Method and systems for optimizing bandwidth utilization in a multi-participant full mesh peer-to-peer video session

1. A method for optimizing bandwidth in a mesh system, comprising:

initiating, at a bandwidth optimization module, a peer-to-peer conference with a plurality of remote devices;

generating a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level;

requesting the first data stream at the first quality level from the first device;

determining that a second device of the plurality of remote devices is not a member of the first quality list;

transmitting a request to the second device to receive a second data stream at a second quality level;

determining, during the peer-to-peer conference, that a third device of the plurality of remote devices satisfies conditions to be a member of the first quality list;

adding the third device to the first quality list; and

transmitting a request to the third device to receive a third data stream at the first quality level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level comprises:

determining that the first device is first of the plurality of remote devices to join the peer-to-peer conference, and

adding the first device to the first quality list.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level comprises:

determining that the first device corresponds to an active audio data stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first quality list includes a number of members that is dependent upon one or more characteristics of a local mesh conferencing unit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first quality list is limited to a maximum number of members, and wherein adding the third device to the first quality list comprises:

determining no additional members can be added to the first quality list,

removing a member from the first quality list; and

requesting from the removed member a data stream at a different quality level than the first quality level.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, during the peer-to-peer conference, that the first device no longer satisfies conditions to be a member of the first quality list;

removing the first device from the first quality list; and

requesting the first data stream at the second quality level.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first quality list comprises receiving user input assigning the first device to the first quality list.

8. A conferencing system comprising:

an audio module;

a video module;

a mesh conferencing system interface module, configured to:

initiate a peer-to-peer conference with a plurality of remote devices;

generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level;

request the first data stream at the first quality level from the first device;

determine that a second device of the plurality of remote devices is not a member of the first quality list;

transmit a request to the second device to receive a second data stream at a second quality level;

determine, during the peer-to-peer conference, that a third device of the plurality of remote devices satisfies conditions to be a member of the first quality list;

add the third device to the first quality list; and

transmit a request to the third device to receive a third data stream at the first quality level.

9. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein the mesh conferencing system interface module is further configure to generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level by:

determining that the first device is first of the plurality of remote devices to join the peer-to-peer conference, and

adding the first device to the first quality list.

10. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein the mesh conferencing system interface module is further configure to generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level by:

determining that the first device corresponds to an active audio data stream.

11. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein the first quality list includes a number of members that is dependent upon one or more characteristics of a local mesh conferencing unit.

12. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein the first quality list is limited to a maximum number of members, and wherein adding the third device to the first quality list comprises:

determining no additional members can be added to the first quality list,

removing a member from the first quality list; and

requesting from the removed member a data stream at a different quality level than the first quality level.

13. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein the mesh conferencing system is further configured to:

determine, during the peer-to-peer conference, that the first device no longer satisfies conditions to be a member of the first quality list; and

remove the first device from the first quality list including requesting the first data stream at the second quality level.

14. The conferencing system of claim 8 , wherein generating the first quality list comprises receiving user input assigning the first device to the first quality list.

15. A non-transitory machine readable medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a mesh-conferencing-system endpoint to:

initiate a peer-to-peer conference with a plurality of remote devices;

generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level;

request the first data stream at the first quality level from the first device;

determine that a second device of the plurality of remote devices is not a member of the first quality list;

transmit a request to the second device to receive a second data stream at a second quality level;

determine, during the peer-to-peer conference, that a third device of the plurality of remote devices satisfies conditions to be a member of the first quality list;

add the third device to the first quality list; and

transmit a request to the third device to receive a third data stream at the first quality level.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions that cause a processor to generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level further cause the processor to:

determine that the first device is first of the plurality of remote devices to join the peer-to-peer conference, and

add the first device to the first quality list.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions that cause a processor to generate a first quality list comprising a first device of the plurality of remote devices from which to receive a first data stream at a first quality level further cause the processor to:

determine that the first device corresponds to an active audio data stream.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first quality list includes a number of members that is dependent upon one or more characteristics of a local mesh conferencing unit.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first quality list is limited to a maximum number of members, and wherein adding the third device to the first quality list comprises:

determining no additional members can be added to the first quality list,

removing a member from the first quality list; and

requesting from the removed member a data stream at a different quality level than the first quality level.

20. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15 , wherein generating the first quality list comprises receiving user input assigning the first device to the first quality list.