Systems and methods of video forwarding with adaptive video transcoding capabilities

Techniques for providing selective video forwarding in real-time video applications involving multiple user devices. The techniques can be employed in WebRTC videoconferences, taking into account the heterogeneous natures of device display resolutions and networks in which the respective devices operate. The techniques employ a selective forwarding unit (SFU) having a real-time adaptive video transcoder. The SFU determines whether a benefit to quality of experience (QoE) can be achieved by performing, in real-time, adaptive video transcoding on large video streams produced by the respective devices. If a heterogeneity value associated with available network bandwidths is greater than a predetermined value and sufficient CPU/memory resources are available, then the real-time adaptive video transcoder performs, in real-time, adaptive video transcoding on the large video streams to produce corresponding small video streams, which are selectively forwarded to user devices having low available network bandwidths.