Speakerphone supporting video and audio features

• US 20060132595A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Kenoyer, Michael L., Mock, Wayne E., Malloy, Craig B.
• Application Number:
  US11/251,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In various embodiments, a speakerphone and/or remote control may be used to control a video conferencing system through a system codec. In some embodiments, video conferencing features may be provided through the speakerphone and/or remote control. For example, features to manage video calls, audio calls, and bridging multiple video and/or audio calls into a single conference may be accessed through a keypad on the speakerphone, a remote control, and/or through a video conference system. Options and indicators may be provided on a screen of the speakerphone and/or video conferencing system. In some embodiments, a video call may be dialed, redialed, muted, answered, added to an existing conference, and/or terminated using a speakerphone and/or remote control. In some embodiments, a call length timer may be implemented, the volume may be adjusted, or a camera may be adjusted through a speakerphone and/or remote control.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a video conference for at least two participant locations, wherein at least one participant location of the at least two participant locations has a video conferencing system and a speakerphone;

using a speakerphone functionality in the video conference, wherein the functionality comprises sending or receiving signals to or from the speakerphone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using the speakerphone functionality comprises receiving user input by the speakerphone for manipulating one or more characteristics of the video conference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein using the speakerphone functionality further comprises the speakerphone providing signals to the video conferencing system to manipulate one or more characteristics of the video conference.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing an audio call using the speakerphone, wherein the audio call signals are provided through the video conferencing system to a Public Switched Telephone Network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding a caller to the video conference, wherein the caller is added to the video conference through user input received through the speakerphone.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the plurality of participant locations on hold;

dialing a new participant;

consulting the new participant apart from the plurality of participant locations; and

connecting the new participant to the conference call with the plurality of participant locations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein using the speakerphone functionality comprises receiving audio signals from microphones in the speakerphone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein using the speakerphone functionality comprises producing a speaker signal to the speakerphone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein using the speakerphone functionality comprises receiving user input through the speakerphone, wherein the user input facilitates one or more of:

dialing a video call;

redialing a video call;

muting a video call;

answering a video call;

implementing a call length timer for a video call;

adjusting a volume for a video call;

terminating a video call;

adding a call to an ongoing video conference call; and

adjusting a camera for a video call.

10. A system, comprising:

a video conferencing system operable to receive video and audio data from a participant at a remote location and present the video and audio data;

a speakerphone coupled to the video conferencing system, wherein the speakerphone is operable to;

receive user input to manipulate one or more characteristics of the video conference; and

provide signals to the video conferencing system based on the received user input to control the one or more characteristics of the video conference.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the speakerphone comprises a first plurality of user input elements useable for receiving user input to place and/or receive telephone calls;

wherein the speakerphone comprises a second one or more user input elements useable for receiving user input to manipulate one or more characteristics of the video conference.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the user input elements are buttons and wherein a button pressed for greater than a predetermined time specifies manipulation of a characteristic of the of the video conference.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising an Ethernet cable coupling the speakerphone to the video conference system, wherein the speakerphone is configured to communicate with the video conferencing system over the Ethernet cable.

14. A speakerphone, comprising:

one or more microphones;

one or more speakers;

a port for coupling to a telephone jack; and

a plurality of user input elements for receiving user input to manipulate one or more characteristics of a video conference.

15. The speakerphone of claim 14, wherein the microphones receive audio from a participant, and wherein audio signals from the microphones are used in the video conference call.

16. The speakerphone of claim 14, wherein the one or more speakers is used to reproduce audio received in a video conference call.

17. The speakerphone of claim 14, wherein the speakerphone facilitates one or more of:

dialing a video call;

redialing a video call;

muting a video call;

answering a video call;

implementing a call length timer for a video call;

adjusting a volume for a video call;

terminating a video call;

adding a call to an ongoing video conference call; and

adjusting a camera for a video call.

18. The speakerphone of claim 14, wherein the speakerphone further comprises and Ethernet cable to couple the speakerphone to a video conferencing system.

19. The speakerphone of claim 18, wherein the speakerphone is configured to communicate with the video conferencing system over the Ethernet cable.