Mixed mode conferencing

• US 20050232166A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Nierhaus, Florian Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A conferencing system integrates multiple conference types into a mixed mode conference. The mixed mode conference may integrate text messaging (such as instant messaging) conferences, voice conferences, and other types of conferences. The conferencing system may enhance communication possibilities by allowing individuals that cannot participate in one type of conference to nevertheless communicate with others engaged in that type of conference.

Claims

1. A conferencing method comprising:

receiving first conference-endpoint data for a first conference type from a first endpoint;

reading a conference type identifier from a memory, the conference type identifier specifying a second conference type for a second endpoint participating in a conference with the first endpoint;

selecting a conversion program based on the second conference type;

initiating execution of the conversion program on the first conference-endpoint data to prepare converted first conference-endpoint data compatible with the second conference type from the first conference-endpoint data; and

transmitting the converted first conference-endpoint data to the second endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first conference type is a text messaging conference, and where the second conference type is a voice conference.

3. The method of claim 1, where the act of initiating execution of the conversion program comprises initiating execution of a text-to-speech translator.

4. The method of claim 1, where the act of initiating execution of the conversion program comprises initiating execution of a speech-to-text translator.

5. The method of claim 1, where the act of transmitting comprises transmitting the converted first conference-endpoint data and a first endpoint identifier to the second endpoint.

6. The method of claim 1, where the act of transmitting comprises transmitting the first conference-endpoint data and the converted first conference-endpoint data to the second endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second conference-endpoint data for the second conference type from the second endpoint;

preparing converted second conference-endpoint data compatible with the first conference type from the second conference-endpoint data; and

transmitting the second converted conference-endpoint data to the first endpoint.

8. The method of claim 1, where the act of initiating execution of the conversion program comprises initiating execution of a text-to-speech translator, and further comprising the act of selecting a voice for at least one of the first and second endpoints.

9. The method of claim 1, where at least one of the first conference type and second conference type is at least one of a decentralized text messaging conference and a centralized text messaging conference.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading an endpoint identifier and establishing aiding data for speech-to-text translation associated with the endpoint identifier.

11. A conferencing system comprising:

a memory comprising;

first conference-endpoint data for a first conference type received from a first endpoint;

a conference type identifier specifying a second conference type for a second endpoint participating in a conference with the first endpoint; and

a conversion program operable to prepare converted first endpoint data compatible with the second conference type from the first conference endpoint data, and

a processor operable to execute the conversion program when the second conference type is different than the first conference type.

12. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the first conference type is a text messaging conference, and where the second conference type is a voice conference.

13. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the conversion program comprises at least one of a text-to-speech translator and a speech-to-text translator.

14. The conferencing system of claim of claim 11, where the conversion program comprises a text-to-speech translator, and where the memory further comprises a speech-to-text translator.

15. The conferencing system of claim 14, where:

the memory further comprises second conference-endpoint data for the second conference type received from the second endpoint; and

where the processor executes the text-to-speech translator on the first conference-endpoint data to prepare the converted first conference-endpoint data, and executes the speech-to-text translator on the second conference-endpoint data to prepare converted second conference-endpoint data.

16. The conferencing system of claim 15, where the processor initiates transmission of the converted first-endpoint data to the second endpoint and initiates transmission of the converted second-endpoint data to the first endpoint.

17. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the processor initiates transmission of the converted first-endpoint data and a first endpoint identifier to the second endpoint.

18. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the first conference type is at least one of a centralized and decentralized instant messaging conference, and where the processor is operable to initiate transmission of the converted first endpoint data according to a pre-selected instant messaging protocol.

19. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the conversion program is a text-to-speech translator, and where the memory further comprises voice data for a voice for at least one of the first and second endpoints.

20. The conferencing system of claim 11, where the memory further comprises an endpoint identifier and aiding data for speech-to-text translation associated with the endpoint identifier.

21. A machine readable medium encoded with instructions that cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising the acts of:

retrieving first conference-endpoint data for a first conference type received from a first endpoint from a memory;

determining a second conference type for a second endpoint participating in a conference with the first endpoint;

initiating preparation of converted first-endpoint data compatible with the second conference type from the first conference-endpoint data when the second conference type is different than the first conference type; and

initiating transmission of the converted first-endpoint data to the second endpoint.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where the act of determining the second conference type comprises retrieving a conference type identifier from the memory.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where the act of initiating preparation comprises initiating execution of at least one of a text-to-speech translator and a speech-to-text translator.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

retrieving second conference-endpoint data for the second conference type from the memory; and

initiating preparation of converted second-endpoint data compatible with the first conference type from the second conference-endpoint data; and

initiating transmission of the converted second-endpoint data to the first endpoint.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where transmitting further comprises transmitting a first endpoint identifier to the second endpoint.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where the second conference type is an instant messaging conference and where initiating transmission comprises initiating transmission of the converted first-endpoint data according to a pre-selected instant messaging protocol.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where the act of initiating preparation comprises initiating execution of a text-to-speech translator, and further comprising the act of selecting a voice for at least one of the first and second endpoints.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 21, where at least one of the first conference type and second conference type is at least one of a decentralized text messaging conference and a centralized text messaging conference.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 21, further comprising reading an endpoint identifier and establishing aiding data for speech-to-text translation associated with the endpoint identifier.