Telecommunications and conference calling device, system and method

• US 20030112947A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Emblaze-VCON Ltd. (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alon
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/569 using the instant speaker's algorithm speech detection per se G10L25/78

Abstract

A communications system and method, which may be used, for example, within a conferencing communication system, is provided. A plurality of communicators may transmit, via a network, audio streams bound from any other communicator. A server receives from the plurality of communicators a plurality of incoming streams and for each communicator transmits any mixed combination of the incoming streams. The system also may control any of the mixers to independently control a volume level of any of the incoming streams being mixed at any of the mixers to create the required mixed combination of the incoming streams. Various conference call features may be effected using such mix capacities.

Claims

1. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller operative to;

receive a set of incoming audio streams and output a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each stream having a variable mix level within each combination, each combination being output to a communications device; and

receive a signal associated with any of the plurality of communications devices and in response, for any of the combinations, control a mix level for each of one or more streams within that combination.

2. A server according to claim 1, wherein, upon the receipt of said signal associated with a communications device, the controller is operative to control a mix level of a subset of said streams which are relevant to said communications device.

3. A server according to claim 1 wherein the controller is operative to, on the receipt of a signal associated with a communications device, set a first set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a first volume level and set a second set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a second volume level.

4. A server according to claim 3 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from the communications device.

5. A server according to claim 3 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from a terminal associated with the communications device.

6. A server according to claim 1 wherein said controller is operative to receive a moderator signal and, in response, alter, for at least a set of communications devices, a volume level of a set of said incoming streams which are output to said set of communications devices.

7. A server according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to prevent a set of said communications devices from receiving an in-band audio signaling tone sent by one of said communications devices.

8. A server according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to accept a signal from a user and, in response, adjust the volume level of one incoming stream sent to the communications device associated with that user.

9. The server of claim 1, wherein the server is part of a telecommunications system.

10. A server according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to prevent any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said communications devices.

11. The server of claim 1, comprising a plurality of mixers.

12. The server of claim 1, wherein each stream has a variable mix level across combinations.

13. The server of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to set a mix level for a stream to zero volume.

14. The server of claim 1, wherein said controller is in communication with a terminal associated with a communicator, said terminal outputting a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including mix data, and wherein said received signal is generated by the terminal in response to a user alteration of the graphical user interface.

15. A server according to claim 1 wherein said controller is operative to receive a signal and, in response, alter, for at least a set of communications devices, a volume level of a set of said incoming streams which are output to said set of communications devices

16. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller operative to;

receive a set of incoming audio streams and output a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each stream having a variable mix level within each combination, each combination being output to a communications device; and

upon the receipt of a signal from a terminal associated with a communications device, to control a mix level of a subset of said streams which are relevant to said communications device.

17. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller means for;

receiving a plurality of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each stream having a variable mix level within each combination, each combination being output to a communications device; and

receiving a signal associated with a communications device and in response, for any of the combinations, controlling a mix level for each of one or more streams within that combination.

18. A method for allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the method comprising:

receiving a set of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each stream having a variable mix level within each combination, each combination being output to a communications device; and

receiving a signal associated with any of the plurality of communications devices and in response, for any of the combinations, controlling a mix level for each of one or more streams within that combination.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising, upon the receipt of said signal associated with a communications device, controlling a mix level of a subset of said streams which are relevant to said communications device.

20. A method according to claim 18 comprising receiving a signal associated with a communications device, and in response setting a first set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a first volume level and setting a second set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a second volume level.

21. A method according to claim 18 comprising receiving said signal associated with a communications from the communications device.

22. A method according to claim 18 comprising receiving said signal associated with a communications from a terminal associated with the communications device.

23. A method according to claim 18 comprising receiving a moderator signal and, in response, altering, for at least a set of communications devices, a volume level of a set of said incoming streams which are output to said set of communications devices.

24. A method according to claim 18, comprising preventing a set of said communications devices from receiving an in-band audio signaling tone sent by one of said communications devices.

25. A method according to claim 18, comprising accepting a signal from a user and, in response, adjusting the volume level of one incoming stream sent to the communications device associated with that user.

26. A method according to claim 18, comprising preventing any of said incoming streams from being received by a first of said communications devices.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein each stream has a variable mix level across combinations.

28. The method of claim 18, comprising setting a mix level for a stream at zero volume.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein said received signal is generated by a terminal outputting a graphical user interface and associated with a communicator, the graphical user interface including mix data, this signal sent in response to a user alteration of the graphical user interface.

30. The method of claim 18, comprising receiving a signal and, in response, altering, for at least a set of communications devices, a volume level of a set of said incoming streams which are output to said set of communications devices.

31. A method for allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each stream having a variable mix level within each combination, each combination being output to a communications device; and

upon the receipt of a signal from a terminal associated with a communications device, altering a mix level of a subset of said streams which are relevant to said communications device.

32. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller operative to;

connect a first communications device with a first set of communications devices via a conference call; and

cause the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session, during the conference call, with a second communications device not among the first set of communications devices.

33. The server of claim 32, wherein the controller is operative to prevent the second communications device from receiving communications from the first set of communications devices.

34. The server of claim 32, wherein the controller is operative to prevent the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the second communications device.

35. The server of claim 32, wherein the controller is operative to prevent the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the first communications device and prevent the first set of communication devices from receiving communication from the second communication device and prevent the second communication device from receiving communications from the first set of communication devices.

