Distributed communications

A method of communicating, comprising:

• receiving at least a first encoded media stream sent from a first sending device of a plurality of co-located sending devices and a second encoded media stream sent from a second sending device of the plurality of co-located sending devices;
• synchronizing the first encoded media stream and the second encoded media stream based on the co-located sending devices;
• determining a spatial relationship between the plurality of co-located sending devices to define a sending spatial relationship;
• determining a spatial relationship between a plurality of co-located receiving devices to define a receiving spatial relationship;
• selecting a first receiving device from the plurality of co-located receiving devices as a destination for the first encoded media stream based on the sending spatial relationship and the receiving spatial relationship;
• selecting a second receiving device from the plurality of co-located receiving devices as a destination for the second encoded media stream based on the sending spatial relationship and the receiving spatial relationship;
• synchronizing the first encoded media stream and the second encoded media stream based on the co-located receiving devices;
• sending the first encoded media stream to the first receiving device to be decoded and rendered on the first receiving device;
• and
• sending the second encoded media stream to the second receiving device to be decoded and rendered on the second receiving device.

A communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of co-located sending devices, each co-located sending device including:
• one or more processors, and
• memory;
• a plurality of co-located receiving devices, each co-located receiving device including:
• one or more processors, and
• memory;
• and
• a server configured to communicate with the plurality of co-located sending devices and the plurality of co-located receiving devices, the server including:
• one or more processors for controlling the operations of the server;
• and
• a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
• receive at least a first encoded media stream sent from a first sending device of the plurality of co-located sending devices and a second encoded media stream sent from a second sending device of the plurality of co-located sending devices;
• determine a spatial relationship between the plurality of co-located sending devices to define a sending spatial relationship;
• determine a spatial relationship between a plurality of co-located receiving devices to define a receiving spatial relationship;
• select a first receiving device from the plurality of co-located receiving devices as a destination for the first encoded media stream based on the sending spatial relationship and the receiving spatial relationship;
• select a second receiving device from the plurality of co-located receiving devices as a destination for the second encoded media stream based on the sending spatial relationship and the receiving spatial relationship;
• send the first encoded media stream to the first receiving device to be decoded and rendered on the first receiving device;
• and
• send the second encoded media stream to the second receiving device to be decoded and rendered on the second receiving device.