Conducting a private videoconference within a videoconference via an MCU
View Patent ↗Conducting a private videoconference within a videoconference. A videoconference may be established between a plurality of endpoints. Input may be received requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The private videoconference may be established between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints. The initial videoconference may continue during the private videoconference. Private videoconference data may be transmitted only to the plural subset of endpoints of the private videoconference. The private videoconference may be sent directly between the plural subset of endpoints or may be sent via a multipoint control unit, e.g., of the initial videoconference. The private videoconference data may not be sent to the remaining endpoints of the initial videoconference.
1. A method for conducting a private videoconference within a first videoconference, comprising:
performing, by a multipoint control unit (MCU), the first videoconference between a plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein the MCU performs decoding and encoding operations on video information transmitted in the first videoconference;
receiving input requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein the plural subset is not the entirety of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, and wherein the input is received during the first videoconference;
initiating the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein said initiating the private videoconference does not end the first videoconference;
wherein during the private videoconference:
transmitting, by the MCU, first videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of the plural subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the plural subset to conduct the private videoconference, wherein the MCU does not encode, decode, nor generate a composite image using the first videoconference information; and
transmitting, by the MCU, second videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of a remaining subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the remaining subset to conduct the first videoconference, wherein the MCU encodes and decodes the second videoconference information;
wherein the first videoconference information of the plural subset is not transmitted to the remaining subset.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second videoconference information of the remaining subset is not transmitted to the plural subset.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the MCU, the second videoconference information of the remaining subset to the plural subset.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input is received from the first endpoint of the plural subset.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface of one of the plural subset of videoconferencing endpoints.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
ending the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints, wherein said ending comprises rejoining the plural subset with the remaining subset in the first videoconference.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remaining subset of videoconferencing endpoints display text or a static image for at least one of the plural subset of videoconferencing endpoints during the private videoconference.
8. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for conducting a private videoconference within a first videoconference, wherein the program instructions are executable to:
perform the first videoconference between a plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein said performing comprises decoding and encoding operations on video information transmitted in the first videoconference;
receive input requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein the plural subset is not the entirety of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, and wherein the input is received during the first videoconference;
initiate the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein said initiating the private videoconference does not end the first videoconference;
wherein during the private videoconference:
transmit first videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of the plural subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the plural subset to conduct the private videoconference, wherein the MCU does not encode, decode, nor generate a composite image using the first videoconference information; and
transmit second videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of a remaining subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the remaining subset to conduct the first videoconference, wherein the MCU encodes and decodes the second videoconference information;
wherein the first videoconference information of the plural subset is not transmitted to the remaining subset.
9. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the second videoconference information of the remaining subset is not transmitted to the plural subset.
10. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
transmit the second videoconference information of the remaining subset to the plural subset.
11. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the input is received from the first endpoint of the plural subset.
12. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface of one of the plural subset of videoconferencing endpoints.
13. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
end the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints, wherein said ending comprises rejoining the plural subset with the remaining subset in the first videoconference.
14. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the remaining subset of videoconferencing endpoints display text or a static image for at least one of the plural subset of videoconferencing endpoints during the private videoconference.
15. A system for conducting a private videoconference within a first videoconference, comprising:
a processor;
a network port coupled to the processor, wherein the network port is configured to couple to a plurality of videoconferencing endpoints; and
a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions executable by the processor to:
perform the first videoconference between a plurality of videoconference endpoints via the network port, wherein the MCU performs decoding and encoding operations on video information transmitted in the first videoconference;
receive input requesting the private videoconference for a plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein the plural subset is not the entirety of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, and wherein the input is received during the first videoconference;
initiate the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of videoconference endpoints, wherein said initiating the private videoconference does not end the first videoconference;
wherein during the private videoconference:
transmit, via the network port, first videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of the plural subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the plural subset to conduct the private videoconference, wherein the MCU does not encode, decode, nor generate a composite image using the first videoconference information; and
transmit, via the network port, second videoconference information from a first videoconference endpoint of a remaining subset to one or more second videoconference endpoints of the remaining subset to conduct the first videoconference, wherein the MCU encodes and decodes the second videoconference information;
wherein the first videoconference information of the plural subset is not transmitted to the remaining subset.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second videoconference information of the remaining subset is not transmitted to the plural subset.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
transmit the second videoconference information of the remaining subset to the plural subset.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input is received from the first endpoint of the plural subset.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
end the private videoconference between the plural subset of the plurality of endpoints, wherein said ending comprises rejoining the plural subset with the remaining subset in the first videoconference.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the remaining subset of videoconferencing endpoints display text or a static image for at least one of the plural subset of videoconferencing endpoints during the private videoconference.