METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING A COMPOSITE VIDEO SIGNAL

1 . A method for modifying a composite video signal generated by a video composing server, the composite video signal including a plurality of spatially mixed video conference streams, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen, a graphical representation of the composite video signal;

modifying the graphical representation based on an input received at the touch screen; and

modifying the composite video signal to conform with the modified graphical representation.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the graphical representation includes a plurality of graphical objects, which each represent one of said video conference streams, and are arranged in a corresponding order and corresponding relative positions and sizes on the touch screen, and

the composite video signal is modified to conform to the modified graphical representation when the video conference streams are spatially mixed according to the order and/or position and/or size of the graphical objects on the modified graphical representation on the touch screen.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein:

modifying the graphical representation includes modifying the order and/or position and/or size of one or more of said plurality of graphical objects.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying further comprises:

receiving, from the video composing server, a layout configuration indicating a layout of the composite video signal; and

generating the graphical representation based on the layout configuration.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein modifying further comprises:

generating a layout configuration based on the order and/or position and/or size of the graphical objects on the touch screen; and

sending a command to the video composing server, instructing the video composing server to modify the composite video signal according to the layout configuration.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein:

the sending of the layout configuration is performed over a TCP/IP connection using Application Programming Interface (API) signals.

7 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the modifying further comprises:

removing one or more of the graphical objects or adding a graphical object.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

placing the video conference stream on hold when a graphical object representing the video conference stream is removed from the graphical representation.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the graphical representation includes a border line representing an outer boundary of the composite video signal, and

removing a graphical object is performed by dragging and dropping at least parts of a graphical objects outside the border line.

10 . A layout control apparatus for modifying a composite video signal generated by a video composing server, the composite video signal including a plurality of spatially mixed video conference streams, the layout control apparatus comprising:

a touch screen configured to display a graphical representation of the composite video signal;

a control unit configured to modify the graphical representation based on an input received at the touch screen; and

a processor configured to control an communication interface to send an instruction signal to the video composing server to modify the composite video signal to conform with the modified graphical representation.

11 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the graphical representation includes a plurality of graphical objects, which each represent one of said video conference streams, and are arranged in a corresponding order and corresponding relative positions and sizes on the touch screen, and

the instruction signal instructs the composite video signal to be modified to conform to the modified graphical representation when the video conference streams are spatially mixed according to the order and/or position and/or size of the graphical objects on the modified graphical representation on the touch screen.

12 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the touch screen is configured to receive an input modifying the order and/or position and/or size of one or more of said plurality of graphical objects.

13 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive, from the video composing server, a layout configuration indicating a layout of the composite video signal, wherein the touch screen is configured to generate the graphical representation based on the layout configuration.

14 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:

the processor is configured to generate a layout configuration based on the order and/or position and/or size of the graphical objects on the touch screen; and

the communication interface is configured to send a command to the video composing server instructing the video composing server to modify the composite video signal according to the layout configuration.

15 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:

the communication interface is configured to communicate with the video composing server over a TCP/IP connection using Application Programming Interface (API) signals.

16 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the modifying includes removing one or more of the graphical objects or adding a graphical object.

17 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to instruct the video conference stream to be put on hold when a graphical object representing the video conference stream is removed from the graphical representation.

18 . The layout control apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:

the graphical representation includes a border line representing an outer boundary of the composite video signal, and

removing a graphical object is performed by dragging and dropping at least parts of a graphical objects outside the border line.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for modifying a composite video signal generated by a video composing server, the composite video signal including a plurality of spatially mixed video conference streams, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of the computer, a graphical representation of the composite video signal;

modifying the graphical representation based on an input received at the touch screen; and

modifying the composite video signal to conform with the modified graphical representation.