Enhanced multimedia capabilities in video conferencing

Abstract

The present invention relates to video conferencing and multimedia messaging, and takes advantage of the capabilities of the communication system to which the audio participants are connected, in order to increase the performance of all the participants in a mixed conference. In a preferred embodiment, the audio participants are provided with a MMS device, and a MMS Engine captures periodically, or at certain events, video conference data attached to MMS messages and addressed to the MMS device. In the opposite direction, the MMS device provides multimedia data to the conventional video conference participants by attaching the multimedia data to MMS messages, which are sent to the IP-addressable MMS Engine. The MMS Engine separates the multimedia data and converts it to a format compatible with the video conference. The converted multimedia data is then provided to video conference participants, and treated like any other multimedia stream included in the video conference.

1 . An MMS Engine configured to enable MMS capabilities in a video conference, including one or more video participants associated with a respective video conferencing End Point, and one or more audio participants associated with a respective MMS device, comprising: 
 means for capturing video conferencing data from a data source originating from one or more video conferencing End Points or MCUs;    means for converting said video conferencing data to a MMS attachable format;    means for attaching said converted video conferencing data to a MMS message;    means for inserting into said MMS message an address associated with the respective MMS device;    means for transmitting said MMS message according to said inserted address; and    means for initiating said means for capturing, converting, attaching, inserting and transmitting periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       2 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said defined event occurs when a video source is changed, or when a difference between previously captured video conferencing data and content generated from a data source is larger than a predefined threshold.  
   
   
       3 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said defined event occurs when a request for video conference data update is received from the respective MMS device.  
   
   
       4 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said defined event occurs when a video or audio participant leaves or enters the video conference.  
   
   
       5 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the video conferencing data is inserted in a corresponding MMS entry in said MMS message and said address is an address of a MMS server associated with said respective MMS device.  
   
   
       6 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said video conferencing data is a snapshot.  
   
   
       7 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein said video conferencing data is a video sequence.  
   
   
       8 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 6 , wherein the video conferencing data is merged in the respective MMS device, creating real-time video.  
   
   
       9 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the MMS Engine is incorporated in, or connected to, a Gateway, an MCU or an End Point.  
   
   
       10 . An MMS Engine configured to enable MMS capabilities in a video conference, including one or more video participants associated with a respective video conferencing End Point, and one or more audio participants associated with a respective MMS device, comprising: 
 means for receiving a MMS message from the respective MMS device;    means for separating multimedia data attached to the MMS message;    means for converting said multimedia data to a format compatible with the video conference;    means for transmitting said converted multimedia data to the respective video conferencing End Point; and    means for initiating said means for converting and transmitting periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       11 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the MMS receiving unit is further configured to determine that the MMS message is associated with the video conference by investigating a sender, or a receiver address, included in the MMS message, from which a conference ID of the video conference is found, and 
 the transmission unit is further configured to transmit the converted multimedia data to the video conferencing End Point according to the conference ID.    
   
   
       12 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the video conference involves an MCU through which said converted multimedia data is transmitted prior to reaching said respective video conferencing End Point.  
   
   
       13 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein said predefined event occurs when a difference between previously received multimedia data and corresponding multimedia data generated in the MMS device is larger than a predefined threshold.  
   
   
       14 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein said predefined event occurs at a time when one or more video or audio participants leaves or enters the video conference.  
   
   
       15 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein said multimedia data is an image stored in the MMS device or captured by a camera connected to, or integrated in, the MMS device.  
   
   
       16 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein said multimedia data is a video sequence.  
   
   
       17 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 15 , wherein the converted multimedia data is merged, creating real-time video.  
   
   
       18 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein said converted multimedia data is treated as any other multimedia stream associated with the video conference.  
   
   
       19 . The MMS Engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the MMS Engine is incorporated in, or connected to, a Gateway, an MCU or an End Point.  
   
   
       20 . A method enabling MMS capabilities in a video conference including one or more video participants associated with a respective video conferencing End Point, and one or more audio participants associated with a respective MMS device, comprising steps of: 
 capturing video conferencing data from a data source originating from one or more video conferencing End Points or MCUs;    converting said video conferencing data to a MMS attachable format;    attaching said converted video conferencing data to a MMS message;    inserting into said MMS message an address associated with a respective MMS device;    transmitting said MMS message according to said inserted address; and    initiating said steps of capturing, converting, attaching, inserting and transmitting periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein said step of inserting further comprises: 
 inserting the video conferencing data in a corresponding MMS entry in said MMS message, wherein    said address is an address of an MMS server associated with said respective MMS device.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said video conferencing data is a snapshot.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said video conferencing data is a video sequence.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising a step of: 
 merging video conferencing data consecutively being received in the respective MMS device creating real-time video.    
   
   
       25 . A method for enabling MMS capabilities in a video conference including one or more video participants associated with a respective video conferencing End Point, and one or more audio participants associated with a respective MMS device, comprising steps of: 
 receiving a MMS message from the respective MMS device;    separating multimedia data attached to the MMS message;    converting said multimedia data to a format compatible with the video conference;    transmitting said converted multimedia data to the respective video conferencing End Point; and    initiating said steps of converting and transmitting periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising steps of: 
 investigating a sender or a receiver address included in the MMS message, from which a conference ID of the video conference is found; and    providing the converted multimedia data to the video conferencing End Point according to the conference ID.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said multimedia data is an image stored in the MMS device or captured by a camera connected to, or integrated in, the MMS device.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said multimedia data is a video sequence.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising a step of: 
 merging the converted multimedia data for creating real-time video.    
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising a step of: 
 treating said converted multimedia data as any other multimedia stream associated with the video conference.    
   
   
       31 . A MMS engine configured to relay data between a video conference end point and a MMS device, said MMS engine comprising: 
 means for capturing video conferencing data from a data source originating from the video conferencing end point;    a first means for converting said video conferencing data to a MMS attachable format;    means for attaching said converted video conferencing data to a first MMS message;    means for inserting into said MMS message an address associated with the MMS device;    a first means for transmitting said first MMS message according to said inserted address;    means for receiving a second MMS message from the MMS device;    means for separating multimedia data attached to the second MMS message;    a second means for converting said multimedia data to a format compatible with the video conference;    a second means for transmitting said converted multimedia data to the video conferencing end point; and    means for initiating said means for capturing, said first means for converting, said second means for converting, said means for attaching, said means for inserting, said first means for transmitting, and said second means for transmitting periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       32 . A video conference system, comprising: 
 said MMS engine, said MMS device, and said video conference end point as recited in  claim 31 .    
   
   
       33 . A method for enabling a MMS engine to relay data between a video conference end point and a MMS device, said MMS engine performing steps of: 
 capturing video conferencing data from a data source originating from a video conferencing end point;    converting said video conferencing data to a MMS attachable format;    attaching said converted video conferencing data to a first MMS message;    inserting into said MMS message an address associated with the MMS device;    transmitting said first MMS message according to said inserted address;    receiving a second MMS message from the MMS device;    separating multimedia data attached to the second MMS message;    converting said multimedia data to a format compatible with the video conference;    transmitting said converted multimedia data to the video conferencing end point; and    initiating said steps of capturing, converting, attaching, inserting, and transmitting, periodically or at a predefined event.    
   
   
       34 . A computer program product storing instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method recited in  claim 20 .  
   
   
       35 . A computer program product storing instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method recited in  claim 25 .  
   
   
       36 . A computer program product storing instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method recited in  claim 33.