Speakerphone and conference bridge which receive and provide participant monitoring information
First Claim
1. A speakerphone for communicating with one or more endpoints in a conference call via a conference bridge, the speakerphone 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 receive control data in combination with audio data from the conference bridge; and
wherein the control data comprises information regarding the endpoints currently participating in the conference call.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A speakerphone for communicating with one or more endpoints in a conference call via a conference bridge, the speakerphone comprising:
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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 receive control data in combination with audio data from the conference bridge; and
wherein the control data comprises information regarding the endpoints currently participating in the conference call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multipoint conferencing system comprising:
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a speakerphone; and
a multipoint conference bridge;
a plurality of remote conference endpoints; and
a communication channel having a communication protocol coupling the plurality of remote conference endpoints and the speakerphone;
wherein the speakerphone comprises a control module operable to receive control data in combination with audio data from the bridge; and
wherein the control data comprises information regarding the endpoints currently participating in the conference call. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A conference bridge for multipoint conferencing among a plurality of endpoints via one or more networks, the bridge comprising:
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a network interface for sending and receiving audio data to and from the plurality of endpoints;
an audio unit coupled to the network interface for mixing audio data and transmitting the mixed audio data; and
a control unit coupled to the network interface for combining control data with audio data;
wherein the control data comprises information regarding the endpoints currently participating in a conference call; and
wherein the bridge sends the control data in combination with the audio data to one or more of the plurality of endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for monitoring a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference call, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a control signal in combination with an audio signal, wherein the control signal comprises information regarding the endpoints currently participating in a conference call; and
extracting the control signal from the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for monitoring a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference call by performing the steps of:
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receiving a control signal in combination with an audio signal, wherein the control signal comprises a current total number of endpoints participating in a conference call; and
extracting the control signal from the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification