Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving, by a first endpoint, a request for a video conferencing session from a second endpoint, and determining whether the first endpoint is in a peek accepting mode, and when the first endpoint is in a peek accepting mode acknowledging the request, activating a first filter by the first endpoint, providing a first multimedia stream from one or more first media source associated with the first endpoint, modifying the first multimedia stream, by the first filter, to produce a first modified multimedia stream, and transmitting the first modified multimedia stream by the first endpoint to the second endpoint.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Norwegian Application 20111334, filed on Sep. 30, 2011, the contents of which being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The present application also claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application 61/551,061, filed on Oct. 25, 2011, the contents of which being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to video conferencing and in particular to establishing a video conferencing session. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional video conferencing systems include a number of endpoints communicating real time multimedia such as video, audio, and data streams. In a conventional video conferencing session, the endpoints transmit multimedia streams directly point to point or through a central unit in a multipoint network. The video conferencing session is established by connecting at least two endpoints to a central unit using a call control protocol that negotiates video formats and connection information for sending and receiving multimedia streams. In conventional video conferencing systems, communication between endpoints is either enabled or disabled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to make the disclosure more readily understandable, the discussion that follows refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a video conferencing network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a workflow process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a generic video conferencing network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a Peek Presence video conferencing session according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates examples of the different endpoint scenarios in a video conferencing call according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates examples of an endpoint with different setting of filter parameters according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates examples of different filter configurations in an open office landscape scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of an endpoint screen showing several point to point connections with different type of filters and different filter parameter settings for each connection, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a multipoint Peek Presence video conference session with different filter configuration for the participating endpoints, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example Peek Presence server connected to several endpoints, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example block diagram of a controller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Overview 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for receiving, by a first endpoint, a request for a video conferencing session from a second endpoint, and determining whether the first endpoint is in a peek accepting mode, and when the first endpoint is in a peek accepting mode acknowledging the request, activating a first filter by the first endpoint, providing a first multimedia stream from one or more first media source associated with the first endpoint, modifying the first multimedia stream, by the first filter, to produce a first modified multimedia stream, and transmitting the first modified multimedia stream by the first endpoint to the second endpoint. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following, different aspects of the present disclosure are discussed by describing preferred embodiments and by referring to the accompanying drawings. However, people skilled in the art will realize other applications and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the enclosed independent claims. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a video conferencing network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the video conferencing network of  FIG. 1 , endpoint A  120  and endpoint B  121  are communicating with a gatekeeper  110  to establish a two-way direct multimedia stream link between endpoint A  120  and endpoint B  121 . Filter A  130  and filter B  131  are installed as client software at endpoint A  120  and endpoint B  121 , respectively. Filter A  130  and filter B  131  modify the multimedia streams and intentionally reduce the clarity at endpoint A  120  and endpoint B  121 , respectively. The modification may be achieved by adding information or subtracting information from the streams. The information may be audio, video, or data components. In the example of  FIG. 1 , the multimedia stream from endpoint A  120  is filtered by filter A  130  before being transmitted to endpoint B  121 . Similarly, the multimedia stream from endpoint B  121  is filtered by filter B  131  before being transmitted to endpoint A  120 . 
     Unlike compression filters which modify multimedia streams to reduce the bit rate and size of the multimedia streams, filter A  130  and filter B  131  modify the multimedia streams to intentionally reduce the clarity at endpoint A  120  and endpoint B  121 . Moreover, filter A  130  and filter B  131  are activated upon a request or a setting to reduce clarity or provide privacy. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a workflow process of the client software according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  shows how a filtered video conference call, i.e., a filtered multimedia stream call, hereafter referred to as a Peek Presence video conferencing session, may be established between two endpoints. 
     In step  200 , a video conference call is initiated by an endpoint requesting a video call to another party. The video call may be a Peek Presence video conferencing session or a regular video conferencing session. 
