High definition videoconferencing system

A method for operating a videoconference, comprising:

• capturing a plurality of images of a first participant location in the videoconference, wherein each of the captured images has a high resolution, wherein the high resolution is at least 1920×1080;
• encoding a video stream based on the plurality of images, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding, wherein the video stream comprises non-periodic I frames;
• providing the video stream to a remote participant location in the videoconference for display on a high resolution display at the remote participant location, wherein the video stream comprises high definition images of the first participant location;
• and
• wherein the videoconferencing system provides the video stream over a network at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth at 30 frames per second or greater.

A method for operating a videoconference, comprising:

• receiving an encoded video stream over a wide area network at a participant location in the videoconference, wherein the encoded video stream is received by the participant location at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth, wherein the encoded video stream comprises an encoded plurality of high definition images, at 30 frames per second or greater, wherein the plurality of high definition images have a resolution of at least 1920×1080, wherein the video stream comprises non-periodic I frames, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding;
• decoding the encoded video stream at a remote participant location to produce the plurality of high definition images;
• and
• displaying the plurality of high definition images on a high resolution display at the participant location in the videoconference.

A method for operating a videoconferencing system, comprising:

• capturing a plurality of high definition images of a first participant location in the videoconference;
• encoding a video stream based on the plurality of high definition images to produce an encoded video stream, wherein the video stream is encoded using H.264 encoding, wherein the encoded video stream comprises high definition images of the first participant location at 30 framer per second or greater, wherein the high definition images comprise a resolution of at least 1920×1080, and wherein the video stream comprises non-periodic I frames;
• providing the encoded video stream over a wide area network to a remote participant location in the videoconference, wherein the video stream is provided at 1.5 Megabits per second or less bandwidth;
• decoding the encoded video stream at the remote participant location to produce the plurality of high definition images;
• and
• displaying the plurality of high definition images on a high definition display at the remote participant location.

A videoconferencing system, comprising:

• a camera operable to capture a plurality of high definition images of a first participant location;
• a videoconferencing device coupled to the camera and operable to provide a video stream to a remote participant location, wherein the video stream comprises the plurality of high definition images of the first participant location at 30 framer per second or greater, wherein the high definition images comprise a resolution of at least 1920×1080, and wherein the video stream comprises non-periodic I frames;
• and
• wherein the videoconferencing system is configured to provide the video stream over a network, wherein at least a portion of the network operates at 1.544 Megabits per second or less bandwidth capability.