Patent ID: 7716283
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A video conferencing system, comprising: television-based systems including at least a first television system and a second television system each configured to host a video conference session; the first television system being configured to receive program content from a content provider to display a program for viewing, generate video conference data corresponding to the first television system, and render video conference data hosted by the second television system; the second television system being configured to receive the program content from the content provider to display the program for viewing, generate video conference data corresponding to the second television system, and render video conference data hosted by the first television system; a program guide having a first listing of the program content; and a channel manager configured to associate the first television system and the second television system for communication of the respective video conference data via an IP-based network and dynamically create a virtual channel in response to a request to initiate the video conference session by the first or the second television system and associate the first and second television systems for communication over the virtual channel, and further the channel manager automatically updates the program guide to a second listing of the program content including a tuner position of the virtual channel from which a user of the first or second television system can select to participate in the video conference session, with the virtual channel being a newly created channel in the second listing of the program guide.