Patent Publication Number: US-8970651-B2

Title: Integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to video conferencing and more specifically to integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities. 
     2. Introduction 
     Most video conferencing systems are “all-in-one” devices. These systems often require wired connections between the various components, such as microphones, speakers, monitors, and cameras. In certain cases, recent wireless technologies, such as Wireless HDMI and Wireless USB, allow some of these components to be connected wirelessly. However, these wireless connections are generally fixed between the wirelessly-connected components, and therefore restrict mobility. Moreover, since most devices, such as computers and phones, do not typically have built-in Wireless HDMI or Wireless USB capabilities, they require hardware “dongles” or adapters to provide wireless connectivity with other components. This greatly complicates matters for the user. 
     Also, current video conferencing systems do not utilize other new and powerful wireless technologies, such as WIFI direct, to integrate different devices or components. Moreover, current solutions fail to use wireless capabilities to provide greater mobility while allowing devices to seamlessly integrate other devices during a conference and automatically extend the conferencing capabilities utilized during the conference. For example, current solutions do not allow an audio-only conferencing device to automatically add video conferencing to an audio conference when the audio-only conferencing device enters the vicinity of a video conferencing device with wireless capabilities. With current solutions, if a user is on an audio-only call through a mobile phone and the user wishes to add high quality video beyond the capabilities of the mobile phone, the user must manually transfer or reestablish the entire call on another device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be understood from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein. 
     The approaches set forth herein can be used to wirelessly integrate different devices and components in a conferencing system. Using powerful wireless capabilities, these approaches provide users great mobility when conferencing, and allow conferencing devices to seamlessly integrate other devices during the conference and automatically extend media capabilities utilized during the conference. For example, a user participating in an audio-only conference through an audio-only phone can automatically add high quality video to the conference by wirelessly connecting to a nearby device with video capabilities. If the user wants to move to a different location, she can automatically transfer the video portion of the conference wirelessly to another nearby device with video capabilities. On the other hand, if the user does not want to move to a different location, but simply wants to transfer the video portion of the conference to a different device with better video capabilities, she can automatically do so via a wireless connection, without transferring or reestablishing the entire call. 
     Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities. During a communication session between a first device and a second device, the first device receives an audio portion of the communication session from a user. The first device then receives, via a wireless connection, a video portion of the communication session from a third device. The first device can establish the communication session as an audio only communication session and subsequently send a message to the third device to initialize video input and output to establish video capabilities for the communication session. The video portion of the communication session can include compressed video frames captured by a camera associated with the third device, such as an internal camera or an external camera. The third device can be any device with wireless capabilities. For example, the third device can be a wireless conferencing gateway that transmits video frames captured from a camera device to the first device. The third device can also include a video encoder/decoder, a camera, a wireless interface, and/or a video output. The wireless connection can be, for example, a direct wireless connection between the devices. The direct wireless connection can be based on the 802.11 standards, for example. Here, the devices can directly connect to each other using a wireless standard such as WIFI Direct. Moreover, the devices can do wireless pairing to allow the devices to seamlessly communicate with each other. 
     Then, the first device synchronizes the audio portion of the communication session and the video portion of the communication session to yield a synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session. To synchronize the audio and video portions of the communication session, the first device can set lip synchronization attributes on the video portion of the communication session with audio from the audio portion of the communication session. Next, the first device sends the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device. If the first device receives video and/or audio frames associated with the communication session from the second device, the first device can check lip synchronization attributes on the video frames and, at a time that is based at least in part on the lip synchronization attributes, send the video frames to the third device to be decoded and displayed at the third device. Accordingly, the third device can display the video frames received from the second device while the first device outputs corresponding audio frames received from the second device. 
     Lip synchronization can be achieved by periodically synchronizing the clocks between multiple devices. Using well known algorithms, one device can act as a master and the other devices can act as slaves, where the master and slaves exchange network messages to synchronize their clocks. Thus, for example, the first device and the third device can periodically synchronize their clocks for lip synchronization. Using well known algorithms, the first device or the third device can act as a master device while the other device can act as a slave device. The master device (e.g., the first device) and the slave device (e.g., the third device) can then exchange network messages to synchronize their clocks in order to perform lip synchronization based on the lip synchronization attributes. 
