Setting virtual backgrounds from virtual background sources

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication of a virtual background (VBG) source;

storing a VBG rule in association with the indication of the VBG source;

receiving, from a conference participant of a video conference, a background setting request that identifies the VBG rule;

transmitting a request for a VBG datum to the VBG source, wherein the request transmitted to the VBG source includes a callback handler that receives the VBG datum from the VBG source; and

setting a VBG for the conference participant using the VBG datum.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a characteristic placeholder; and

storing the VBG rule in association with the characteristic placeholder.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a characteristic value matching a characteristic placeholder of the VBG rule, wherein the request indicates the characteristic value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing a handler configuration in association with the VBG rule, wherein the handler configuration identifies how to obtain a VBG part from the VBG datum, wherein the VBG is set using the VBG part.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the VBG for the conference participant using the VBG datum comprises:

determining, based on an overlay setting stored in association with the VBG rule, whether to use the VBG datum as an overlay VBG or whether to use the VBG datum as a replacement VBG.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, with respect to the callback handler, a handler configuration in association with the VBG rule, wherein the handler configuration identifies obtaining a VBG part from the VBG datum.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating, with the VBG rule, a characteristic placeholder that resolves to a geographic location.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a background-update frequency; and

associating the background-update frequency with the VBG rule,

wherein respective requests for VBG data are transmitted to the VBG source according to the background-update frequency.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a plurality of media data;

receiving a mapping from a plurality of values of the VBG datum to the plurality of media data; and

storing the mapping in association with the VBG rule.

10. A device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

receive an indication of a virtual background (VBG) source;

store a VBG rule in association with the indication of the VBG source;

receive, from a conference participant of a video conference, a background setting request that identifies the VBG rule;

transmit a request for a VBG datum to the VBG source, wherein the request transmitted to the VBG source includes a callback handler that receives the VBG datum from the VBG source; and

set a VBG for the conference participant using the VBG datum.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

receive a characteristic placeholder; and

store the VBG rule in association with the characteristic placeholder.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

store, with respect to the callback handler, a handler configuration in association with the VBG rule, wherein the handler configuration identifies obtaining a VBG part from the VBG datum, and wherein the VBG is set using the VBG part.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

store a display mode in association with the VBG rule, wherein the display mode indicates at least one of whether an obtained VBG datum is a replacement of a current VBG or whether the obtained VBG datum is an overlay onto the current VBG.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

associate a background-update frequency with the VBG rule, wherein respective requests for VBG data are transmitted to the VBG source according to the background-update frequency.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

receive a plurality of media data;

receive a mapping from a plurality of values corresponding to the VBG datum to at least some of the plurality of media data; and

store the mapping in association with the VBG rule.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving an indication of a virtual background (VBG) source;

storing a VBG rule in association with the indication of the VBG source;

receiving, from a conference participant of a video conference, a background setting request that identifies the VBG rule;

transmitting a request for a VBG datum to the VBG source, wherein the request transmitted to the VBG source includes a callback handler that receives the VBG datum from the VBG source; and

setting a VBG for the conference participant using the VBG datum.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a characteristic placeholder; and

storing the VBG rule in association with the characteristic placeholder.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

storing, with respect to the callback handler, a handler configuration in association with the VBG rule, wherein the handler configuration identifies obtaining a VBG part from the VBG datum, and wherein the VBG is set using the VBG part.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

storing a display mode in association with the VBG rule, wherein the display mode indicates at least one of whether an obtained VBG datum is a replacement of a current VBG or whether the obtained VBG datum is an overlay onto the current VBG.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

associating a background-update frequency with the VBG rule, wherein respective requests for VBG data are transmitted to the VBG source according to the background-update frequency.