Patent ID: 7640301
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system, comprising: allocating at a server in the IPTV system, a single IPTV video conference channel to a plurality of groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), wherein each of the plurality of groups of STBs receives a different one of a plurality of video conferences data over the single video conference channel; accessing first STB data at the server indicating a first group of video conference participants' STBs in the plurality of groups of video conference participants' STBs, the first group of STBs being associated with a first one of the plurality of video conferences data; mapping at the server, an internet protocol (IP) address for the first one of the plurality of video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs IP addresses; sending from the server over the single IPTV video conference channel from the first one of the plurality of IP addresses, the first one of the plurality of video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs; mapping at the server, a second one of the plurality of IP addresses for a second one of the plurality of video conferences data to a second group of video conference participants' STBs IP addresses, wherein the first one of the plurality of video conferences data and the second one of the plurality of video conferences data are different video conference data; duplicating audio data from the first one of the plurality of video conferences data; sending the duplicated audio data, concurrently with the video broadcast during the video conference, to a mobile device associated with a video conference participant associated with one of the plurality of STBs in the first group whom has left the one of the plurality of STBs in the first group during the video conference; and sending from the server over the single IPTV video conference channel from the second one of the plurality of IP addresses, the second one of the plurality of video conferences IP data to the second group of video conference participants' STBs.