     The first device can also receive additional portions of the communication session from other devices in addition to the third device. For example, if the user of the first device wants to move to a location beyond the wireless range of the third device, or if the user simply wants to display the video of the communication session at a different display device, the user can do so by wirelessly connecting the first device to a fourth device with wireless capabilities. Here, the first device can receive a second portion of the communication session from the fourth device, synchronize the second video portion of the communication session and a corresponding audio portion of the communication session, and send the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device. The first device can wirelessly connect to the third and/or fourth device when the first device detects that the third and/or fourth device is/are within wireless range of the system. The first device can also connect to other wireless devices to receive video portions as the user moves to different locations or prompts the first device to establish the connection, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example system embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary system for wirelessly integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of multiple wireless devices connected to form a single video conferencing endpoint; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary mechanism for adding a multiparty video conference to a desktop phone; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary wireless conference box for adding video to an audio conference; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example method embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below. While specific implementations are described, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. Other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     The present disclosure addresses for wirelessly integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities. A system, method and computer-readable media are disclosed which integrate audio and video conferencing capabilities. A brief introductory description of a basic general purpose system or computing device in  FIG. 1 , which can be employed to practice the concepts, is disclosed herein. A more detailed description and variations of wirelessly integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities will then follow. These variations shall be described herein as the various embodiments are set forth. The disclosure now turns to  FIG. 1 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system includes a general-purpose computing device  100 , including a processing unit (CPU or processor)  120  and a system bus  110  that couples various system components including the system memory  130  such as read only memory (ROM)  140  and random access memory (RAM)  150  to the processor  120 . The computing device  100  can include a cache  122  of high speed memory connected directly with, in close proximity to, or integrated as part of the processor  120 . The computing device  100  copies data from the memory  130  and/or the storage device  160  to the cache  122  for quick access by the processor  120 . In this way, the cache provides a performance boost that avoids processor  120  delays while waiting for data. These and other modules can control or be configured to control the processor  120  to perform various actions. Other system memory  130  may be available for use as well. The memory  130  can include multiple different types of memory with different performance characteristics. It can be appreciated that the disclosure may operate on a computing device  100  with more than one processor  120  or on a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capability. The processor  120  can include any general purpose processor and a hardware module or software module, such as module 1  162 , module 2  164 , and module 3  166  stored in storage device  160 , configured to control the processor  120  as well as a special-purpose processor where software instructions are incorporated into the actual processor design. The processor  120  may essentially be a completely self-contained computing system, containing multiple cores or processors, a bus, memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or asymmetric. 
     The system bus  110  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. A basic input/output (BIOS) stored in ROM  140  or the like, may provide the basic routine that helps to transfer information between elements within the computing device  100 , such as during start-up. The computing device  100  further includes storage devices  160  such as a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, tape drive or the like. The storage device  160  can include software modules  162 ,  164 ,  166  for controlling the processor  120 . Other hardware or software modules are contemplated. The storage device  160  is connected to the system bus  110  by a drive interface. The drives and the associated computer-readable storage media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing device  100 . In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function includes the software component stored in a tangible computer-readable storage medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as the processor  120 , bus  110 , display  170 , and so forth, to carry out the function. In another aspect, the system can use a processor and computer-readable storage medium to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method or other specific actions. The basic components and appropriate variations are contemplated depending on the type of device, such as whether the computing device  100  is a small, handheld computing device, a desktop computer, or a computer server. 
     Although the exemplary embodiment described herein employs the hard disk  160 , other types of computer-readable media which can store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs)  150 , read only memory (ROM)  140 , a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. Tangible computer-readable storage media expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se. 
     To enable user interaction with the computing device  100 , an input device  190  represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. An output device  170  can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device  100 . The communications interface  180  generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed. 
     For clarity of explanation, the illustrative system embodiment is presented as including individual functional blocks including functional blocks labeled as a “processor” or processor  120 . The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware, such as a processor  120 , that is purpose-built to operate as an equivalent to software executing on a general purpose processor. For example the functions of one or more processors presented in  FIG. 1  may be provided by a single shared processor or multiple processors. (Use of the term “processor” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software.) Illustrative embodiments may include microprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM)  140  for storing software performing the operations described below, and random access memory (RAM)  150  for storing results. Very large scale integration (VLSI) hardware embodiments, as well as custom VLSI circuitry in combination with a general purpose DSP circuit, may also be provided. 
