Method and system for processing interactive communications

• US 20040249889A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David E. Drommond
• Original Assignee: David E. Drommond
• Inventors: Drommond, David E.
• Application Number:
  US10/859,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control

Abstract

A method for processing interactive communications in a meeting space shared by attending participants who are visually present with each other. The method includes the steps of providing electronic display devices to a plurality of participants, including individual video monitors on each display device, linking the electronic display devices for interactive processing of conference data among participants and a speaker, and monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data between the electronic display devices. The method may also include the step of activating a participant'"'"'s image on another participant'"'"'s display device, thus enabling interactive communication between at least two participants. Furthermore, the step of monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data may include assigning an electronic display device with presenter status, assigning communication priority to a specific electronic display device, or personalizing the display characteristics of the electronic display device to conform to preferences of an individual participant.

Claims

1. A method for processing interactive communications in a meeting space shared by attending participants who are visually present with each other, comprising the steps of:

a) providing electronic display devices to a plurality of participants, wherein the electronic display devices include individual audio and video monitors;

b) linking the electronic display devices for interactive processing of conference data among at least a portion of the plurality of participants and a speaker; and

c) monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data between the electronic display devices.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data includes assigning an electronic display device with presenter status.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data includes assigning communication priority to specific electronic display devices.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of providing electronic display devices to a plurality of participants includes personalizing display characteristics of the electronic display device to conform to preferences of an individual participant.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data includes sending viewable media to the electronic display devices.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring and modifying a flow of conference data includes tallying voting results from the electronic display devices.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a participant'"'"'s image on another participant'"'"'s electronic display device, thus enabling interactive communication between at least two participants.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling communication between discrete groups of participants within a larger group of participants.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein conference data includes audio and video originating from participant consoles.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein conference data includes audio and video originating from an outside video source.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the outside source is a DVD player.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the outside source is a VCR.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein the outside source is any computer generated information.

14. A system for processing interactive communications in a meeting space shared by attending participants who are visually present with each other for purposes of enhancing flow of information, comprising:

a) a plurality of participant consoles further comprising;

1) a housing;

2) a participant communication interface coupled to the housing, wherein the participant communication interface facilitates data transmission between the plurality of participant consoles;

3) a video screen electronically coupled to the participant communication interface;

4) a speaker electronically coupled to the participant communication interface;

5) a microphone electronically coupled to the participant communication interface; and

6) a camera electronically coupled to the participant communication interface;

b) a master equipment station configured to be functionally coupled to the plurality of participant consoles, further comprising;

1) a master equipment communication interface configured to be functionally coupled to the participant communication interfaces of the plurality of participant consoles;

2) a master controller configured to supply logic signals to devices within the master equipment station;

3) a master audio mixer electronically coupled to the master controller and to the master equipment communication interface, wherein the master audio mixer is configured to receive at least one audio input signal, wherein the master audio mixer selects one of the audio input signals as an audio output signal;

4) a master video switcher electronically coupled to the master controller and to the master equipment communication interface, wherein the master video switcher is configured to receive at least one video input signal, wherein the master video switcher selects one of the video input signals as a video output signal;

5) a switcher scaler electronically coupled to the master video switcher, the master audio mixer, the master controller, and configured to be electronically coupled to at least one video input device, wherein the switcher scaler is configured to receive at least one video input signal from the at least one video input device, and at least one video input signal from the master video switcher, wherein the switcher scaler converts one of the electronic video input signals into a video signal output;

6) a master video distribution amplifier electronically coupled to the switcher scaler and to the master equipment communication interface, wherein the master video distribution amplifier is configured to receive the video signal output from the switcher scaler and distribute the video signal output to the master communication interface; and

7) a master audio distribution amplifier electronically coupled to the switcher scaler and to the master equipment communication interface, wherein the master audio distribution amplifier is configured to receive an audio signal, wherein the master audio distribution amplifier distributes the audio signal to the master communication interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system includes at least one slave equipment station configured to be electronically coupled to the plurality of participant consoles and to the master equipment station, further comprising:

a) a slave equipment communication interface;

b) a slave controller configured to supply logic signals to devices within the slave equipment station;

c) a slave audio mixer electronically coupled to the slave controller and the slave equipment communication interface, wherein the slave audio mixer is configured to receive at least one audio input signal, wherein the slave audio mixer selects one of the audio input signals as an audio output signal;

d) a slave video switcher electronically coupled to the slave controller and the slave equipment communication interface wherein the slave video switcher is configured to receive at least one video input signal, wherein the video switcher selects one of the video input signals as a video output signal;

e) a slave video distribution amplifier electronically coupled to the slave equipment communication interface, wherein the slave video distribution amplifier is configured to receive a video signal and distribute the video signal to at least one video display device; and

f) a slave audio distribution amplifier electronically coupled to the slave equipment communication interface, wherein the slave audio distribution amplifier configured to receive an audio signal, wherein the slave audio distribution amplifier distributes the audio signal to at least one audio device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the audio input signals received by the master audio mixer is configured to originate from the audio output signal produced by the slave audio mixer.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the video input signals received by the master video switcher is configured to originate from the video output signal produced by the slave video switcher.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the video input signals received by the slave video distribution amplifier is configured to originate from the video output signal produced by the master video distribution amplifier.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the audio input signals received by the slave audio distribution amplifier is configured to originate from the audio output signal produced by the master audio distribution amplifier.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the system also includes an equipment cabinet configured to be electronically coupled to the master equipment station, further comprising;

a) an equipment cabinet communication interface; and

b) at least one video display device electronically coupled to the equipment cabinet communication interface;

21. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of participant consoles is designated as a control console.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control consol designation can change dynamically.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the switcher scaler receives the audio output signal from the master audio mixer and divides it into left and right audio output channel signals.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the master controller communicates with the peripheral devices by means of an RS232 port.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the slave controller communicates with the peripheral devices by means of an RS232 port.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the master equipment station includes a codec electronically coupled to the master video switcher, the master audio mixer, the master video distribution amplifier, the master controller, and to the master equipment communication interface, wherein the codec is configured to format an audio and a video signal preceding an electronic transmission of the audio and the video signal.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the system also includes a LAN connection electronically coupled to the participant communication interface.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the system also includes an IEEE 1394 port connection electronically coupled to the participant communication interface.

29. The system of claim 14, wherein the system also includes a wireless interface connection electronically coupled to the participant communication interface.

30. The system of claim 14, wherein the master equipment station includes a recording device, wherein the recording device is configured to store audio and video data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the recording device is electronically coupled to the master video distribution amplifier and to the master audio distribution amplifier

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the recording device is electronically coupled to the master switcher scaler.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the recording device is electronically coupled to the master video switcher and to the master audio mixer.

34. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of participant consoles further includes a touch panel interface coupled to the participant communication interface wherein the touch panel interface is configured to receive control commands from a user.

35. The system as in claim 14, further comprising a closeable cover coupled to the housing, wherein the closeable cover opens to expose the video screen.

36. The system as in claim 35, further comprising partitions coupled to the closeable cover and coupled to the housing such that the partitions expand as the closeable cover is opened.

37. The system as in claim 36, wherein the partitions form a waveguide when expanded to direct sound from the speaker to the user.

38. The system as in claim 35, further comprising a reflective surface coupled to the closeable cover, such that the video screen is viewable in the reflective surface by the user.

39. The system as in claim 38, wherein the camera is positioned such that the camera captures an image of a user'"'"'s reflection in the reflective surface.