Techniques for managing visual compositions for a multimedia conference call

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying a video based on a resource constraint are described. The systems and methods include determining resource constraints of a client terminal for displaying a video, wherein the video is associated with a first plurality of video layers, and identifying a second plurality of video layers selected from the first plurality of video layers based on the determined resource constraints. The systems and methods also include sending a request for the video, wherein the request comprises the identification of the second plurality of video layers, and receiving the requested video, wherein the requested video comprises the second plurality of video layers.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying a video based on a resource constraint, the method comprising:
 determining resource constraints of a client terminal for displaying a video, wherein the video is associated with a first plurality of video layers;   identifying a second plurality of video layers selected from the first plurality of video layers based on the determined resource constraints;   sending a request for the video, wherein the request comprises the identification of the second plurality of video layers; and   receiving the requested video, wherein the requested video comprises the second plurality of video layers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein the plurality of display objects are each associated with a resource constraint; and
 the method further comprises allocating resources to each of the display objects based on their corresponding resource constraints, wherein the totality of the resources allocated to the display objects is less than or equal to a combination of the resource constraints.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 displaying the video within a display frame displayable by the client terminal, wherein the display frame is based on a resource constraint selected from the resource constraints associated with the plurality of display objects.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of display objects comprises:
 a first display object having a first size; and   a second display object having a second size, wherein the second size is less than the first size; and   the resource allocated to the second display object is less than the resource allocated to the first display object.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second plurality of video layers comprises:
 a first layer associated with a first predetermined video resolution; and 
 a second layer associated with a second predetermined video resolution, the second predetermined video resolution being greater than the first predetermined video resolution; and 
   the method further comprises:   selectively decoding the first layer and the second layer to display the video at the second predetermined video resolution on the client terminal.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a visual composition profile associated with the client terminal, the visual composition profile comprising a first plurality of visual composition parameter values that define visual composition parameters for displaying the video on the client terminal; and   encoding the video for display by the client terminal based on the selected visual composition profile.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the visual composition profile comprises a second plurality of visual composition values that define default visual composition parameters for displaying the video on the client terminal; and   the method further comprises:
 receiving a user selection of a visual composition parameter value for the first plurality of composition parameter values. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of claim of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for the second plurality of video layers;   multiplexing the second plurality of video layers into the video for sending to the client terminal, wherein the multiplexed second plurality of video layers comprise entry points that delineate each layer of the second plurality of video layers; and   sending the requested video to the client terminal.   
     
     
         9 . A system for displaying a video based on a resource constraint, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable storage devices having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure a system to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
 determining resource constraints of a client terminal for displaying a video, wherein the video is associated with a first plurality of video layers; 
 identifying a second plurality of video layers selected from the first plurality of video layers based on the determined resource constraints; 
 sending a request for the video, wherein the request comprises the identification of the second plurality of video layers; and 
 receiving the requested video, wherein the requested video comprises the second plurality of video layers. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the video comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein the plurality of display objects are each associated with a resource constraint; and
 the plurality of operations further comprises allocating resources to each of the display objects based on their corresponding resource constraints, wherein the totality of the resources allocated to the display objects is less than or equal to a combination of the resource constraints.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 displaying the video within a display frame displayable by the client terminal, wherein the display frame is based on a resource constraint selected from the resource constraints associated with the plurality of display objects.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of display objects comprises:
 a first display object having a first size; and   a second display object having a second size, wherein the second size is less than the first size; and   the resource allocated to the second display object is less than the resource allocated to the first display object.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the second plurality of video layers comprises:
 a first layer associated with a first predetermined video resolution; and 
 a second layer associated with a second predetermined video resolution, the second predetermined video resolution being greater than the first predetermined video resolution; and 
   the plurality of operations further comprises:   selectively decoding the first layer and the second layer to display the video at the second predetermined video resolution on the client terminal.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 selecting a visual composition profile associated with the client terminal, the visual composition profile comprising a first plurality of visual composition parameter values that define visual composition parameters for displaying the video on the client terminal; and   encoding the video for display by the client terminal based on the selected visual composition profile.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the visual composition profile comprises a second plurality of visual composition values that define default visual composition parameters for displaying the video on the client terminal; and   the plurality of operations further comprises:
 receiving a user selection of a visual composition parameter value for the first plurality of composition parameter values. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of claim of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 receiving a request for the second plurality of video layers;   multiplexing the second plurality of video layers into the video for sending to the client terminal, wherein the multiplexed second plurality of video layers comprise entry points that delineate each layer of the second plurality of video layers; and   sending the requested video to the client terminal.   
     
     
         17 . A system for displaying a video based on a resource constraint, the system comprising:
 means for determining resource constraints of a client terminal for displaying a video, wherein the video is associated with a first plurality of video layers;   means for identifying a second plurality of video layers selected from the first plurality of video layers based on the determined resource constraints;   means for sending a request for the video, wherein the request comprises the identification of the second plurality of video layers; and   means for receiving the requested video, wherein the requested video comprises the second plurality of video layers.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the video comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein the plurality of display objects are each associated with a resource constraint; and
 the system further comprises means for allocating resources to each of the display objects based on their corresponding resource constraints, wherein the totality of the resources allocated to the display objects is less than or equal to a combination of the resource constraints.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the system further comprises:
 means for displaying the video within a display frame displayable by the client terminal, wherein the display frame is based on a resource constraint selected from the resource constraints associated with the plurality of display objects.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of display objects comprises:
 a first display object having a first size; and   a second display object having a second size, wherein the second size is less than the first size, and   the resource allocated to the second display object is less than the resource allocated to the first display object.