Polycom, Inc.

Picturetel Corporation

Brian A Howell

Gary Joseph Sullivan

Jeffrey G Bernstein

Stephen C Botzko

William L Kruger

Robert V Seiler

Elizabeth M Comstock

According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as 'people' or 'content.' The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., &#x201c;people/presenter&#x201d; or &#x201c;people/presenter/video/&#x201d; A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.

Media role management in a video conferencing network

According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as 'people' or 'content.' The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., &#x201c;people/presenter&#x201d; or &#x201c;people/presenter/video.&#x201d; A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.

According to the principles of the invention, there is provided a system, apparatus, and method for managing media in a multimedia conferencing system according to media roles. Each media stream may be explicitly labeled with a role that describes the function or purpose of the stream, such as &ldquo;people&rdquo; or &ldquo;content.&rdquo; The labels may be hierarchical, and may include layers for media type, additional media source description, and the like, e.g., &ldquo;people/presenter&rdquo; or &ldquo;people/presenter/video.&rdquo; A policy manager is provided for managing roles, such that the multimedia conference may be more effectively presented to participants. A token management system may also be provided so that control of the multimedia conference roles can be transferred during the conference.

A video conferencing system wherein a director controller is adapted for disposition on a lecture podium. The controller includes an interconnected control section and a video display section for controlling the distribution of generated audio and video information signals among a local and remote sites selectively in accordance with command signals fed to the controller by a podium speaker. The system is adapted to operate in one of two operating modes: a 'Main-screen' mode and a 'Mark-up' mode. In the 'Main-screen' mode, the video display section is made up of two display areas; a 'presentation' display area, and a 'preview' display area. The 'presentation' display area displays the video information which typically is currently being viewed by the audience/participants at the remote and local sites. The 'preview' video display area is privately viewable by the podium speaker, displays video information signals from a second podium speaker selected one of the video sources. In the 'Mark-up' mode, the 'preview' area is removed and the size of the 'presentation' area is increased. The image in the enlarged 'presentation' area is adapted for editing/annotation by the podium speaker. The edited/annotated image is distributed to the local and remote sites.

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Marblehead, MA, United States of America

Brian A Howell