     In step  201 , if the callee endpoint receiving the video call is operating in a peek accepting mode, hereinafter referred to as Peek Presence Mode (PPM), and as such the client software is operating at the callee endpoint, the process proceeds to step  202  where the callee endpoint may establish the video call in Auto Answer mode and subsequently, in step  203 , the process initiates a PPM. In PPM, the callee endpoint activates a default filter before beginning to stream multimedia. 
     Additionally or alternatively, if client software is operating at the caller endpoint, a request for Peek Presence video conferencing session may be transmitted to the callee endpoint, and a caller default filter may be activated before multimedia is streamed from the caller endpoint. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the default filters may be configured by the users before or after PPM is established. If the caller only requests to check the presence status of the callee by taking a peek, the caller may configure its endpoint filter to block all streams from the caller endpoint. The multimedia stream is then a one way transmission from the callee to the caller. Similarly, the callee may at anytime configure its filter to block peeking. 
     According to the above described optional configuration, a PPM is established in step  203  by transmitting filtered multimedia between the two endpoints. Once in PPM, either party may at anytime disconnect the PPM in step  204 , and the video conference call is then ended in step  205 . If none of the parties are disconnecting the call and the caller has checked out the presence status of the callee and determined that the callee is available and willing to communicate, the caller may send an attention requesting message, hereinafter referred to as a Knock message, to the callee endpoint in step  206 . The Knock message, may provide a function similar to that of a person knocking on a door or a window in a traditional face-to-face communication scenario. The Knock message gives a signal that a knocking person needs attention from a person inside, for perhaps with the purpose to start a conversation. When the callee receives the Knock message, the Knock message may initiate a visual or audible contact signal at the callee endpoint. Examples of such signals, i.e., contact functions, may be a blinking screen, displaying of a hand waving, a knocking sound, or a bell ringing. To inform the callee endpoint of which contact function to play, the Knock message may contain a data code. The data code may be selected from a list of data codes. Each data code may represent a contact function. 
     When an endpoint receives the Knock message, the endpoint reads the data code and plays the associated contact function. If no Knock message is sent from the caller or if the callee rejects the Knock message, the PPM continues in step  203 . 
     According to another embodiment, a Knock message may also be sent the opposite way from a callee endpoint to a caller endpoint. 
     If the Knock message is acknowledged by the callee by, e.g., transmitting a Knock acknowledge message from the callee to the caller in step  207 , the filters at both the callee endpoint and the caller endpoint are deactivated in step  208 . A regular video conferencing session, i.e., a regular Multimedia Stream Mode (MSM), is then enabled and multimedia streams without filtering may be transmitted both ways between the endpoints in step  209 . An MSM may also be established if the callee is not in PPM as in step  201 , but acknowledges an ordinary video conference call in step  214 . 
     Once in MSM, both parties may at anytime disconnect the MSM in step  210 , and the video conference call is then ended in step  211 . If neither of the parties are disconnecting the call, the MSM continues until one of the parties determines to proceed with a PPM by transmitting a Peek Presence message to the endpoint of the other party in step  212 . If the other party agrees on enabling a PPM, the endpoint replies with a Peek Presence Acknowledge message in step  213 , and a PPM is enabled in step  203 . So long as the video conference call is not ended, the participants in the call may switch back and forth between a PPM and an MSM. 
     The above discussed workflow process, illustrates a video conference call between two parties. However, the client software may not be limited to only two parties. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an endpoint may have multiple point to point connections with other endpoints at the same time. In such embodiment, all parties with multiple connections may be running several workflow processes in parallel, and the selected type of filter and the filter parameter settings towards each recipient may be different. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a video conference call may have multiple participants. Each participant or endpoint may then connect to an Intermediate Broker Unit (IBU), e.g., a Multipoint Meeting Server or a Multipoint Control Unit. An IBU operates as an endpoint towards each of the endpoints, and thus, runs several workflow processes in parallel. An IBU may coordinate the multimedia streams, and distribute a specific multimedia stream to each endpoint enabling the endpoint user to observe the other participants. 
