Conferencing system with integrated audio driver and network interface device

• US 20040012669A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Drell, David, Washington, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/70 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A conferencing system with improved audio response, interface, and audio source tracking capabilities includes a low-profile base unit capable of capturing and processing audio and video information and of interfacing with other external devices, and a separate network interface device coupled to the low-profile base unit and capable of connecting to a network, producing audible sound, regulating power, and housing removable interface circuitry.

Claims

1. A conferencing system, comprising:

an interface device including

a network interface configured to couple to a network and to receive a remote audio signal and a remote video signal from at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network, and to transmit an audio or a video signal to the at least one remote endpoint through the network; and

a first audio driver configured to reproduce at least a portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal;

a base unit configured to be electrically coupled to the interface device

and including

at least one image capture device configured to capture a local image for conversion to a local video signal;

an audio-out port configured to transmit an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device; and

a video out-port configured to transmit a video-out signal to a display monitor; and

a processor configured to process the local and remote video signals into a processed video signal and at least the remote audio signal into a processed audio signal.

2. The videoconferencing system of claim 1, wherein the interface device further includes a housing configured to house a removable network interface circuit.

3. A conferencing system, comprising:

an interface device including

a network interface configured to couple to a network and to receive a remote audio signal and a remote video signal from at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network, and to transmit an audio or video signal to the at least one remote endpoint through the network;

a first audio driver configured to reproduce at least a portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal;

a power supply configured to regulate power for the system; and

a housing configured to house a removable network interface circuit;

a base unit configured to physically interface with a display monitor and to be electrically coupled to the interface device, the base unit including

at least one audio capture device configured to capture local audio information for conversion to a local audio signal;

at least one image capture device configured to capture a local image for conversion to a local video signal;

interface circuitry having at least a microphone array interface configured to receive audio signals from one or more microphone arrays;

an audio-out port configured to transmit an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device; and

a video-out port configured to transmit a video-out signal to the display monitor; and

a processor configured to process the local and remote audio and video signals.

4. The conferencing system of claim 3 wherein the base unit further includes a transceiver configured to exchange information with a peripheral device or network utilizing wireless communication technology.

5. The conferencing system of claim 3 wherein the removable network interface circuit effects communication between the system and a peripheral device through a peripheral link from the interface device to the interface circuitry of the base unit.

6. The conferencing system of claim 5 wherein the communication between the system and the peripheral device utilizes wireless communication technology.

7. The conferencing system of claim 3 wherein the removable network interface circuit effects communication between the system and the at least one remote endpoint via digital network transmission technology.

8. The conferencing system of claim 3, wherein the base unit further includes a second audio driver for reproducing at least a portion of the audio information represented by the remote audio signal.

9. The conferencing system of claim 8, wherein audio information is reproduced by the first and second audio drivers in a manner causing a conference participant to direct visual attention to the base unit.

10. The conferencing system of claim 3, wherein a frequency response of the first audio driver includes a frequency of approximately 80 Hertz.

11. The conferencing system of claim 3, further comprising:

a first microphone array electrically coupled to the base unit and configured to physically interface with the display monitor in a substantially horizontal position, the first microphone array including a plurality of microphones for capturing local audio from an audio source; and

a second microphone array electrically coupled to the base unit and configured to physically interface with the display monitor in a substantially vertical position, the second microphone array including a plurality of microphones for capturing local audio from the audio source.

12. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein a position of the audio source is utilized to control the at least one image capture device to capture an image of the audio source.

13. The conferencing system of claim 3, the interface circuitry having an image capture interface configured to receive an image signal from an external image device.

14. The conferencing system of claim 3, the interface circuitry having an interface configured to receive a system control signal from an external device utilizing light to transmit the signal.

15. A conferencing system with a low-profile base unit comprising:

the base unit, including

at least one audio capture device configured to capture local audio information for conversion to a local audio signal;

an audio-out port configured to transmit an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device;

at least one image capture device configured to capture a local image for conversion to a local video signal;

a video-out port configured to transmit a video-out signal to at least a display monitor;

a processor configured to process the local audio and video signals and remote audio and video signals from at least one remote endpoint; and

a network interface configured to couple to a network and to receive the remote audio and video signals from the at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network, and to transmit a processed audio and video signal to the at least one remote endpoint through the network; and

a subwoofer including a first audio driver configured to present a portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal from the at least one remote endpoint.

16. A conferencing system comprising:

a base unit including

at least one audio capture device configured to capture local audio information for conversion to a local audio signal;

an audio-out port configured to transmit an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device; and

a processor configured to process at least a remote audio signal from at least one remote endpoint;

a network interface configured to couple to a network and to receive at least the remote audio signal from the at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network, and to transmit at least a processed audio signal to the at least one remote endpoint through the network; and

a subwoofer including a first audio driver configured to present at least a portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal from the at least one remote endpoint, the first audio driver being capable of reproducing audio information including a frequency of approximately 80 Hertz.

17. A conferencing system component for use with an audio/video capture component, comprising:

a network interface-configured to couple to a network and to receive a remote audio or video signal from at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network, and to transmit a processed audio or video signal to the at least one remote endpoint through the network;

a first audio driver configured to present at least a portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal;

a power supply configured to regulate power for the system; and

a housing configured to house a removable network interface circuit.

18. A method of providing extended frequency response for a conferencing system, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one audio capture device configured to capture local audio information for conversion to a local audio signal;

providing an audio-out port configured to transmit an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device;

providing at least one image capture device configured to capture a local image for conversion to a local video signal;

providing a video-out port configured to transmit a video-out signal to at least a display monitor;

providing a processor configured to process the local audio and video signals and remote audio and video signals from at least one remote endpoint;

providing a network interface configured to couple to a network and to receive the remote audio and video signals from the at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network and to transmit the processed local audio and video signals to the at least one remote endpoint through the network;

providing a subwoofer including a first audio driver configured to present a first portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal, the first audio driver being capable of reproducing audio information including a frequency of approximately 80 Hertz; and

providing a second audio driver configured to present a second portion of the audio information represented by the remote audio signal.

19. A system for providing conferencing capability, the system comprising:

means for capturing local audio information for conversion to a local audio signal;

means for transmitting an audio-out signal to an audio reproduction device;

means for capturing a local image for conversion to a local video signal;

means for transmitting a video-out signal to at least a display monitor;

means for connecting to a network;

means for receiving a remote audio and a remote video signal from at least one remote endpoint coupled through the network;

means for processing the local audio and video signals and the remote audio and video signals;

means for transmitting the processed local audio and video signals to at least one remote endpoint through the network;

means for presenting a first portion of any audio information represented by the remote audio signal, the means being capable of reproducing audio information including a frequency of approximately 80 Hertz; and

means for presenting a second portion of the audio information represented by the remote audio signal.