Patent ID: 8320257
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: capturing scheduling information for a scheduled telepresence meeting initiated by a meeting organizer, the scheduling information including information identifying the meeting organizer, members of meeting participants, and a plurality of telepresence sites to be used during the scheduled telepresence meeting; scheduling a test time in a default time interval for a test of equipment and network resources that will be used for the scheduled telepresence meeting based on the scheduling information, wherein the test time is before a scheduled time for the scheduled telepresence meeting; performing the test at the test time by generating and transmitting, from a first one of the plurality of telepresence sites to a second one of the telepresence sites involved in the scheduled telepresence meeting, probe test traffic that comprises signals and data representing audio and video traffic that are suitable for testing (i) audio, video and display functionalities of telepresence equipment at the second telepresence site, (ii) encoding and decoding capabilities of the telepresence equipment at the second telepresence site and (iii) the network resources that will be used for the scheduled telepresence meeting; evaluating availability of the network resources to be used for the scheduled telepresence meeting based on results of the test; determining whether the telepresence equipment at the second telepresence site functionality and network resources are operating sufficiently to support the scheduled telepresence meeting based on the results of the test; determining whether there is ongoing telepresence meeting activity that is using the telepresence sites for a telepresence meeting other than the scheduled telepresence meeting; determining whether there are any pending tests to be performed on the telepresence equipment at remaining ones of the plurality of telepresence sites; determining whether there is sufficient time available to perform the pending tests; and performing the pending tests on the telepresence equipment at the remaining ones of the plurality of telepresence sites when there is sufficient time available to perform the tests.