36. The server of claim 32, wherein the controller is operative to prevent the first set of communications devices and first communication device from outputting to the second communication device.

37. The server of claim 32, comprising a plurality of mixers, each mixer associated with a communications device.

38. A server according to claim 32 wherein the controller is operative to receive a signal associated with a communications device, and in response set a first set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a first volume level and set a second set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a second volume level.

39. A server according to claim 32, comprising a plurality of mixers.

40. A server according to claim 32 wherein the controller is operative to receive a telecommunications session request from the second communications device and in response to cause the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session with a second communications device.

41. A server according to claim 32 wherein the request is a received telephone call.

42. A server according to claim 32 wherein the request includes a code identifying the first communications device.

43. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller operative to;

connect a first communications device with a first set of communications devices;

cause the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session with a second communications device not among the first set of communications devices; and

prevent the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the second communications device.

44. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller means for;

connecting a first communications device with a first set of communications devices via a conference call; and

causing the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session, during the conference call, with a second communications device not among the first set of communications devices.

45. A method of managing a conference call among a plurality of communications devices, the method comprising:

connecting a first communications device with a first set of communications devices via a conference call; and

causing the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session, during the conference call, with a second communications device not among the first set of communications devices.

46. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the second communications device from receiving communications from the first set of communications devices.

47. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the first communications device and preventing the first set of communication devices from receiving communication from the second communication device and preventing the second communication device from receiving communications from the first set of communication devices.

48. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the first set of communications devices and first communication device from outputting to the second communication device.

49. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the second communications device.

50. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the first communications device.

51. The method of claim 45, comprising preventing the first set of communications devices from outputting the telecommunications session.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein connecting via a conference call comprises assigning a mixer to each communications device.

53. A method according to claim 45 comprising receiving a signal associated with a communications device, and in response setting a first set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a first volume level and setting a second set of incoming streams which are output to said communications device to a second volume level.

54. The method of claim 45, comprising causing the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session with a second communications device in response to a telecommunications session request received from the second communications device.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the request is a received telephone call.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein the request includes a code identifying the first communications device.

57. A method of managing a conference call among a plurality of communications devices, the method comprising:

connecting a first communications device with a first set of communications devices;

causing the first communications device to participate in a telecommunications session with a second communications device not among the first set of communications devices;

preventing the second communications device from receiving communications from the first set of communications devices; and

preventing the first set of communications devices from receiving communications from the second communications device.

58. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller operative to;

receive a set of incoming audio streams and output a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each combination being output to a communications device; and

for each of a set of communications devices, receive an auxiliary audio stream and add the audio stream to the combination for that communications device.

59. The server of claim 58, comprising a set of mixers, each mixer associable with a communications device.

60. The server of claim 58, wherein each mixer includes at least an auxiliary audio input.

61. The server of claim 58, wherein the auxiliary audio stream is not received from a communications device.

62. The server of claim 58, wherein the auxiliary audio stream is pre-recorded.

63. The server of claim 58 wherein said auxiliary audio stream includes a continuous stream input received from a location external to the server.

64. A server according to claim 58 wherein the controller is operative to pause the transmission of the auxiliary audio stream.

65. The server of claim 58, wherein the controller is operative to receive a signal associated with a communications device and, in response, to alter the volume level of the auxiliary audio stream sent in the combination for the communications device.

66. A server according to claim 65 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from the communications device.

67. A server according to claim 65 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from a terminal associated with the communications device.

68. The server of claim 58, wherein the controller is operative to receive a signal associated with a communications device and, in response, to alter the play speed of the auxiliary audio stream.

69. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a controller means for;

receiving a set of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each combination being output to a communications device; and

for each of a set of communications devices, receiving an auxiliary audio stream and adding the audio stream to the combination for that communications device.

70. A conference call server allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the server comprising:

a set of mixers, each mixer associable with a communications device, wherein each mixer includes at least an auxiliary audio input; and

a controller operative to;

receive a set of incoming audio streams and output a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each combination being output to a communications device; and

for each of a set of communications devices, receive an auxiliary audio stream and add the audio stream to the combination for that communications device.

71. A method for allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the method comprising:

receiving a set of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each combination being output to a communications device; and

for each of a set of the communications devices, accepting an auxiliary audio stream and adding the auxiliary audio stream to the combination for that communications device.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein each communications device is associated with a mixer.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the auxiliary audio stream is not received from a communications device.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the auxiliary audio stream is pre-recorded.

75. The method of claim 71 wherein said auxiliary audio stream includes a continuous stream input received from a location external to the server.

76. A method according to claim 71 wherein the controller is operative to pause the transmission of the auxiliary audio stream.

77. The method of claim 71, comprising receiving a signal associated with a communications device and, in response, altering the volume level of the auxiliary audio stream sent in the combination for the communications device.

78. A method according to claim 77 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from the communications device.

79. A method according to claim 77 wherein said signal associated with a communications device is received from a terminal associated with the communications device.

80. The method of claim 71, comprising receiving a signal associated with a communications device and, in response, altering the play speed of the auxiliary audio stream.

81. A method for allowing a plurality of communications devices to communicate, the method comprising:

receiving a set of incoming audio streams and outputting a plurality of combinations of said incoming streams, each combination being output to a communications device, each communications device being associated with a mixer; and

for each of a set of the communications devices, accepting a pre-recorded auxiliary audio stream and adding the auxiliary audio stream to the combination for that communications device.