Videoconferencing bandwidth management for a handheld computer system and method
AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorsFrancis James Canova, Jr., Albert H. Ting
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Abstract
Methods of establishing communication sessions from multiple mobile devices as well as managing available conferencing bandwidths is disclosed. One of the methods disclosed includes establishing a communication session between mobile devices and a group of conferencing servers. The method also includes checking the load of each server. Further, the method includes determining whether the load of each server is above a predetermined threshold. Further still, the method includes routing subsequent mobile devices to communicate through specified conferencing servers selected from the group of conferencing servers if the load of particular servers is above a predetermined threshold.
Claims45
A method of establishing a communications session for multiple mobile devices, comprising:
- establishing a communications session between the mobile device and a first conferencing server of a group of more than one conferencing servers;
- checking the load of the first server;
- determining whether the load of the first server is above a predetermined threshold;
- routing subsequent mobile devices to communicate through a second conferencing server from the group of conferencing servers, if the load of the first server is above a predetermined threshold;
- and
- communicating between the first and the second server such that mobile devices communicating with the first server are able to participate in the communications session with mobile devices communicating with the second server.
A method of conserving communications bandwidth during a videoconferencing call using a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being coupled to a camera, the method comprising:
- connecting multiple mobile devices to a videoconference call;
- issuing a camera shutdown signal to selected mobile devices via the videoconference call connections;
- deactivating specified mobile device cameras based on the camera shutdown signal;
- and
- sending video signals from mobile devices with active cameras to a plurality of mobile devices connected to the conference call;
- wherein the shutdown signal is sent in response to the detection of an audio input to one of the mobile devices.
A method of maintaining a conference call with multiple mobile devices, each of the mobile devices configured to communicate more than one data type during the conference call, the method comprising:
- connecting multiple mobile devices to a conference call through a conferencing server;
- determining by the server, the available bandwidth for maintaining the conference call;
- automatically disabling the access to specified data types by specified mobile devices according to the available bandwidth.
A method of utilizing a mobile device in a videoconferencing session, the method comprising:
- establishing a communication session between the mobile device and a number of communication devices;
- communicating video to the mobile device;
- and
- presenting the video on a display in the mobile device during the communication session;
- determining by the server, the available bandwidth for maintaining the conference call;
- and
- automatically disabling the access to video by specified mobile devices according to the available bandwidth.
A system for utilizing a mobile device in a videoconferencing session, the system comprising:
- means for establishing a communication session between the mobile device and a number of communication devices;
- means for communicating video and audio to the mobile device;
- and
- means for presenting the video and audio at the mobile device during the communication session;
- means for determining by the server, the available bandwidth for maintaining the conference call;
- and
- means for automatically disabling the access to video by specified mobile devices according to the available bandwidth.
A handheld system comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
- and
- a storage device coupled to the CPU and having stored thereon information for configuring the CPU to:
- establish a communication session with a number of communication devices;
- communicate video and audio to the number of communication devices;
- and
- present the video and audio during the communication session;
- and
- issue a camera shutdown signal to selected communication devices in the communication session when a bandwidth usage threshold is being reached because of the communication session.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.