System for a Virtual Multipoint Control Unit for Unified Communications

Abstract

This disclosure describes a virtual multipoint control unit ( 112, 300 ) for unified communications. The virtual multipoint control unit ( 112, 300 ) communicates with multiple devices ( 102, 104 ) over a network ( 106 ). The control unit ( 112, 300 ) includes multiple unified communication (UC) applications ( 208, 314 ) being executed on the devices ( 102, 104 ). The UC applications ( 208, 314 ) decode received audio data stream and video data stream. A virtual imaging device ( 214 ) and a virtual audio device ( 216 ) are mapped to the UC applications ( 208, 314 ). A virtual video mixer ( 210 ) receives the decoded video data stream from the UC applications ( 208, 314 ) via the virtual imaging device ( 214 ). A virtual audio mixer ( 212 ) receives the decoded audio data stream from the UC applications ( 208, 314 ) via the virtual audio device ( 216 ).

We claim the following invention: 
     
         1 . A virtual multipoint control unit in communication with a plurality of devices over a network, comprising:
 a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications being executed on at least one of the plurality of devices, each of the plurality of UC applications receiving an encoded audio data stream and an encoded video data stream, wherein the plurality of UC applications decode the received audio and the video data streams;   at least one virtual imaging device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications;   at least one virtual audio device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications;   a virtual video mixer in communication with a physical imaging device, wherein the virtual video mixer receives the decoded video data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual imaging device; and   a virtual audio mixer in communication with a physical audio device, wherein the virtual audio mixer receives the decoded audio data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual audio device.   
     
     
         2 . The claim according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of UC applications comprises at least one of Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, and Skype. 
     
     
         3 . A system for managing communication among a plurality of devices, the system being employed within a communication network, comprising:
 a communication device receiving encoded audio and video data streams via a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications, wherein the plurality of UC applications decode the received encoded audio data stream and the received encoded video data stream; and   a virtual multipoint control unit in communication with the communication device, wherein the virtual multipoint control unit comprises:
 at least one virtual imaging device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications; 
 at least one virtual audio device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications; 
 a virtual video mixer in communication with a physical imaging device, wherein the virtual video mixer receives the decoded video data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual imaging device; and 
 a virtual audio mixer in communication with a physical audio device, wherein the virtual audio mixer receives the decoded audio data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual audio device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The claim according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of UC applications comprises at least one of Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, and Skype. 
     
     
         5 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program of instructions executable by a computing device to perform a method for employing a virtual multipoint control unit for unified communications, comprising:
 receiving, from a plurality of terminals, an encoded audio data stream and an encoded video data stream;   decoding, using a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications, the received encoded audio data stream and the received encoded video data stream;   mapping, using a virtual multipoint control unit, at least one virtual imaging device and at least one virtual audio device to each of the plurality of UC applications;   communicating, using a virtual video mixer, the decoded video data stream to a physical imaging device via the at least one virtual imaging device; and   communicating, using a virtual audio mixer, the decoded audio data stream to a physical audio device via the at least one virtual audio device.   
     
     
         6 . The claim according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of UC applications comprise at least one of Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, and Skype. 
     
     
         7 . A method for managing communication among a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a plurality of terminals, an encoded audio data stream and an encoded video data stream;   decoding, using a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications, the received encoded audio data stream and the received encoded video data stream;   mapping, using a virtual multipoint control unit, at least one virtual imaging device and at least one virtual audio device to each of the plurality of UC applications;   communicating, using a virtual video mixer, the decoded video data stream to a physical imaging device via the at least one virtual imaging device; and   communicating, using a virtual audio mixer, the decoded audio data stream to a physical audio device via the at least one virtual audio device.   
     
     
         8 . The claim according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of UC applications comprises at least one of Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, and Skype. 
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing a system for managing communication among a plurality of devices, the system being employed within a communication network, comprising:
 providing a communication device receiving encoded audio and video data streams via a plurality of unified communication (UC) applications, wherein the plurality of UC applications decode the received encoded audio data stream and the received encoded video data stream; and   providing a virtual multipoint control unit in communication with the communication device, wherein the virtual multipoint control unit comprises:
 at least one virtual imaging device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications; 
 at least one virtual audio device mapped to each of the plurality of UC applications; 
 a virtual video mixer in communication with a physical imaging device, wherein the virtual video mixer receives the decoded video data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual imaging device; and 
 a virtual audio mixer in communication with a physical audio device, wherein the virtual audio mixer receives the decoded audio data stream from each of the plurality of UC applications via the at least one virtual audio device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The claim according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of UC applications comprises at least one of Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco IP Communicator, and Skype.