     It is be understood that certain aspects of the disclosed methods, endpoint nodes, and systems, may make it possible for the caller to check the callee&#39;s willingness and availability to communicate during the initiation of a possible video conferencing session. Such initial checking of the callee&#39;s willingness and availability may be made without unnecessarily disturbing the callee. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a generic video conferencing network according to an aspect of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  shows that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to specific endpoints, applied video infrastructures and associated functionality, or networks. Different kinds of endpoints may be connected to an IP network  300 , and thereby, different kinds of multimedia streams may be filtered from the endpoints. Different endpoints are not limited to but may include an immersive telepresence endpoint  340 , a telepresence endpoint with twin data display  350 , a telepresence endpoint  360 , a personal telepresence endpoint  370 , or a laptop video client  380 . Other nodes, such as an IBU  320 , a telepresence exchange  310 , a conference recording/streaming server  330 , or a gatekeeper  390  may be connected to the IP network  300  for controlling the filtered video conference calls, recording the calls, or performing other functions. A video gateway  302  between the IP network  300  and another network  301  provides an example where the present disclosure is not limited to a specific type of network. Client software may be operating at any endpoint, with video infrastructure corresponding to different types of networks. Even though different networks may have a variety of different communication protocols, the endpoints may still be able to communicate. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a Peek Presence video conferencing session, i.e., a filtered multimedia call, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 4 , client B endpoint  420  receives a request for a Peek Presence video conferencing session from client A endpoint  410 . Client B endpoint  420  acknowledges and transmits a filtered multimedia stream of client B  411  to client A endpoint  410 , where the modified multimedia stream is displayed. Client A endpoint  410  transmits an unfiltered multimedia stream of client A  421  to client B endpoint  420 , where the unmodified multimedia is displayed. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the Peek Presence video conferencing session may follow a predetermined policy such that the filter of the caller endpoint is deactivated, so the caller is made visible to the callee when establishing a Peek Presence video conferencing session. As such, the filter parameter setting of client A endpoint  410  may be configured to deactivate filter, and as a result, client A endpoint  410  may be completely visible at client B endpoint  420 . The filter parameter setting of client B endpoint  420  may be configured to activate its filter, and as a result, client B endpoint  420  may be displayed with reduced clarity at client A endpoint  410 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates examples of different endpoint scenarios in a video conferencing call. In a PPM or a filtered video call, a participant may select to have the same type of filter and filter parameter setup as the other party does, thus giving a symmetric filter situation  511 ,  521 , or select to have a different type of filter or different filter parameter setting giving an asymmetric filter situation  531 ,  541 . If symmetric filter situation is selected, then filter configuration may be transmitted from the endpoint receiving the symmetry request to the endpoint sending the symmetry request. Alternatively or additionally, the filter configuration may be determined by policy settings. When initiating MSM, i.e., establishing a regular video conferencing session, the filters at the endpoints may be deactivated resulting in none filter situation  551 ,  561 . 
     A filter may modify a multimedia stream in different ways. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the type of the filter and/or the filter parameters may be controlled by an endpoint user. When client software is operating at an endpoint, the user may select among different clarity filters such as transparency filters, fogged or blurred video filters where a higher degree of blur increases the privacy, resolution filters, frame rate filters, audio filters, or data filters. Alternatively or additionally, other kinds of distortion or video manipulation methods may be used to reduce the clarity of the multimedia stream. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates examples of an endpoint  600  with different settings of filter parameters. In  FIG. 6 , the filter parameter of a transparency filter is modified to adjust the clarity of the displayed party. The setting goes from 0% or completely blocked  610 , to 30% visibility  620 , and thereafter to 70% visibility  630 , and over to 100% or complete visibility  640 . A filter with a lower percentage of clarity may increase the privacy of the corresponding endpoint user, while a filter with a higher percentage of clarity may decrease the privacy of the endpoint user. Therefore, an endpoint user may adjust the privacy by configuring the filter parameters and selecting type of filter. The adjustment may be performed through a user interface at the endpoints. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, multimedia filters may be used in PPM to give endpoint users the opportunity to peek on other endpoint users. The peek view may be used to observe any closed areas such as cubicles, offices, meeting rooms, and open office landscapes. