Conference bridge which transfers control information embedded in audio information between endpoints

• US 20050213726A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polycom Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodman, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/080,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• 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 bridge for multipoint conferencing among a plurality of endpoints via one or more networks, the bridge comprising:

a network interface for exchanging audio data with the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially humanly inaudible;

an audio unit coupled to said network interface, said audio unit receiving audio data, mixing the received audio data, and transmitting the mixed audio data;

a control data extraction module coupled to said network interface to extract the control data from the audio data; and

a control data inclusion module coupled to said network interface and coupled to said control data extraction module to embed control data into audio data,

wherein said control data extraction module and said control data inclusion module operate without decoding or encoding the control data.

2. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein two endpoints are providing audio data containing embedded control data, and

wherein said control data extraction module extracts control data from each audio data and said control data inclusion module embeds the control data into each audio data.

3. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein said control data inclusion module embeds the control data in the audio data destined for selected of the plurality of endpoints.

4. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein said control data extraction module and said control data inclusion module are coupled to said audio unit and to said control data extraction module, and wherein said control data inclusion module and said audio unit cooperate to allow the plurality of endpoints to operate in a master and slave mode.

5. The conference bridge of claim 1, wherein said network interface is configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

6. The conference bridge of claim 5, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.

7. A conferencing system comprising:

a plurality of endpoints for exchanging audio data, at least one of said plurality of endpoints embedding control data in the audio data;

one or more networks providing communication capability for said plurality of endpoints; and

a conference bridge for multipoint conferencing, said bridge including;

a network interface for exchanging audio data with the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially humanly inaudible;

an audio unit coupled to said network interface, said audio unit receiving audio data, mixing the received audio data, and transmitting the mixed audio data;

a control data extraction module coupled to said network interface to extract the control data from the audio data; and

a control data inclusion module coupled to said network interface and said control data extraction module to embed control data into audio data,

wherein said control data extraction module and said control data inclusion module operate without decoding or encoding the control data.

8. The conferencing system of claim 7, wherein two endpoints are providing audio data containing embedded control data, and

wherein said control data extraction module extracts control data from each audio data and said control data inclusion module embeds the control data into each audio data.

9. The conferencing system of claim 7, wherein said control data inclusion module embeds the control data in the audio data for selected of the plurality of endpoints.

10. The conferencing system of claim 7, wherein said control data extraction module and said control data inclusion module are coupled to said audio unit and said control data extraction module, said control data inclusion module and said audio unit cooperate to allow the plurality of endpoints to operate in a master and slave mode.

11. The conferencing system of claim 7, wherein said network interface is configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

12. The conferencing system of claim 11, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.

13. A method for multipoint conferencing among a plurality of endpoints connected to a multipoint conference bridge via one or more networks, the method comprising the steps of:

exchanging audio data between the bridge and the plurality of endpoints, at least one endpoint providing audio data containing embedded control data, the control data being substantially inaudible;

receiving audio data;

mixing the received audio data;

transmitting the mixed audio data;

extracting the control data from the audio data; and

embedding control data into audio data,

wherein the step of extracting and the step of embedding are performed without decoding or encoding the control data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein two endpoints are providing audio data containing embedded control data, and

wherein said control data extraction module extracts control data from each audio data and said control data inclusion module embeds the control data into each audio data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said control data inclusion module embeds the control data in the audio data for selected of the plurality of endpoints.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said control data extraction module and said control data inclusion module are coupled to said audio unit and said control data extraction module, said control data inclusion module and said audio unit cooperate to allow the plurality of endpoints to operate in a master and slave mode.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said network interface is configured to work with one or both of an IP network or a PSTN.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if the network interface is configured to work with the PSTN, then audio data and control data are provided according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of modem data, ISDN, and analog.