     The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a specific-use programmable circuit; and/or (3) interconnected machine modules or program engines within the programmable circuits. The computing device  100  shown in  FIG. 1  can practice all or part of the recited methods, can be a part of the recited systems, and/or can operate according to instructions in the recited tangible computer-readable storage media. Such logical operations can be implemented as modules configured to control the processor  120  to perform particular functions according to the programming of the module. For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates three modules Mod1  162 , Mod2  164  and Mod3  166  which are modules configured to control the processor  120 . These modules may be stored on the storage device  160  and loaded into RAM  150  or memory  130  at runtime or may be stored in other computer-readable memory locations. 
     Having disclosed some components of a computing system, the disclosure now turns to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates an exemplary system  200  for wirelessly integrating audio and video conferencing capabilities. Here, user  202  can start an audio call with user  206  using the phone  204 A. In some embodiments, user  202  can otherwise start the audio call with user  206  using any other device with networking capabilities, such as a laptop, a portable media player, an IP television, a conferencing system, a tablet computer, a media device, an electronic reader, etc. In  FIG. 2 , the phone  204 A connects to the media device  208 , used by the remote user  206 , via the network  212 . The network  212  can include a public network, such as the Internet, but can also include a private or quasi-private network, such as an intranet, a home network, a virtual private network (VPN), a shared collaboration network between separate entities, etc. Indeed, the principles set forth herein can be applied to many types of networks, such as local area networks (LANs), virtual LANs (VLANs), corporate networks, wide area networks, and virtually any other form of network. The media device  208  can be any device with networking capabilities, such as a laptop, a portable media player, an IP television, a conferencing system, a tablet computer, a media device, an electronic reader, and so forth. 
     If the user  202  decides to add video to the call, she can do so via the display device  204 B and the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C, without having to transfer or reestablish the entire call. Here, the user  202  can use the display device  204 B to display video frames sent by the remote user  206  from the media device  208  as part of the video portion of the call. The user  202  can also use the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C to capture video frames and send the video frames to the remote user  206 , as part of the video portion of the call. The user  202  can add video to the call before establishing the call or at any point during the call. Once the user  202  adds video to the call, she can subsequently change which device(s) capture, display, and manage the video portion of the call at any point during the call. 
     To add video to a call, the phone  204 A can, either before or during the call, wirelessly connect to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C, which provides the video conferencing capabilities. The phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can directly connect with each other over wireless. Here, the display device  204 B and/or the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C do not have to be connected to the network  212 , as they can communicate directly with the phone  204 A over WiFi, for example. The phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can automatically connect directly with each other over wireless when the devices are within a wireless range. For example, the phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can automatically establish a direct wireless connection via a wireless connection based on the 802.11 standards, such as WIFI direct. Also, the phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can automatically connect based on preconfigured settings and/or input from the user  202 . Moreover, the phone  204 A can present a prompt, such as an audio prompt, to the user  202  requesting permission to connect to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C when the phone  204 A detects that the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C is within a wireless range. The phone  204 A can then connect to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C when the user grants the phone  204 A permission to connect to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C, in response to the prompt. Alternatively, the phone  204 A can automatically connect to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C when it detects that the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C is within a wireless range, without presenting a prompt to the user  202 . In one embodiment, the phone  204 A and the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C establish an application-level WIFI direct connection and directly communicate over a standard IP connection. The phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can “see” each other using standard WIFI protocols. Moreover, the phone  204 A and wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can include a WIFI direct service application, which they can use to exchange information, such as information regarding security, video codec, framerate, resolution, hardware capabilities, software capabilities, etc. 
