Patent ID: 8164618

Claim:
A method for generating a video output signal, comprising the steps of: (A) receiving input video signals from a plurality of locations, each of said input video signals having a plurality of input frames, each of said input frames having a source slice carrying an image, each of said input frames being encoded using a reference frame at an encoding time; and (B) generating said video output signal for transmission to said locations, said video output signal comprising a plurality of output frames, wherein (i) a first of said output frames has at least a first slice having (a) a first coded portion carrying said image from a first of said locations and (b) a first unencoded portion for said image from a second of said locations, (ii) a second of said output frames has at least a second slice having (a) a second coded portion carrying said image from said second location and (b) a second unencoded portion for said image from said first location and (iii) said output frames of said video output signal are generated as soon as one of said input frames of said input video signals is received.