US 8,300,556 B2Granted

Optimizing bandwidth in a multipoint video conference

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorsRajah K V R Kalipatnapu, Rajesh Velliyatt, Krutarth M. Shah, Murthy V. Atmakuri, Khoa T. Tran

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Abstract

A plurality of multipoint conference units (MCUs) may optimize bandwidth by selecting particular video streams to transmit to endpoints and/or other MCUs participating in a video conference. An endpoint may generate video streams and audio streams and transmit these streams to its managing MCU. During the video conference, an endpoint may also receive and display different video streams and different audio streams. In a particular embodiment, a controlled MCU receives video streams from its managed endpoints, selects potential video streams based upon the maximum number of video streams that any endpoint can display concurrently, and transmits those potential video streams to a master MCU. The master MCU may also receive video streams from its managed endpoints and may select active video streams for transmission to its managed endpoints and to the controlled MCU, which transmits selected streams to its managed endpoints.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system for optimizing bandwidth during a video conference comprising:

a plurality of multipoint conference units (MCUs) each operable to facilitate video conferences between two or more participants, the MCUs further operable to facilitate cascaded video conferences comprising participants managed by two or more of the MCUs;
a plurality of endpoints participating in a video conference, each endpoint operable to establish a conference link with a selected one of the MCUs, to generate a plurality of video streams and a corresponding plurality of audio streams, to transmit the generated video streams and the generated audio streams on the conference link, to receive a plurality of video streams and a plurality of audio streams, to present the received audio streams using a plurality of speakers, and to display the received video streams using a plurality of monitors;
a controlled MCU of the MCUs managing a first set of the endpoints, the controlled MCU operable:
to receive a first set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the first set of endpoints;
to select N potential video streams out of the first set of available video streams, wherein N equals the maximum number of active video streams that any endpoint is able to display concurrently;
and
to transmit the potential video streams to a master MCU of the MCUs;
and
the master MCU managing a second set of the endpoints, the master MCU operable:
to receive a second set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the second set of endpoints and the potential video streams from the controlled MCU;
to select active video streams out of the second set of available video streams, the active video streams comprising N primary video streams and M alternate video streams;
to determine required ones of the active video streams for delivery to one or more of the first set of the endpoints;
and
to transmit the required ones of the active video streams to the controlled MCU.

11 more elements

A multipoint conference unit (MCU) for optimizing bandwidth during a video conference comprising a controller operable:

in a first mode of operation:
to facilitate a video conference as a controlled MCU managing a first set of a plurality of endpoints participating in the video conference, each endpoint operable to generate a plurality of video streams and a corresponding plurality of audio streams and to receive a different plurality of video streams and a different plurality of audio streams;
to receive a first set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the first set of endpoints;
to select N potential video streams out of the first set of available video streams, wherein N equals the maximum number of active video streams that any endpoint is able to display concurrently;
and
to transmit the potential video streams to a master MCU;
and
the controller further operable, in a second mode of operation:
to facilitate the video conference as the master MCU managing a second set of the endpoints;
to receive a second set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the second set of endpoints and the potential video streams from the controlled MCU;
to select active video streams out of the second set of available video streams, the active video streams comprising N primary video streams and M alternate video streams;
to determine required ones of the active video streams for delivery to one or more of the first set of the endpoints;
and
to transmit the required ones of the active video streams to the controlled MCU.

11 more elements

A method for optimizing bandwidth during a video conference comprising:

in a first mode of operation:
facilitating a video conference as a controlled MCU managing a first set of a plurality of endpoints participating in the video conference, each endpoint operable to generate a plurality of video streams and a corresponding plurality of audio streams and to receive a different plurality of video streams and a different plurality of audio streams;
receiving a first set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the first set of endpoints;
selecting N potential video streams out of the first set of available video streams, wherein N equals the maximum number of active video streams that any endpoint is able to display concurrently;
and
transmitting the potential video streams to a master MCU;
and
in a second mode of operation:
facilitating the video conference as the master MCU managing a second set of the endpoints;
receiving a second set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the second set of endpoints and the potential video streams from the controlled MCU;
selecting active video streams out of the second set of available video streams, the active video streams comprising N primary video streams and M alternate video streams;
determining required ones of the active video streams for delivery to one or more of the first set of the endpoints;
and
transmitting the required ones of the active video streams to the controlled MCU.

11 more elements

Logic for optimizing bandwidth during a video conference, the logic encoded in non-transitory computer readable media and operable when executed to:

in a first mode of operation:
facilitate a video conference as a controlled MCU managing a first set of a plurality of endpoints participating in the video conference, each endpoint operable to generate a plurality of video streams and a corresponding plurality of audio streams and to receive a different plurality of video streams and a different plurality of audio streams;
receive a first set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the first set of endpoints;
select N potential video streams out of the first set of available video streams, wherein N equals the maximum number of active video streams that any endpoint is able to display concurrently;
and
transmit the potential video streams to a master MCU;
and
in a second mode of operation:
facilitate the video conference as the master MCU managing a second set of the endpoints;
receive a second set of available video streams comprising the generated video streams from each of the second set of endpoints and the potential video streams from the controlled MCU;
select active video streams out of the second set of available video streams, the active video streams comprising N primary video streams and M alternate video streams;
determine required ones of the active video streams for delivery to one or more of the first set of the endpoints;
and
transmit the required ones of the active video streams to the controlled MCU.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/741,088Filed 27 Apr 2007
Published: US 2008/0267282 A130 Oct 2008
Granted: 30 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04N 7/152
Conference systems: multipoint control units therefor
H04L 12/1822
For computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms: conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants,…
H04L 65/1046
Architectures or entities: call controllers; Call servers
H04L 65/1104
Session protocols: session initiation protocol [SIP]