Conference endpoint controlling audio volume of a remote device

• US 20050213517A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (Plantronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey, Drell, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.

Claims

1. A conference endpoint for communicating with a separated conference endpoint, the conference endpoint comprising:

an audio processing unit;

a control module communicably coupled to the audio processing unit; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the control module;

wherein the control module is operable to transmit control data in combination with audio data to the separated conference endpoint; and

wherein the control data comprises a direction to adjust the volume of the audio sent by the separated conference endpoint.

2. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises a direction to increase the gain of the audio sent by the separated conference endpoint.

3. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises a direction to decrease the gain of the audio sent by the separated conference endpoint.

4. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the network interface sends and receives data according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data,.local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

5. The conference endpoint of claim 4, wherein the control data is embedded in the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

6. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

7. The conference endpoint of claim 1, wherein the separated conference endpoint comprises a conference bridge.

8. The conference endpoint of claim 1, further comprising:

a video processing unit communicably coupled to the network interface.

9. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of conference endpoints including a first conference endpoint and a second conference endpoint separately situated from the first conference endpoint; and

a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of conference endpoints including the first conference endpoint and the second conference endpoint;

wherein the first conference endpoint comprises a first control module operable to provide control data in combination with audio data to the second conference endpoint; and

wherein the control data comprises a direction to control the volume of the sound transmitted by the second conference endpoint.

10. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the second conference endpoint is remote from the first conference endpoint.

11. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the second conference endpoint comprises a second control module operable to provide control data in combination with audio data to the first conference endpoint.

12. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the control data comprises a direction to increase the gain of the audio sent by the second conference endpoint.

13. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the control data comprises a direction to decrease the gain of the audio sent by the second conference endpoint.

14. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the communication protocol is selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

15. The conferencing system of claim 14, wherein the control data is embedded in the audio data and wherein the control data is substantially humanly inaudible.

16. The conferencing system of claim 9, wherein the first conference endpoint is selected from the group consisting of a computer with a microphone and speaker, an audio communication device without the first control module combined with a separate control module, a speakerphone, an IP phone, a video conferencing unit, and a conference bridge.

17. A method for controlling volume of one or more remote endpoints during a conference, the method comprising the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to the one or more remote endpoints; and

controlling the volume of the one or more remote endpoints based on the control signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for controlling volume of one or more remote endpoints during a conference by performing the steps of:

combining an audio signal and a control signal;

sending the combined audio and control signal to the one or more remote endpoints; and

controlling the volume of the one or more remote endpoints based on the control signal.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the combined audio and control signal is sent according to a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of IP, modem data, local serial digital input/output, ISDN, and analog.