System and method for interactive video conferencing

Abstract

A system and method for Internet video conferencing is provided. Efficient interactive video conferencing protocols for routing video streams greatly reduce the loads on the attendee's device and on the central server. Additionally, efficient control protocols simulate complex human group procedures and control who is speaking (who has the floor) in three distinct modes of conference interaction: class mode (at least one facilitator/moderator/teacher/leader), group mode (no facilitator), and multi-interactive mode (subgroups of a main group, preferably of a main group which is in group mode).

1 . A video teleconferencing method for routing video streams in a system, the system including a server, a first device of a first attendee, and a second device of a second attendee, the method comprising:
 creating a first state by selecting, by the server, the first attendee as a speaker;   receiving, by the server during the first state, a first video stream from the first device;   sending, by the server during the first state, the received first video stream to the second device;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, a second video stream from the second device to the server; and   inactivating, by the server during the first state, the second video stream from the server to the first device.   
     
     
         2 . The video teleconferencing method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a second state by:
 deselecting, by the server, the first attendee as the speaker, and 
 selecting, by the server, the second attendee as the speaker; 
   receiving, by the server during the second state, the second video stream from the second device;   sending, by the server during the second state, the received second video stream to the first device;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the first video stream from the first device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the first video stream from the server to the second device.   
     
     
         3 . A video teleconferencing method for routing video streams in a system, the system including a server, a first device of a first attendee, a second device of a second attendee, and a third device of a third attendee, the method comprising:
 creating a first state by selecting, by the server, the first attendee as a speaker;   receiving, by the server during the first state, a first video stream from the first device;   sending, by the server during the first state, the received first video stream to the second device;   sending, by the server during the first state, the received first video stream to the third device;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, a second video stream from the second device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, the second video stream from the server to the first device;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, the second video stream from the server to the third device;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, a third video stream from the third device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the first state, the third video stream from the server to the first device; and   inactivating, by the server during the first state, the third video stream from the server to the second device.   
     
     
         4 . The video conferencing method of  claim 3 , the method further comprising:
 creating a second state by:
 deselecting, by the server, the first attendee as the speaker, and 
 selecting, by the server, the second attendee as the speaker; 
   receiving, by the server during the second state, the second video stream from the second device;   sending, by the server during the second state, the received second video stream to the first device;   sending, by the server during the second state, the received second video stream to the third device;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the first video stream from the first device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the first video stream from the server to the second device;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the first video stream from the server to the third device;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the third video stream from the third device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the third video stream from the server to the first device; and   inactivating, by the server during the second state, the third video stream from the server to the second device.   
     
     
         5 . The video conferencing method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising:
 creating a third state by:
 deselecting, by the server, the second attendee as the speaker, and 
 selecting, by the server, the third attendee as the speaker; 
   receiving, by the server during the third state, the third video stream from the third device;   sending, by the server during the third state, the received third video stream to the first device;   sending, by the server during the third state, the received third video stream to the second device;   inactivating, by the server during the third state, the first video stream from the first device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the third state, the first video stream from the server to the second device;   inactivating, by the server during the third state, the first video stream from the server to the third device;   inactivating, by the server during third state, the second video stream from the second device to the server;   inactivating, by the server during the third state, the second video stream from the server to the first device; and   inactivating, by the server during the third state, the second video stream from the server to the second device.   
     
     
         6 . A video teleconferencing method for controlling video streams in a system, the system including a server, a plurality of attendees each respectively having an associated communication device, the method comprising:
 allowing, by the server, only one speaker to exist at a time at a teleconference, wherein the speaker is one of the attendees;   sending, from the speaker's device, a speaker's video stream to the server;   receiving, by the server, the speaker's video stream;   sending, by the server; at least a portion of the speaker's video stream to at least one non-speaker attendee; and   preventing any video stream from any non-speaker attendee from being sent through the server to other attendees.   
     
     
         7 . The video conferencing method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising:
 ordering the devices of all non-speaker attendees to refrain from sending video streams to the server.   
     
     
         8 . The video conferencing method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising:
 permitting only the speaker's device to send the speaker's video stream to the server.   
     
     
         9 . The video conferencing method of  claim 6 , the method further comprising:
 ordering the devices of all non-speaker attendees to refrain from sending video streams to the server; and   permitting only the speaker's device to send the speaker's video stream to the server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the speaker has the power to withdraw from being the speaker, and wherein the speaker must withdraw from being the speaker before new speaker can exist. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, after an initialization, only the speaker can select a new speaker. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a current speaker is limited to being the current speaker for a predetermined period of time, after which only a non-speaker assignee can become a new speaker. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the speaker has the power to withdraw from being the speaker, and withdrawal allows non-speakers to become speakers by taking a floor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the attendees is a facilitator attendee, the method further comprising:
 providing the facilitator with a power to select a new speaker.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 providing the facilitator with a power to remove a current speaker to open a floor for a new speaker.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , further
 providing at least one non-facilitator attendee with a process for requesting to become the new speaker.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the request is transmitted to the facilitator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the request is transmitted to the speaker, and wherein the speaker has the power to select the requesting attendee to become the new speaker. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a second facilitator with the power to select the new speaker.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing the facilitator with the power to create and control subgroups.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 allocating all of the non-facilitator attendees among the subgroups.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the allocation is performed by the facilitator. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the allocation is performed automatically according to a predetermined rule. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the allocation is performed automatically according to a rule selected by the facilitator. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a manual reallocation is performed by the facilitator after the automatic allocation.