     The wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can send video frames captured by a camera on the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C to the phone  204 A, which the phone  204 A can then transmit to the media device  208  as part of the video portion of the call. In some embodiments, the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C has a built-in camera which captures the video frames to be sent to the phone  204 A. In other embodiments, the camera is a device separate from the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C. Here, the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C receives the video frames from the camera, and relays the video frames to the phone  204 A. The wireless conferencing gateway  204 C can compress and encode the video frames and send the video frames to the phone  204 A for transmission to the remote user  206 . The phone  204 A can then append network headers to the video frames, set lip synchronization attributes with audio from the user  202 , and send the video frames to the remote user  206 . 
     The wireless conferencing gateway  204 C also receives video frames sent by the phone  204 A and originating from the media device  208  used by the remote user  206 , and transmits the video frames to the display  204 B for display. The phone  204 A can synchronize the video frames with audio from the audio frames and, at an appropriate time, send the video frames to the wireless conferencing gateway  204 C to be decoded and displayed on the display  204 B. The wireless conferencing gateway  204 C includes a video decoder/encoder and a video output to allow the video frames from the remote user  206  to be outputted to a display. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of multiple wireless devices connected to form a single video conferencing endpoint  300 . The single video conferencing endpoint  300  includes a mobile phone  302 , a wireless conference box  304 , and a display  306 . The mobile phone  302  and wireless conference box  304  communicate over a direct wireless connection based on 802.11 standards, such as WIFI direct. Moreover, the wireless conference box  304  and display  306  can communicate using any mechanism and/or interface suitable for transferring video data, such as HDMI, VGA, DVI, S-Video, wireless HDMI, WIFI, etc. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the mobile phone  302  receives audio and video media from the remote party in the conference call, outputs the audio through speakers on the mobile phone  302 , and relays the video frames to the wireless conference box  304 . The mobile phone  302  checks the lip synchronization attributes on the video frames to determine when to send the video frames to the wireless conference box  304 , so the video frames can be timely decoded and displayed at the display  306 . In particular, the mobile phone  302  receives the audio and video media from the remote party via a network, such as the Internet, a wireless network, an enterprise network, a LAN, a WAN, etc. The mobile phone  302  then sends the video frames to the wireless conference box  304  over a direct wireless connection, such as WIFI direct. The wireless conference box  304  receives the video frames from the mobile phone  302 , decodes the video frames, and transmits the decoded video frames to the display  306  for presentation at the display  306 . 
     The wireless conference box  304  includes a camera for capturing video to be transmitted to the remote party in the conference call. Moreover, the wireless conference box  304  sends compressed video frames from the camera to the mobile phone  302 . The wireless conference box  304  can encode the video frames according to a suitable video compression standard, such as H.264. The mobile phone  302  receives the video frames from the wireless conference box  304 , synchronizes the video frames and audio from the user, and sends the synchronized video and audio media to the remote party in the conference call. In one embodiment, the mobile phone  302  receives the video frames from the wireless conference box  304 , appends network headers, sets lip synchronization attributes with audio from the user, and sends the video frames to the remote party in the conference call. 
     Although the video conferencing endpoint  300  in  FIG. 3  includes a mobile phone  302 , a wireless conference box  304 , and a display  306 , those of skill in the art can understand that the video conferencing endpoint  300  can include other devices. For example, the video conferencing endpoint  300  can include additional wireless conferencing boxes and/or displays to allow the user to transfer the video from the conference call to other devices if necessary based on the user&#39;s location and/or video requirements. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary mechanism for adding a multiparty video conference to a desktop phone. The desktop phone  402  can connect to the wireless conference box  404  to add video to an audio call without transferring or reestablishing the entire call. The desktop phone  402  receives video from the remote parties and sends the video to the wireless conference box  404 . The desktop phone  402  can also receive one or more packet streams (e.g., video streams and/or audio streams) from a network gateway in the multiparty video conference, for example. The wireless conference box  404  connects to the display  406  to display the video from the remote parties. The display  406  can divide the presentation of video by party, such that video from each remote party is displayed at a different portion of the display. In some embodiments, the wireless conference box  404  connects to multiple displays, and video from each remote party is displayed at a different display. The wireless conference box  404  also includes a camera to capture video. The wireless conference box  404  sends the captured video to the desktop phone  402 , so the desktop phone  402  can then send the captured video to the remote parties as part of the video conference. Together, the desktop phone  402 , the wireless conference box  404 , and the display  406  form a single video conferencing endpoint  400  for a multiparty video conference. 
