System and method for controlling a telepresence system

• US 20070250567A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, Philip R., Mackie, David J., Dunn, Kristin A., Erion, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/483,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A system for controlling a telepresence system includes a plurality of visual conferencing components operable to host a visual conference. The system also includes a controller coupled to the visual conferencing components. The system further includes an internet protocol (IP) phone coupled to the controller and operable to display a user interface comprising a plurality of options. The IP phone is also operable to receive input from a user and to relay the input to the controller. The controller is operable to control the visual conferencing components in accordance with the input from the IP phone.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a telepresence system, comprising:

a plurality of visual conferencing components operable to host a visual conference;

a controller coupled to the visual conferencing components; and

an internet protocol (IP) phone coupled to the controller and operable to display a user interface comprising a plurality of options and to receive input from a user and to relay the input to the controller, wherein the controller is operable to control the visual conferencing components in accordance with the input from the IP phone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to establish an audio communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to establish a subsequent video communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to include video in an audio communication session.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to answer an incoming request for an audio communication session during the visual conference.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to answer an incoming request for a video communication session during the visual conference.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to prevent an incoming request for a communication session from being connected during the visual conference.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of visual conferencing components comprises a plurality of displays; and

the input comprises a request to control which display of the plurality of displays will display video and which display of the plurality of displays will display data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP phone is further operable to provide information about a communication session while the user is involved in the visual conference.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

a caller identification of a remote user in a visual conference, whether the visual conference is encrypted, whether the visual conference is muted, whether the communication session is a visual conference, whether the communication session is a video conference, whether the communication session is an audio conference, and the elapsed time of the visual conference.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a request to select an auxiliary input from a plurality of auxiliary inputs for receiving visual conferencing component input during the visual conference.

12. A method for controlling a telepresence system, comprising:

conducting a visual conference using at least one component of a plurality of visual conferencing components;

displaying a plurality of options on a user interface of an internet protocol (IP) phone coupled to a controller controlling the plurality of visual conferencing components;

receiving input from a user;

relaying the input to the controller; and

controlling the visual conferencing components in accordance with the input from the IP phone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving input from a user comprises receiving a request to establish an audio communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving input from a user comprises receiving a request to establish a subsequent video communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving input from a user comprises receiving a request to include video in an audio communication session.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing information about a communication session while the user is involved in the visual conference.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving input from a user comprises receiving a request to select an auxiliary input from a plurality of auxiliary inputs for receiving visual conferencing component input during the visual conference.

18. Logic embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

conduct a visual conference using at least one component of a plurality of visual conferencing components;

display a plurality of options on a user interface of an internet protocol (IP) phone coupled to a controller controlling the plurality of virtual conferencing components;

receive input from a user;

relay the input to the controller; and

control the visual conferencing components in accordance with the input from the IP phone.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code operable to receive input from a user comprises code operable to receive a request to establish an audio communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code operable to receive input from a user comprises code operable to receive a request to establish a subsequent video communication session with a remote endpoint using the IP phone during the visual conference.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code operable to receive input from a user comprises code operable to receive a request to include video in an audio communication session.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code is further operable to provide information about a communication session while the user is involved in the visual conference.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code operable to receive input from a user comprises code operable to receive a request to select an auxiliary input from a plurality of auxiliary inputs for receiving visual conferencing component input during the visual conference.

24. A system for controlling a telepresence system, comprising:

means for conducting a visual conference using at least one component of a plurality of visual conferencing components;

means for displaying a plurality of options on a user interface of an internet protocol (IP) phone coupled to a controller controlling the plurality of virtual conferencing components;

means for receiving input from a user;

means for relaying the input to the controller; and

means for controlling the visual conferencing components in accordance with the input from the IP phone.