FLOOR CONTROL IN MULTI-POINT CONFERENCE SYSTEMS

• US 20100013905A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Kumar, Sanjeev, Patel, Labhesh, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In one embodiment, a conference with multiple end points is provided. At the locations, multiple screens may be configured to display video from a portion of the multiple end points. Video from multiple locations is output onto the multiple screens, such as video streams from N different segments are output on N different screens. The video output may be determined based on a first dimension of the floor control algorithm. A push-to-talk input may then be received from a button. A video segment associated with the push-to-talk button is then determined and the video segment is output on one of the multiple screens in response to receiving the push-to-talk input. The push-to-talk input may be used by users that cannot actively participate in the first dimension of the floor control algorithm. For example, users using sign language cannot speak louder and thus by using the push to talk button or hand gestures can indicate their desire to be switched in as one of the displayed segments.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a conference with multiple locations;

receiving a plurality of video segments from the multiple locations;

receiving a push to talk (PTT) input from a PTT button;

determining a PTT video segment associated with the push to talk input; and

switching the PTT video segment in with one or more video segments, the PTT video segment and the one or more video segments including video from at least a portion of the multiple locations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing rendering of the PTT video segment on a first display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first display screen is a dedicated screen for displaying PTT video segments in which the push to talk input has been received.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a plurality of video segments using a first dimension of a floor control algorithm; and

replacing a video segment in the plurality of video segments with the PTT segment when the push to talk input is received.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first dimension of the floor control algorithm comprises an N loudest speaker algorithm, wherein the plurality of video segments are determined as the N loudest video segments.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the floor control algorithm incorporates receiving input from a PTT button, wherein the PTT video segment and the one or more video segments are determined partially based on receiving input from the pressing of the PTT button.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving multiple push to talk requests;

determining a virtual loudness based on the multiple push to talk requests;

mapping the virtual loudness to a real loudness for video segments for the multiple end points;

switching in the PTT video segment based on the virtual loudness and the real loudness.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the PTT video segment is switched in for the removed video segment if the PTT video segment has a higher virtual loudness than the removed video segment.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual loudness is determined based on detected gestures in a video segment.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the push to talk request in a queue, and

retrieving the push to talk request from the queue for switching in.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

provide a conference with multiple locations;

receive a plurality of video segments from the multiple locations;

receive a push to talk (PTT) input from a PTT button;

determine a PTT video segment associated with the push to talk input; and

switch the PTT video segment in with one or more video segments, the PTT video segment and the one or more video segments including video from at least a portion of the multiple locations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to cause rendering of the PTT video segment on a first display screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first display screen is a dedicated screen for displaying PTT video segments in which the push to talk input has been received.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

determine a plurality of video segments using a first dimension of a floor control algorithm; and

replace a video segment in the plurality of video segments with the PTT segment when the push to talk input is received.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first dimension of the floor control algorithm comprises an N loudest speaker algorithm, wherein the plurality of video segments are determined as the N loudest video segments.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the floor control algorithm incorporates receiving input from a PTT button, wherein the PTT video segment and the one or more video segments are determined partially based on receiving input from the pressing of the PTT button.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

receive multiple push to talk requests;

determine a virtual loudness based on the multiple push to talk requests;

map the virtual loudness to a real loudness for video segments for the multiple end points;

switch in the PTT video segment based on the virtual loudness and the real loudness.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the PTT video segment is switched in for the removed video segment if the PTT video segment has a higher virtual loudness than the removed video segment.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the virtual loudness is determined based on detected gestures in a video segment.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for providing a conference with multiple locations;

means for receiving a plurality of video segments from the multiple locations;

means for receiving a push to talk (PTT) input from a PTT button;

means for determining a PTT video segment associated with the push to talk input; and

means for switching the PTT video segment in with one or more video segments, the PTT video segment and the one or more video segments including video from at least a portion of the multiple locations.