Converged conferencing appliance and methods for concurrent voice and data conferencing sessions over networks

• US 20040034723A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azurn America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Azurn America Incorporated
• Inventors: Giroti, Sudhir K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A converged conferencing appliance having at least one voice port and one data port for managing multi-device conferences allowing multiple participants to concurrently connect diverse devices over public switched, mobile, IP, wireless local or wide area, personal networks, and cable or fixed wireless networks. Each of the ports can be connected to an individual, respective device and all of the ports can be configured for simultaneous operation. In addition to the voice and data ports, at least one broadband port and at least one wireless port can be provided in the appliance. A mechanism is also provided to synchronize multi-modal communications and conferences among a number of users. Participants may participate in integrated voice, data and video conferences by simultaneously connecting from one or more devices such as traditional phones, mobile phones, voice and data capable smart phones, computers, VoIP devices, wireless devices and other intelligent handheld devices.

Claims

1. A data converging appliance, comprising:

a) a first data input/output (I/O) port for receiving and transmitting data of a first data type to and from a first device having a first device type and being adapted to send and receive data of said first data type, said first device being operably connected to said first I/O port;

b) a second data (I/O) port for receiving and transmitting data of a second data type to and from a second device having a second device type and being adapted to send and receive data of said second data type, said second device being operably connected to said second I/O port;

c) a third data (I/O) port for receiving and transmitting data of at least one of said first data type and said second data type to and from a third device adapted to send and receive data of at least one of said first data type and said second data type, said third device being operably connected to said third I/O port; and

d) means for formatting data disposed between at least two of said first, second, and third I/O ports for formatting data from at least one of said first, second and third devices into a form compatible with at least one other of said first, second, and third devices;

at least two of said first, second, and third devices being used substantially simultaneously by a single user for concurrently sending and receiving data of said first and second data types on at least two respective ones of said first, second, and third devices.

2. The data converging appliance in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one broadband port for facilitating communications with broadband devices and residential gateways.

3. The data converging appliance in accordance with claims 2, further comprising at least one wireless port for facilitating communications with wireless devices.

4. An apparatus for facilitating coordinated, concurrent, multi-modal conferences, comprising an appliance comprising at least one voice port and at least one data port, each of said ports being connectable to an individual device and all of said ports configurable for substantially simultaneous operation.

5. The apparatus for facilitating coordinated, concurrent multi-media conferences in accordance with claim 4, further comprising means for managing multi-modal communications in a conference environment for a plurality of users electronically connected to said apparatus.

6. The apparatus for facilitating coordinated, concurrent multi-media conferences in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for managing comprises means for synchronizing said multi-modal communications for at least one of said plurality of users.