     Before sending the captured video to the desktop phone  402 , the wireless conference box  404  can encode the video according to a suitable video compression standard, such as H.264. The desktop phone  402  can synchronize the video from the wireless conference box  404  with audio received from the user, and send the synchronized media to the remote parties. In one embodiment, the desktop phone  402  receives the compressed video from the wireless conference box  404 , appends network headers, sets lip synchronization attributes with audio from the user, and sends the video to the remote parties in the conference call. When receiving video from the remote parties, the desktop phone  402  can check lip synchronization attributes to determine when to send the video to the wireless conference box  404  for presentation at the display  406 , and when to output the corresponding audio received from the remote parties. 
     The desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  connect directly via wireless. The wireless connection can be a direct, wireless connection based on the 802.11 standards, such as WIFI direct. Moreover, the desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  can “see” each other using standard WIFI protocols. This allows the desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  to automatically connect to each other when both devices are within a wireless range, which enables the desktop phone  402  to seamlessly add video to an audio conference. In addition, the desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  can include a WIFI direct service application for exchanging information, such as information regarding security, video codec, framerate, resolutions, capabilities, etc. This facilitates the seamless connection between the desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404 , and the integration of video into an audio conference. 
     In one embodiment, when the desktop phone  402  detects the wireless conference box  404 , it asks the user of the desktop phone  402  if the user would like to connect to the wireless conference box  404  in order to add video to the audio conference. If the user accepts, the desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  establish an application-level WIFI direct connection. The desktop phone  402  and wireless conference box  404  can directly communicate over a standard IP connection. The desktop phone  402  then notifies the remote parties of the new video capabilities provided by the wireless conference box  404  and display  406 . If the remote parties respond with their own video capabilities, the desktop phone  402  can initiate video by sending a message to the wireless conference box  404  to initialize video in/out. The wireless conference box  404  can then send compressed video frames from the camera to the desktop phone  402 . The desktop phone  402  receives the compressed video frames, appends network headers, sets lip synchronization attributes with audio from the user, and sends the video frames to the remote parties. Further, when the desktop phone  402  receives video frames from the remote parties, it checks lip synchronization attributes and, at the appropriate time, sends the video frames to the wireless conference box  404  to be decoded and displayed on the display  406 . When the video frames are displayed at the display  406 , the desktop phone  402  can output corresponding audio, such that the video frames and corresponding audio are presented in a synchronized manner. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary wireless conference box  500  for adding video to an audio conference. The wireless conference box  500  can connect to a phone, or any other device capable of supporting an audio call over IP (e.g., VoLTE, VoIP, wireless LAN, etc.), to add video conferencing capabilities to the phone and/or transfer video conferencing functions to the wireless conference box  500 . The wireless conference box  500  includes a wireless network interface card  504  for wirelessly communicating with other devices. The wireless conference box  500  can use the wireless network interface card  504  to connect with a phone, or any other audio conferencing device, directly over wireless. The direct wireless connection can be based on 802.11 standards, such as WIFI direct. Moreover, the wireless conference box  500  can detect, and/or be detected by, other wireless devices using standard WIFI protocols. The wireless conference box  500  can also include a WIFI direct service application to wirelessly send and/or receive information such as information regarding security, video codec, framerate, resolutions, capabilities, etc. 
     The wireless conference box  500  includes a built-in camera  502  for capturing video. In some embodiments, the wireless conference box  500  does not include a built-in camera, but is connected to a separate, external camera. Further, the wireless conference box  500  can include an on-board chip  506  for encoding and decoding video frames. However, in some embodiments, the on-board chip  506  may not be necessary, for example, if an external camera is used that has its own encoder. Here, the wireless conference box  500  may not include the on-board chip  506  when the wireless conference box  500  is used with an external camera that has its own encoder. In some embodiments, the on-board chip  506  can support H.264 multi-stream encoding and decoding. Moreover, the wireless conference box  500  can include a video interface  510 , such as HDMI and VGA, to connect to a display device, such as a monitor or a television. Furthermore, the wireless conference box  500  can include a universal serial bus (USB) interface  508  to connect and supply power to other devices, such as digital cameras, network adapters, microphones, speakers, webcams, media players, disk drives, flash drives, input devices, printers, computer peripherals, etc. 
