US 8,300,082 B2 · Apparatus and method for video conferencing

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to determine video conferencing capability of a group of communication devices associated with a user where the group of communication devices comprises a set top box and where the determination of the video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with establishing a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of the group of communication devices; and establish a video conference for participating devices in response to a request from one device of the mobile communication device and the group of communication devices, where the video conference is established over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, and where the participating devices comprise the mobile communication device and the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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Claims25

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

initiating a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of a group of communication devices associated with a user;
determining video conferencing capability of each device of the group of communication devices using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) exchange to identify a group of video conferencing capable devices of the group of communication devices, wherein the determination of the video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with the initiating of the voice call;
receiving over one of the IMS network or an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network a request for video conferencing from one of the mobile communication device or the group of communication devices;
determining a presence of the user at a set-top box, wherein the set top box is one of the group of video conferencing capable devices;
adjusting and transmitting the request over the other of the IMS network or the IPTV network to the set-top box responsive to the determined presence;
receiving an acceptance of the request from the set-top box;
initiating a video conference between the mobile communication device and the set top box;
and
receiving and adjusting a format of video streams of the video conference for transmission between the IMS network and the IPTV network, wherein the video streams comprise video content captured by the mobile communication device and the set top box.

6 more elements

A server comprising:

a memory for storing computer instructions;
and
a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the computer instructions, responsive to being executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:
establishing a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of a group of communication devices;
determining a presence of a user at a set-top box, wherein the set-top box is one of the group of communication devices;
transmitting a request for a video conference to set-top box responsive to the determined presence:
receiving an acceptance of the request from the set-top box;
and
establishing a video conference for participating devices, wherein the video conference is established over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, and wherein the participating devices comprise the mobile communication device and the set top box.

6 more elements

A method, comprising:

accessing, by a system comprising at least one processor, user information associated with a group of communication devices associated with a user, the user information comprising video capability for each device of the group of communication devices,
determining, by the system, video conferencing capability of each device of the group of communication devices based on the user information;
receiving over one of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network or an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network a request for video conferencing from one device of a mobile communication device or the group of communication devices;
determining, by the system, a presence of the user at a set-top box of the group of communication devices:
transmitting, by the system, the request for a video conference to the set-top box responsive to the determined presence;
receiving, by the system, an acceptance of the request from the set-top box;
adjusting and transmitting, by the system, the request over the other of the IMS network and the IPTV network to the mobile communication device or each device of the group of communication devices that is determined to have video conferencing capability;
and
facilitating establishment, by the system, a video conference for participating devices in response to the request, the participating devices comprising the mobile communication device and the set top box.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,114 words

Summary93 words

#The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems and more specifically to an apparatus and method for video conferencing.

#Video conferencing is increasing in popularity as a means for cost savings compared to traveling to meetings, as well as a means for more effective communication compared to telephone conferences. Service providers have various techniques for transmitting video and audio content to users. Users often have various devices with video conferencing and/or presentation capabilities. These devices can have a wide variety of adjustable features for improving the viewing and listening experience of the users.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide media services;

#FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

#FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

Detailed description6,899 words

#One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions for engaging in a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of a group of communication devices associated with a user where the group of communication devices comprises a set top box, determining video conferencing capability of each device of the group of communication devices using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) exchange where the determination of video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with the establishing of the voice call, receiving over one of the IMS network and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network a request for video conferencing from one of the mobile communication device and the group of communication devices, adjusting and transmitting the request over the other of the IMS network and the IPTV network to the mobile communication device or each device of the group of communication devices that is determined to have video conferencing capability, establishing a video conference for participating devices in response to the request where the participating devices comprise the mobile communication device and the set top box, and receiving and adjusting a format of video streams of the video conference for transmission between the IMS network and the IPTV network where the video streams comprise video content captured by the mobile communication device and the set top box.

#Another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a server having a controller to determine video conferencing capability of a group of communication devices associated with a user where the group of communication devices comprise a set top box and where the determination of video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with establishing a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of the group of communication devices, and establish a video conference for participating devices in response to a request from one of the mobile communication device and the group of communication devices where the video conference is established over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network and where the participating devices comprising the mobile communication device and the set top box.

#Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a set top box having a controller adapted to exchange Session Internet Protocol (SIP) data over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network with a server for determination of video conferencing capability of a group of communication devices associated with a user where the group of communication devices comprise the set top box and where the determination of video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with establishing a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of the group of communication devices, transmit to the server a request for a video conference with the mobile communication device, and capture and transmit video to the server during the video conference over the IPTV network where the video is adapted for reformatting by the server for transmitting over the IMS network to the mobile communication device.

Facts

Application

12/335,075Filed 15 Dec 2008

Published

US 2010/0149302 A117 Jun 2010

Granted

30 Oct 2012

Term ends

28 Aug 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 986 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification12 codes

H04N 7/15
Systems for two-way working: conference systems
H04L 12/1818
For computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms: conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to…
H04N 7/147
Between two video terminals, e.g. videophone: communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication,…
H04N 21/25808
Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users…:…

Timeline

15 Dec 2008Application filedUS 12/335,075
12 Jan 2009Assigned to At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.assignment of assignor's interest
17 Jun 2010PublishedUS 2010/0149302 A1
30 Oct 2012GrantedUS 8,300,082 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
28 Aug 2031Term endsEstimated, includes 986 days of adjustment

Apparatus and method for video conferencing

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for video conferencing

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims25

Description7,114 words

Drawings

Classification12 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,114 words