from the server.

A system for telepresence at mobile devices, comprising:

• a telepresence system for connecting over a comparatively high-speed local area network connection with a telepresence studio, the telepresence system communicating through a firewall with one or more wide area networks;
• a server, capable of communication with the telepresence system through the firewall and over the one or more wide area networks;
• and
• a mobile device capable of communication with the server, wherein
• the server and the mobile device are configured for mutual interoperation to dynamically adjust video streamed from the server to the mobile device, responsive to control commands provided by the mobile device to the server.

A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing a telepresence method at a mobile device, comprising:

• determining a desired composition of telepresence session data to be provided to the mobile device from a remote server, based on a plurality of high-definition video sources provided to the server, the determining at least in part based on a real-time availability of resources to the mobile device, the resources comprising current status of a battery powering the mobile device and bandwidth available over a wireless network;
• transmitting information representative of the desired composition of telepresence session data to the remote server;
• receiving the telepresence session data through an interface to the wireless network;
• and
• performing portions of the telepresence session data on a display and through an audio speaker at the mobile device.