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates examples of different filter configurations in an open office landscape scenario. In one setting, no filter parameters are set and the open office landscape is completely visible  710 . In another setting, a transparency filter is inserted giving reduced visibility  720 . In the last example, the filter parameters are set to block some areas in the open office landscape  730 . The blocked areas may be faces of people or screens on computers, where the purpose is to increase privacy and security. The blocked areas may be selected by utilizing the user interface at the endpoints, e.g., by insertion of screen coordinates or by controlling a cursor on an endpoint screen. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a filter may modify the information in a multimedia stream by covering all of the video image, covering some parts of the video image by inserting an object of any size and shape, covering moving objects such as faces of people or mobile computer screens, covering parts of or all of the audio image, removing data from the multimedia stream, or a combination of these methods. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an endpoint may have multiple point to point connections with other endpoints at the same time, and for each connection, an endpoint may operate different types of filters and apply different filter settings. Additionally or alternatively, an endpoint may receive multimedia streams that are modified with different kinds of filters and/or different filter parameter settings. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of an endpoint screen  810  showing several point to point connections with different types of filters and different filter parameter settings for each connection, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The filter parameters may allow for the visual filters to be of any size and/or geometrical form, include any form of blurring pattern, or track movement. Tracking filters may be used to cover moving objects such as, e.g., faces of people. Alternatively or additionally, a filter may include an object, such as an avatar, an icon, or a picture. 
     In yet another embodiment, an endpoint may be connected to several endpoints in a multipoint Peek Presence video conferencing session, where each endpoint may have a different filter configuration. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a multipoint Peek Presence video conference session with different filter configurations for the participating endpoints, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The screen of the client endpoint  910  shows nine other participants in the multipoint video conference call. In  FIG. 9 , the filter configurations are asymmetrical, and the endpoints participating in the video conference call are operating with different filter configurations. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, an endpoint may access a flexible number of endpoints through direct point to point connections or via multipoint video conference calls, in which case, the endpoint screen may display the other participants in an adjustable grid layout where the grid layout division is dependent on the number of participants. A user may adjust the grid layout by utilizing the user interface at the endpoint. The user interface may be a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a least one server may be connected to at least one endpoint. The server may operate client software for registration of the Peek Presence status of the endpoints. The server, i.e., a Peek Presence server, may list the registrations in a directory. In the directory, a number of endpoints may be grouped together in a Peek Presence video call group, and an endpoint may be a participant in several groups at the same time. To control the registration and the groups, a server operating database software may be used. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a Peek Presence server  1000  connected to several endpoints  1100 . The Peek Presence server  1000  may include a database  1020  with a list of Peek Presence groups, the active and the non-active members of the groups, and/or the access rights given to the members and non-members. 
     An example of access rights may be to grant permission to group members, other groups&#39; members, or all endpoints, to establish a Peek Presence video conference session with other members of the group, but with different filter configurations at the receiving endpoints, and thereby, different privacy and security settings. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the list of the groups including list of the members and the given access rights may be available in a public or non-public phone book directory. The directory settings for a member may be stored as a part of a Peek Presence profile of an endpoint user. The phone book directory may be stored at the Peek Presence server  1000  and may be available for all endpoints. Therefore, the Peek Presence profile of an endpoint user may be looked up by, e.g., checking the contact card of the user. A contact card may list different ways of contacting the user, such as, e.g., a Peek Presences video conferencing call, a regular video conferencing call, or a phone call. 
     The database  1020  of the Peek Presence server  1000  may be used for registration of Peek Presence status of at least one endpoint operating client software, for organizing registered endpoints into a directory, or for organizing endpoints into groups in directory where each group has different filter parameter settings and/or different access rights. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the Peek Presence server  1000  includes a communication unit  1010  for communicating with the endpoints  1100 . Also, each endpoint  1100  may include a communication unit  1110 , a filtering unit  1120 , a playing unit  1130 , and a user interface  1140 . The communication unit  1110  may provide a multimedia stream from at least one media source associated with the endpoint  1100 , e.g., a camera, a microphone, or a personal computer. The endpoint  1100  may also be communicating with at least one other endpoint, central unit, or Peek Presence server, for establishing at least one point to point and/or multipoint video conference session. 
