Audio-video multi-participant conference systems using PSTN and internet networks
A multi-participant conference system and method is described. The multi-participant system includes a PSTN client, at least one remote client and a first participant client. The PSTN client communicates audio data and the remote clients communicate audio-video data. The first participant client includes a voice over IP (VoIP) encoder, a VoIP decoder, a first audio mixer, and a second audio mixer. The VoIP encoder compresses audio data transported to the PSTN client. The VoIP decoder then decodes audio data from the PSTN client. The first audio mixer mixes the decoded audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data from the first participant into a first mixed audio-video data stream transmitted to the remote client. The second audio mixer mixes the audio-video data stream from the first participant with the audio-video data stream from each remote client into a second mixed audio transmitted to the PSTN client.
1. A multi-participant conference system comprising:
a public switched telephone network (PSTN) client that communicates audio data;
at least one remote client connected to the Internet that receives audio-video data;
a first participant client that receives audio-video data, wherein the first participant client includes,
a voice over IP encoder that compresses audio data transported to the PSTN client,
a voice over IP decoder that decodes audio data from the PSTN client,
a first audio mixer that mixes the decoded audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data from the first participant into a first mixed audio-video data stream, wherein the first mixed audio-video data stream is transmitted to the at least one remote client communicatively coupled to the Internet;
a second audio mixer that mixes the audio-video data stream from the first participant with the audio-video data stream from the at least one remote client communicatively coupled to the Internet into a second mixed audio, wherein the second mixed audio is compressed by the voice over IP encoder, which is then transmitted to the PSTN client.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third audio mixer that mixes the audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data stream from the at least one remote client into a third mixed audio, wherein the third mixed audio stream and audio-video data stream is transmitted to the first participant.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein data between the first participant and the PSTN client is transported through a virtual private network tunnel.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein data between the moderator and the remote client is transported through a virtual private network tunnel.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first message communicated to each of a plurality of multicast appliances over the Internet, wherein the first message comprises a group address which identifies participants.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising each of the multicast appliances that receives the first message.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of virtual private networks across the Internet that are established between the multicast appliances.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the PSTN client communicates with a PSTN gateway that communicates with a VoIP server, which is communicatively coupled to the plurality of virtual private networks.
9. A system for supporting a multi-participant conference call comprising:
a first mixer that mixes a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) client audio data stream with a moderator audio-video data stream into a first mixed data stream;
a first transport output that transmits the first mixed data stream to at least one remote client that receives the first mixed data stream, the at least one remote client communicatively coupled to the Internet, which generates a remote client audio-video data stream;
a second mixer that mixes the moderator audio-video data stream with the remote client audio-video data stream into a second mixed data stream; and
a second transport output that transmits a mixed audio data stream, corresponding to the second mixed data stream, to the PSTN client.
10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a third mixer that mixes the audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data stream from the remote client into a third mixed data stream and communicates the third mixed data stream to the moderator.
11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a VoIP decoder that receives IP packets including the audio data stream generated by the PSTN client, the VoIP decodes decodes the IP packets including the audio data from the PSTN client.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising encoding the second mixed data stream and encoding the second mixed voice data before transmitting the second mixed data stream to the PSTN client.
13. The system of claim 9 further comprising at least one audio decompressor that decodes IP packets including the audio-video data stream generated by the remote client.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein the PSTN client audio data stream and the moderator audio-video data stream are transported across a virtual private network tunnel.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a VoIP encoder that encodes the second mixed data stream and encode the second mixed voice data before transmitting the second mixed data stream to the PSTN client.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein the moderator audio-video data stream and the remote client audio-video data stream are transported across a virtual private network tunnel.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an encoder that receives the first mixed data stream and encodes the first mixed voice data before transmitting the first mixed data stream to the remote client.
18. A method for supporting a multi-participant conference call, the method comprising:
receiving a PSTN audio data stream from a public switched telephone network (PSTN) client;
receiving a moderator audio-video data stream from a moderator;
receiving a remote client audio-video data stream from at least one remote client connected to the Internet;
mixing the PSTN audio data stream with the moderator audio-video data stream into a first mixed data stream;
transmitting the first mixed data stream to the remote client;
mixing the moderator audio-video data stream with the remote client audio-video data stream into a second mixed data stream;
transmitting a mixed audio data stream, corresponding to the second mixed data stream, to the PSTN client.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising mixing the PSTN audio data stream with the remote client audio-video data stream into a third mixed data stream.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving the PSTN audio data stream from the PSTN client at a moderator client includes receiving IP packets and decoding the IP packets including the PSTN audio data stream.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving the remote client audio-video data at a moderator computer client includes decoding the IP packets including the audio-video data generated by the remote client.
22. The method of claim 18 further comprising transporting through a virtual private network the PSTN client audio stream and the moderator audio-video data stream.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising transporting the moderator audio-video data stream and the remote client audio-video data stream through a virtual private network.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving the first mixed data stream and encoding the first mixed voice data before transmitting the first mixed data stream to the remote client.