Dynamic display of video communication data

#The advent of mobile computing combined with more powerful networking capabilities has changed the ways in which individuals communicate. Formerly, specialized networks had to be configured with particular equipment to provide different types of communication. Video conferencing, for instance, relied upon specialized telephone networks, radio frequencies, or closed-circuit television systems to provide two-way or multi-way video communications between users at different (and often fixed) locations. As broadband or other high-capacity networking technologies have allowed greater and more flexible access to a variety of different systems or devices, via the Internet for instance, different types of communication have developed or evolved to take advantage of these more powerful networking capabilities. For example, instant messaging technologies may provide real-time transmission of text messages over the Internet, allowing participants to chat between two Internet-enabled devices.

#Video conferencing has also evolved to facilitate video communication between network-connected devices. Video communication data may be transmitted over networks, such as the Internet, to other participants, providing a video conference-like user experience, without being subject to the limitations of older and more static communication technologies. However, as many devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, tablet computers, or other mobile computing devices now facilitate multiple programs or functions operating simultaneously, video communications may be subject to disruption, inattention, or competition for computing resources of the device performing video communication, dulling the reach or effectiveness of new video communication technologies.

#Various embodiments of dynamically displayed video communication data are described herein. Video communications between two or more participants may be facilitated based on the transmission of video communication data between the participants. However, other applications may be currently executing at one or more of the participants that may be controlling or displaying image data or video data on an electronic display. Video communication data received as part of the video communication may then be displayed within a portion of electronic display as may be configured by the currently executing application. The currently executing application may configure one or more display attributes at runtime which indicate the display location for video communication data. In some embodiments, the video communication data may be blended into other image or video data of the currently executing application to produce a single video stream to be displayed. Various inputs may be received for the video communication, such as pausing, resuming, or ending the video communication, via touch input in the display location of the video communication data.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate peer-managed video communications between different participants, according to some embodiments.

#FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating dynamic display of video communication data at a participant of a video communication, according to some embodiments.

#FIG. 2B illustrates a participant device displaying video communication data in an integration display mode for a video communication, according to some embodiments.

#While the invention is described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including, but not limited to.

#Various embodiments of dynamic display of video communications are described herein. Video communications may occur between different participant devices. These participant devices may capture video and audio data (usually of a user) at the respective participant device and transmit the collective video communication data to other participants in the video communication for display. While video communication data may be displayed under the control of a video communication application, for example in a full-screen display mode, other applications may be concurrently executing at participant devices. These applications may control or utilize some or all of the display for image data or other graphics for the application. Dynamic display of video communications may allow for the currently executing applications to control, direct, or otherwise configure where the video communication data received for the video communication is displayed at the participant device.

#Various embodiments of dynamic pause and resume for video communications are described herein. As noted above, other applications or tasks may be executing at a participant device in a video communication. At times, therefore, the level of participation or active exchange of information via the video communication may fluctuate. Evaluation of the communication data that is captured for the video communication may indicate whether transmission of some or none of the video communication data is necessary. Dynamic pause and resume for video communications may provide an automated or intelligent detection of pause events, where active transmission of some or all of the video communication data may be paused without prohibiting the exchange of information via the video communication among active participants. Similarly, an automated or intelligent detection of resume events may allow for the suspended transmission of video communication data to resume. Computing resources at the participant device may therefore be dynamically conserved.