Apparatus and method for managing telepresence sessions

A method comprising:

• obtaining first images that are captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a first user;
• transmitting first video content representative of the first images over a network for presentation by a second media processor at a second location associated with a second user;
• receiving over the network at a first media processor at the first location, media content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user;
• presenting at a first display device at the first location, the media content and the second video content in a first telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the second user at the first location, wherein the media content and the first video content are adapted for presentation by the second media processor in a second telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the first user at the second location;
• and
• using the first media processor to present a service upgrade offer that indicates a dedicated route for telepresence sessions based on a history of utilization of telepresence sessions by the first media processor, wherein the utilization satisfies a telepresence threshold,
• wherein the presenting of the media content, the second video content or both at the first display device is delayed based on latency parameters associated with the presentation of the second telepresence configuration by the second media processor to synchronize the first and second telepresence configurations.

A machine-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining media content at a server;
• receiving over a network at the server, first video content of a first user at a first location;
• receiving over the network at the server, second video content of a second user at a second location;
• receiving over the network at the server, third video content of a third user at a third location;
• transmitting over the network from the server, the media content and the second and third video content to a first media processor for presentation in a first telepresence configuration at a first display device that simulates the second and third users being present at the first location;
• transmitting over the network from the server, the media content and the first and third video content to a second media processor for presentation in a second telepresence configuration at a second display device that simulates the first and third users being present at the second location;
• transmitting over the network from the server, the media content and the first and second video content to a third media processor for presentation in a third telepresence configuration at a third display device that simulates the first and second users being present at the third location;
• synchronizing the presentations of the first, second and third telepresence configurations by determining a largest latency among a select one of the presentations of the first, second and third telepresence configurations to obtain the first, second and third telepresence configurations having a determined largest latency and delaying presentations of remaining others of the first, second and third telepresence configurations based on the determined largest latency;
• obtaining latency metrics from loop back testing associated with the first, second and third media processors;
• isolating network elements of the network experiencing latency based on the latency metrics to obtain isolated network elements;
• determining a latency area of the network based on a topology of the network and the isolated network elements;
• and
• configuring routes over the network to transmit the media content and the first, second and third video content to the corresponding first, second and third media processors based on reducing utilization of network elements in the latency area.