     The wireless conference box  500  can also connect to other devices, such as displays and cameras, via the wireless network interface card  504 , using different wireless protocols. For example, the wireless conference box  500  can connect to a display device, such as a television, using wireless HDMI. As another example, the wireless conference box  500  can use Wireless USB to connect to other devices, such as game controllers, printers, scanners, digital cameras, media players, hard disk drives, flash drives, microphones, speakers, etc. 
     Having disclosed some basic system components and concepts, the disclosure now turns to the exemplary method embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . For the sake of clarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary system  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , configured to practice the method. The steps outlined herein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof, including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. 
     During a communication session between the system  100  and a second device, the system  100  first receives an audio portion of the communication session from a user ( 600 ). The system  100  then receives, via a wireless connection, a video portion of the communication session from a third device ( 602 ). The system  100  receives the video portion of the communication session in order to add video to the communication session, or transfer the processing, creation, and/or display of video for an existing video portion of the communication session to the third device. For example, the communication session can be an audio-only communication session, which the system  100  can then expand to include video that the system  100  receives from the third device. To initiate a video portion of the communication session, the system  100  can send a message to the third device to initialize video input and output to establish video capabilities for the communication session. Once the third device initializes video input and output, it can send the video portion of the communication session to the system  100 . 
     The video portion of the communication session can include compressed video frames captured by a camera associated with the third device, such as an internal camera or an external camera. The third device can be any device with wireless capabilities. For example, the third device can be a wireless conferencing gateway that transmits video frames captured from a camera device to the system  100 . The third device can also include a video encoder and decoder, a camera, a wireless interface, and/or a video output. The wireless connection can be, for example, a direct wireless connection between the devices. The direct wireless connection can be based on the 802.11 standards, for example. For example, the system  100  and third device can directly connect to each other using a wireless standard such as WIFI Direct. Moreover, the system  100  and third device can do wireless pairing to allow the devices to seamlessly communicate with each other. 
     The system  100  can receive the video portion of the communication session in response to a request from a user and/or the system  100  to add video to the communication session. For example, the system  100  can receive the video portion of the communication session in response to a message sent by the system  100  to the third device prompting the third device to capture and/or send video frames to the system  100 , as part of the communication session. The system  100  can also receive the video portion of the communication session based on a schedule, a condition, a behavior, a preference, a configuration setting, a threshold, an input, etc. Moreover, the system  100  can also receive the video portion of the communication session automatically when the system  100  and third device establish the wireless connection. The system  100  can establish the wireless connection automatically when the third device is within a wireless range, for example. In one embodiment, the system  100  automatically establishes the wireless connection with the third device via WIFI direct, when the third device is within a wireless range. Before establishing the wireless connection, the system  100  can prompt the user of the system  100  to enable/allow the wireless connection. The system  100  can then establish the wireless connection once it receives confirmation/permission from the user. The prompt can be an audio prompt, a video prompt, a text prompt, an email, a text message, an alert, an announcement, a graphical prompt, a sound, an image, and/or a combination thereof. For example, the prompt can be an audible request to establish the wireless connection with the third device. 
     Alternatively, the system  100  can establish the wireless connection transparently, without prompting the user to enable/allow the wireless connection. Here, the system  100  can establish the wireless connection automatically when the third device is within a wireless range, when the system  100  detects a specific condition and/or behavior, when the system  100  detects a request from the third device, etc. For example, the system  100  can automatically establish the wireless connection when the second device attempts to send video frames to the system  100 . The system  100  can also establish the wireless connection based on an input, a schedule, a setting, a threshold, an error, a condition, a preconfigured preference, and so forth. For example, the system  100  can automatically establish the wireless connection if it detects that the video capabilities of the system  100  and/or a display device connected to the system  100  are below a threshold. 
