Conference phone and network client
First Claim
1. A method for a base unit to hold a conference call for local participants, comprising:
- individually capturing audios of the local participants (“
local audios”
); and
transmitting the local audios in separate and identifiable audio streams over a network to a network client.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conference phone system includes personal headsets and a base unit. The personal headsets individually capture audios of local participants on a conference call (“local audios”) and transmit the local audios in separate and identifiable channels to the base unit. The base unit receives the local audios and transmits the local audios in separate and identifiable audio streams over a network to a network client. For a remote participant on the conference call, the network client reproduces the local audios and indicates one or more participants who are presently speaking. The network client can also virtualize the local audios so that the remote participant can distinguish the participants by their relative positions, whether virtual or actual. The network client uses the audio source identification information of various participants to enable conference features to mute, enhance, or hold private sidebar conversations.
82 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for a base unit to hold a conference call for local participants, comprising:
-
individually capturing audios of the local participants (“
local audios”
); and
transmitting the local audios in separate and identifiable audio streams over a network to a network client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for a network client to hold a conference call for a remote participant, comprising:
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representing participants of the conference call on a monitor;
receiving audios of participants in separate and identifiable audio streams over a network;
monitoring volumes of the audios;
when a volume of one audio exceeds a threshold, indicating one corresponding participant as presently speaking on the monitor; and
reproducing the audios to the remote participant. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A conference phone system, comprising:
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headsets individually (a) capturing audios of local participants on a conference call (“
local audio”
) and (b) transmitting the local audio in a separate and identifiable channel; and
a base unit (a) receiving local audios from the headsets, and (b) transmitting the local audios in separate and identifiable audio streams over a network to a network client. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. A conference phone system, comprising a network client for a remote participant on a conference call, the network client (a) representing participants on the conference call on a monitor, (b) receiving, over the network, audios of the participants in separate and identifiable audio streams, (c) indicating one or more participants who are presently speaking on the monitor when volumes of their audio streams exceed a threshold, and (d) reproducing the audios to the remote participant.
Specification