Methodology for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a multi-camera/multi-display video conferencing environment

1. A system for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a multi-camera/multi-display video conferencing environment, comprising:

a group of local cameras capturing a data stream upon being active;

at least one remote display in communication with said group of local cameras; and

at least one processor in communication with said group of local cameras and said at least one remote display;

wherein said at least one processor further comprises:

determining determined negotiation information associated with said group of local cameras, wherein the negotiation information comprises relative spatial information and data stream characteristics;

defining said determined negotiation information in a predetermined format compatible with said at least one remote display;

applying said determined negotiation information for negotiating capability of said at least one camera among said group of local cameras and said at last one remote display for data communication;

sending said determined negotiation information to said at least one remote display;

mapping data streams from said at least one camera among said group of local cameras to said at least one remote display using said determined negotiation information; and

defining a predetermined layout of said mapped data streams on said at least one remote display based on said determined negotiation information.

2. The claim according to claim 1 , wherein said determined negotiation information is defined as one or more predetermined media attributes in a session description protocol format wherein said predetermined media attributes further comprises at least one of:

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream and a parameter that defines relative position of at least one camera providing the data stream among a group of local cameras; and

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream, a type identifier for the data stream, and a parameter providing description of the data stream.

3. The claim according to claim 1 , wherein the data stream is a video stream.

4. The claim according to claim 1 , wherein the relative spatial information comprises at least one of spatial position and orientation.

5. The claim according to claim 1 , wherein the data stream characteristics comprise at least one of media types, transport protocols, formats, and associated media ports.

6. A method to manufacture a system for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a multi-camera/multi-display video conferencing environment, comprising:

providing a group of local cameras capturing a data stream upon being active;

providing at least one remote display in communication with said group of local cameras; and

providing at least one processor in communication with said group of local cameras and said at least one remote display;

wherein said at least one processor further comprises:

determining determined negotiation information associated with said group of local cameras, wherein the negotiation information comprises relative spatial information and data stream characteristics;

defining said determined negotiation information in a predetermined format compatible with said at least one remote display;

applying said determined negotiation information for negotiating capability of said at least one camera among said group of local cameras and said at last one remote display for data communication;

sending said determined negotiation information to said at least one remote display;

mapping data streams from said at least one camera among said group of local cameras to said at least one remote display using said determined negotiation information; and

defining a predetermined layout of said mapped data streams on said at least one remote display based on said determined negotiation information.

7. The claim according to claim 6 , wherein said determined negotiation information is defined as one or more predetermined media attributes in a session description protocol format wherein said predetermined media attributes further comprises at least one of:

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream and a parameter that defines relative position of at least one camera providing the data stream among a group of local cameras; and

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream, a type identifier for the data stream, and a parameter providing description of the data stream.

8. The claim according to claim 6 , wherein the data stream is a video stream.

9. The claim according to claim 6 , wherein the relative spatial information comprises at least one of spatial position and orientation.

10. The claim according to claim 6 , wherein the data stream characteristics comprise at least one of media types, transport protocols, formats, and associated media ports.

11. A method to use a system for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a multi-camera/multi-display video conferencing environment, comprising:

capturing a data stream with a group of local cameras upon said data stream being active;

displaying said data stream from said group of local cameras with at least one remote display; and

processing said data stream from said group of local cameras and said at least one remote display with at least one processor;

wherein said at least one processor further comprises:

determining determined negotiation information associated with said group of local cameras, wherein the negotiation information comprises relative spatial information and data stream characteristics;

defining said determined negotiation information in a predetermined format compatible with said at least one remote display;

applying said determined negotiation information for negotiating capability of said at least one camera among said group of local cameras and said at last one remote display for data communication;

sending said determined negotiation information to said at least one remote display;

mapping data streams from said at least one camera among said group of local cameras to said at least one remote display using said determined negotiation information; and

defining a predetermined layout of said mapped data streams on said at least one remote display based on said determined negotiation information.

12. The claim according to claim 11 , wherein said determined negotiation information is defined as one or more predetermined media attributes in a session description protocol format wherein said predetermined media attributes further comprises at least one of:

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream and a parameter that defines relative position of at least one camera providing the data stream among a group of local cameras; and

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream, a type identifier for the data stream, and a parameter providing description of the data stream.

13. The claim according to claim 11 , wherein the data stream is a video stream.

14. The claim according to claim 11 , wherein the relative spatial information comprises at least one of spatial position and orientation.

15. The claim according to claim 11 , wherein the data stream characteristics comprise at least one of media types, transport protocols, formats, and associated media ports.

16. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a computing device that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the computing device to perform a method to use a system for negotiating video camera and display capabilities in a multi-camera/multi-display video conferencing environment, comprising:

capturing a data stream with a group of local cameras upon said data stream being active;

displaying said data stream from said group of local cameras with at least one remote display; and

processing said data stream from said group of local cameras and said at least one remote display with at least one processor;

wherein said at least one processor further comprises:

determining determined negotiation information associated with said group of local cameras, wherein the negotiation information comprises relative spatial information and data stream characteristics;

defining said determined negotiation information in a predetermined format compatible with said at least one remote display;

applying said determined negotiation information for negotiating capability of said at least one camera among said group of local cameras and said at last one remote display for data communication;

sending said determined negotiation information to said at least one remote display;

mapping data streams from said at least one camera among said group of local cameras to said at least one remote display using said determined negotiation information; and

defining a predetermined layout of said mapped data streams on said at least one remote display based on said determined negotiation information.

17. The claim according to claim 16 , wherein said determined negotiation information is defined as one or more predetermined media attributes in a session description protocol format wherein said predetermined media attributes further comprises at least one of:

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream and a parameter that defines relative position of at least one camera providing the data stream among a group of local cameras; and

at least one port identifier associated with a data stream, a type identifier for the data stream, and a parameter providing description of the data stream.

18. The claim according to claim 16 , wherein the data stream is a video stream.

19. The claim according to claim 16 , wherein the relative spatial information comprises at least one of spatial position and orientation.

20. The claim according to claim 16 , wherein the data stream characteristics comprise at least one of media types, transport protocols, formats, and associated media ports.