     Next, the system  100  synchronizes the audio portion of the communication session and the video portion of the communication session to yield a synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session ( 604 ). To synchronize the audio and video portions of the communication session, the system  100  can set lip synchronization attributes on the video portion of the communication session with audio from the audio portion of the communication session. Then, the system  100  sends the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device ( 606 ). The system  100  sends the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session as part of the communication session between the system  100  and the second device. If the system  100  then receives video and audio frames associated with the communication session from the second device, the system  100  can check lip synchronization attributes on the video frames and, at a time that is based at least in part on the lip synchronization attributes, send the video frames to the third device to be decoded and displayed at the third device. This way, the third device can display the video frames from the second device, while the system  100  outputs corresponding audio frames from the second device, so that the video and audio frames are outputted in a synchronized manner. 
     The system  100  can also receive additional portions of the communication session from other devices in addition to the third device. For example, if the user of the system  100  wants to move to a location beyond the wireless range of the third device, or if the user simply wants to display the video of the communication session at a different display device, the user can do so by wirelessly connecting the system  100  to a fourth device with wireless capabilities. Here, the system  100  can receive a second portion of the communication session from the fourth device, synchronize the second video portion of the communication session and a corresponding audio portion of the communication session, and send the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device. The system  100  can wirelessly connect to the third and/or fourth device when the system  100  detects that the third and/or fourth device is/are within wireless range of the system  100 . The system  100  can also connect to other wireless devices to receive other video portions of the communication session, as the user moves to different locations or prompts the system  100  to establish a wireless connection to the other wireless devices, for example. 
     As the system  100  connects to other wireless devices, it can seamlessly add or transfer video for the communication session without having to transfer or reestablish the entire communication session. The following non-limiting example is illustrative. Bill, a manager who is away on a business trip, calls Andy, one of Bill&#39;s employees, on Andy&#39;s WIFI direct enabled smartphone. In this example, Bill calls Andy from a WIFI direct enabled smartphone that is connected to a WIFI direct video conferencing device, which is connected to a camera and a monitor. When Andy accepts the call, he is in the breakroom, which does not have a nearby WIFI direct video conferencing device. Accordingly, Andy is initially only able to participate in an audio call with Bill. However, while talking to Bill, Andy returns to his office, where he has a WIFI direct video conferencing device connected to his computer&#39;s monitor and webcam. When Andy enters his office, his smartphone detects the WIFI direct video conferencing device and presents Andy with an option to add video to the call through the WIFI direct video conferencing device. Andy then selects the option to add video, which prompts Andy&#39;s smartphone to establish a wireless connection to the WIFI direct video conferencing device and initialize video input and output. The WIFI direct video conferencing device adds the video to the call, without reestablishing or transferring the entire call. Moreover, the WIFI direct video conferencing device handles the video to and from Bill&#39;s smartphone, while Andy&#39;s smartphone handles the audio to and from Bill&#39;s smartphone. 
     Bill then decides that he wants to include Cindy and Earl in the call. Also, Andy decides that he wants to continue the conference with Cindy and Earl in a larger room equipped with a larger display device. Accordingly, Andy gathers Cindy and Earl and walks to the conference room, which has more space and a larger display device, while continuing to talk to Bill from the smartphone. Because Andy did not disable the video conferencing option on his smartphone, the smartphone utilizes WIFI direct to discover nearby WIFI direct video conferencing devices. As Andy walks into the conference room, his smartphone detects the WIFI direct video conferencing device in the conference room and automatically establishes a WIFI direct connection to the WIFI direct video conferencing device. The WIFI direct video conferencing device in the conference room then begins to handle the video to and from Bill&#39;s smartphone. The WIFI direct video conferencing device in the conference room sends the video captured from a local camera to Andy&#39;s smartphone, and then sends the video to Bill&#39;s smartphone. Moreover, the WIFI direct video conferencing device in the conference room can output the video from Bill&#39;s smartphone on a large display in the conference room, for all, Andy, Cindy, and Earl, to see. Andy can select a speakerphone option on his smartphone, to allow his smartphone to output the audio from Bill&#39;s smartphone through the speakers for Andy, Cindy, and Earl to hear. This way, Andy can transfer the video portion of a conference to a different device without transferring or reestablishing the entire call, while also continuing to participate in the audio portion of the conference. 
     Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also include tangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such tangible computer-readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, including the functional design of any special purpose processor as described above. By way of example, and not limitation, such tangible computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chip design. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media. 
     Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, objects, and the functions inherent in the design of special-purpose processors, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Various modifications and changes may be made to the principles described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.