Multi-Stream Video Conferencing Over a Peer-to-Peer Network

Video conferencing is becoming an increasingly desirable alternatieve to face-to-face meetings. Many companies and organizations have multiple locations, and their employees' communication options are typically limited to audio-only conference calls. These are often ineffective because of the limited level of interaction between the participants. Video conferncing is seen as a promising alternative to increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by mitigating the need for travel. However, current video conferencing solutions are either too expensive, require dedicated equipment and infrastructure, or are too cumbersome to implement on an individual location basis for widespread use. Low cost solutions usually provide neither the desired level of interaction nor the consistent quality needed for corporate communications. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid video conferencing architecture that incorporates peer-to-peer communication functions for media distribution. In addition, new concepts, such as novel video cameras, cordless camera adaptors, a two-sided display, and a device that provides bidirectional remote presence are presented to enhance the experience for the remote participants. The proposed solution aims to significantly improve collaboration across sites, thus enhancing remote workplace effectiveness through low cost video conferencing, reducing the need for travel, and serving as an important enabler for ecosustainability.