     The playing unit  1130  may play the received streams at multimedia units associated with the endpoint  1100 , such as a screen or a speaker. In addition, the playing unit  1130  may read the data code in a Knock message and activate associated contact functions. 
     The user interface  1140  may be utilized by a user for controlling the endpoint  1100  by selecting the type of a filter, selecting the multimedia area to cover, configuring filter parameter settings, selecting at least one endpoint in a database, selecting a Peek Presence or a regular video conferencing session, selecting a contact function, or selecting a grid display layout. 
     In certain aspects of the present disclosure, when a callee endpoint applies a filter, the caller may be given a possibility to look into a callee office in an easier and less intrusive way than with a regular video conferencing call or auto answered call. The caller may determine the willingness and availability of a callee with fewer disturbances than with a regular video conferencing call, much in the same way that a person may peek into an office window before deciding to engage in a conversation. The callee may control the Peek Presence access rights given to the associated endpoint, and based on the endpoint filter configuration, control how visible the callee appears in a Peek Presence video conferencing session. 
     Next, a hardware description of a controller according to exemplary embodiments is described with reference to  FIG. 11 . The controller may be included in any node and/or may be used to perform any of the described methods and processes of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG. 11 , the controller includes a CPU  1100  which performs the processes described above. The process data and instructions may be stored in memory  1102 . These processes and instructions may also be stored on a storage medium disk  1104  such as a hard drive (HDD) or portable storage medium or may be stored remotely. Further, the claimed advancements are not limited by the form of the computer-readable media on which the instructions of the inventive process are stored. For example, the instructions may be stored on CDs, DVDs, in FLASH memory, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk or any other information processing device with which the controller communicates, such as a server or computer. 
     Further, the claimed advancements may be provided as a utility application, background daemon, or component of an operating system, or combination thereof, executing in conjunction with CPU  1100  and an operating system such as Microsoft Windows 7, UNIX, Solaris, LINUX, Apple MAC-OS and other systems known to those skilled in the art. 
     CPU  1100  may be a Xenon or Core processor from Intel of America or an Opteron processor from AMD of America, or may be other processor types that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the CPU  1100  may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD or using discrete logic circuits, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Further, CPU  1100  may be implemented as multiple processors cooperatively working in parallel to perform the instructions of the inventive processes described above. 
     The controller in  FIG. 11  also includes a network controller  1106 , such as an Intel Ethernet PRO network interface card from Intel Corporation of America, for interfacing with IP network  300 . As can be appreciated, the IP network  300  can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network such as an LAN or WAN network, or any combination thereof and can also include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The IP network  300  can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or can be wireless such as a cellular network including EDGE,  3 G and  4 G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be WiFi, Bluetooth, or any other wireless form of communication that is known. 
     The controller further includes a display controller  1108 , such as a NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro graphics adaptor from NVIDIA Corporation of America for interfacing with display  1110 , such as a Hewlett Packard HPL2445w LCD monitor. A general purpose I/O interface  1112  interfaces with a keyboard and/or mouse  1114  as well as a touch screen panel  1116  on or separate from display  1110 . General purpose I/O interface also connects to a variety of peripherals  1118  including printers and scanners, such as an OfficeJet or DeskJet from Hewlett Packard. 
     A sound controller  1120  is also provided in the controller, such as Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium from Creative, to interface with speakers/microphone  1122  thereby providing sounds and/or music. The speakers/microphone  1122  can also be used to accept dictated words as commands for controlling the controller or for providing location and/or property information with respect to the target property. 
     The general purpose storage controller  1124  connects the storage medium disk  1104  with communication bus  1126 , which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar, for interconnecting all of the components of the controller. A description of the general features and functionality of the display  1110 , keyboard and/or mouse  1114 , as well as the display controller  1108 , storage controller  1124 , network controller  1106 , sound controller  1120 , and general purpose I/O interface  1112  is omitted herein for brevity as these features are known. 
     Numerous modifications and variation of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. Consequently, the descriptions of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.