Apparatus and method for a distributed conference bridge
First Claim
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1. A distributed conference bridge comprising:
- a bus, having a plurality of ports, for providing a signal received at one of said plurality of ports to all other of said plurality of ports; and
a plurality of interface modules, each for connecting to said bus via one of said plurality of ports, each having;
a line interface for receiving a participant voice signal and for providing a net conference voice signal;
a bus interface for providing said participant voice signal to said bus and for receiving, from said bus other participant voice signals; and
a signal bridging mechanism for generating said net conference voice signal from said other participant voice signals.
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for a distributed conference bridge having a plurality of interface modules, each with voice signal bridging capability, connected by a bus. The present invention reduces the voice signal bandwidth requirement for the bus and increases the reliability of the conference bridge compared to a centralized conference bridge. An embodiment with conference participants connected to a second bus reduces the bandwidth requirement between the buses compared to a centralized conference bridge with participants connected to an auxiliary chassis.
45 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A distributed conference bridge comprising:
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a bus, having a plurality of ports, for providing a signal received at one of said plurality of ports to all other of said plurality of ports; and
a plurality of interface modules, each for connecting to said bus via one of said plurality of ports, each having;
a line interface for receiving a participant voice signal and for providing a net conference voice signal;
a bus interface for providing said participant voice signal to said bus and for receiving, from said bus other participant voice signals; and
a signal bridging mechanism for generating said net conference voice signal from said other participant voice signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An interface nodule for use in a distributed conference bridge comprising a bus, having a plurality of ports, for providing a voice signal received at one of said plurality of ports to all other of said plurality of ports and a plurality of interface modules, according to said interface module and including said interface module, each for connecting to said bus via one of said plurality of ports, said interface module comprising:
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a line interface for receiving a participant voice signal and for providing a net conference voice signal;
a bus interface for providing said participant voice signal to said bus and for receiving from said bus other participant voice signals; and
a signal bridging mechanism for generating said net conference voice signal from said other participant voice signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for operation of a distributed conference bridge having a plurality of interface modules each receiving a voice signal from and providing a net conference signal to a participant from a plurality of conference call participants, for each of the interface modules the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving the voice signal from the participant;
b) providing, the voice signal to each of the others of the plurality of interface modules;
c) receiving a plurality of voice signals provided in step b) by the others of the plurality of interface modules;
d) summing together the voice signal and the plurality of voice signals to generate a total voice signal;
e) subtracting the voice signal from the total voice signal to generate a net conference signal; and
f) providing the net conference signal to the participant.
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12. A computer program product for operation of a distributed conference bridge having a plurality of interface modules each receiving a voice signal from and providing a net conference signal to a participant from a plurality of conference call participants, the computer program product comprising:
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computer readable program code devices for;
a) receiving, the voice signal from the participant;
b) providing the voice signal to each of the others of the plurality of interface modules;
c) receiving plurality of voice signals provided in step b) by the others of the plurality of interface modules;
d) summing together the voice signal and the plurality of voice signals to generate a total voice signal;
e) subtracting the voice signal from the total voice signal to generate a net conference signal; and
f) providing the net conference signal to the participant.
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13. A method for operation of a distributed conference bridge having a plurality of interface modules each receiving a voice signal from and providing a net conference signal to a participant from a plurality of conference call participants, for each of the interface modules the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving the voice signal from the participant;
b) providing the voice signal to each of the others of the plurality of interface modules;
c) receiving a plurality of voice signals provided in step b) by the others of the plurality of interface modules;
d) summing together the plurality of voice signals to generate a net voice signal; and
e) providing the net conference signal to the participant.
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14. A computer program product for operation of a distributed conference bridge having a plurality of interface modules each receiving a voice signal from and providing a net conference signal to a participant from a plurality of conference call participants, the computer program product comprising:
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computer readable program code devices for;
a) receiving the voice signal from the participant;
b) providing the voice signal to each of the others of the plurality of interface c) receiving a plurality of voice signals provided in step b) by the others of the plurality of interface modules;
d) summing together the plurality of voice signals to generate a net voice signal; and
e) providing the net conference signal to the participant.
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Specification